Camy Tang/Camille Elliot discussion

Gosh, I've been so busy that the only books I've read have been mine--I finished proof editing Protection for Hire: A Novel AND Stalker in the Shadows this week. Very excited about both of them, for different reasons. Protection for Hire is more humorous action and suspense, while Stalker in the Shadows is romantic suspense.

I'm anxious to get into MaryLu Tyndall's latest book, Surrender the Dawn, which is book 3 in the Surrender to Destiny series. I have a copy staring me in the face as I type. :)

What have you been reading?

I am reading two of her books in another series. I had Blue Enchantress for review and found The Red Siren and I need to get the 3rd. It was definitely worth reading the first one to understand the person in the 2nd book even better!

I loved The Red Siren, although I have to admit I liked The Restitution better.

Oh dear Camy don't get me needing more books. I have so many to read and then when I am reviewing a book and its in the series I read them. I just read about 6 of Stephanie Newton's books so I could review the 7th one!
Although the series was great and it did get some books off the shelf that needed reading!

At least I have a few months yet before yours comes out but I still have your other four to get and read.

Hey Camy and Judy. Thanks for your kind comments, Judy! Are you the Judy that sent me an email earlier today? Did you know Camy and I live about a mile apart? It's so cool to meet her for lunch and talk about writing. I can't wait for her next book to come out!

Camy this must be a Mary Lu week like last week was Kaye Dacus.
I am about to start Surrender the dawn! its sitting here waiting for me also.

Yup same Judy. That is really cool. I'm only a State over :-)

M.L. - I enjoy all the different ways author's write but so far today I have been through a hurricane, on an island getting bit by sand fleas, on a pirate ship with smelly men and now my heart is crushed as we pull into Jamaica :-) You are very good for those who read with "video minds" and you have a lot of adventure in your books. I think many authors have their unique writing skills.

Judy wrote: "Oh dear Camy don't get me needing more books. I have so many to read and then when I am reviewing a book and its in the series I read them. I just read about 6 of Stephanie Newton's books so I coul..."

I have Stephanie's book up next to read, too! I got a free galley via Netgalley so I'm excited to read it.

Ausjenny wrote: "Camy this must be a Mary Lu week like last week was Kaye Dacus.
I am about to start Surrender the dawn! its sitting here waiting for me also."

LOL Jenny join the club!

Yay! MaryLu dropped by!

Camy wrote: "Judy wrote: "Oh dear Camy don't get me needing more books. I have so many to read and then when I am reviewing a book and its in the series I read them. I just read about 6 of Stephanie Newton's bo..."

It's best if you read the whole series!

I'm reading 'Reluctant Runaway' by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.

Melanie
Christian Bookshelf Reviews

I just plowed through A Price Worth Paying and then Sketchy Behavior TODAY! (I know... insane! but I started the former late late late last night and almost didn't sleep! Then I got the surprise of the pre-order of the latter finally coming through, despite Amazon sending out a warning last week saying it'd been delayed to the end of the month. Needless to say I dove right in!)

Started up Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey across the Life Line last week, and am really being challenged at the perspective of both sides... hoping to wrap it up this week.

I've contemplated picking up Ransome's Honor (after hearing y'all rave on it last week...) but I'm afraid I'll get sucked in, and can't afford to buy the rest of the series just yet!

Amancay do you have a kindle? or the kindle app on your computer. Ransome's Honor is a free download at the moment.

Holy moly Amancay you're reading like a fiend!

Yes, if you don't have an ereader yet, definitely download either (or both) Kindle and Nook versions of Ransome's Honor. You can either read it on your computer or at least you'll have a copy when you get an ereader.

Ausjenny wrote: "Amancay do you have a kindle? or the kindle app on your computer. Ransome's Honor is a free download at the moment."

yes... hence I HAVE the first book, but know that I'll want to follow up with the rest...

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't know what to do with out my kindle. HA!

I'm reading the ARC for THE BETRAYAL by Jerry Jenkins and loving it.

Ooh, that sounds interesting.

Amancay wrote: "Ausjenny wrote: "Amancay do you have a kindle? or the kindle app on your computer. Ransome's Honor is a free download at the moment."

yes... hence I HAVE the first book, but know that I'll want to..."

Amancay, I can completely relate.

Over the weekend, I got in Carolyn Aarsen's The Cowboy's Lady, book four in the Rocky Mountain Heirs series. Now I'm reading Courageous by Randy Alcorn, the novelization of the movie that comes out in September.

I read Courageous a few weeks ago. It was so good I can't wait for the movie. As Fireproof was to help marriages Courageous is aimed at families.

Judy wrote: "I am reading two of her books in another series. I had Blue Enchantress for review and found The Red Siren and I need to get the 3rd. It was definitely worth reading the first one to understand the..."

Ah, I really enjoyed The Red Siren and Blue Enchantress, Judy. I checked them out of the library, and wouldn't you know, they didn't have The Raven Saint.

I just finished The Matrimony Plan, an LIH sent to me to review. (Very enjoyable.) I have Staci Stalling's Price of Silence on my computer, but my print reading right now is Hometown Sweetheart by Lenora Worth. I got it a couple of months ago when Lenora was a guest on Seekerville. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get to it until now.

I went this morning and for the first time in a long while checked out a book from the library. I don't know why I don't think of that more often. Anyways, I'm glad they had the Raven Saint. I don't want to start another book before finishing this series. So here I am on a ship again :-)

Sandra- I was sent Redeeming the Rogue, it was excellent as well.

Used to do the library all the time, especially when I wasn't in a position to buy, but it's been a while now. I get so many books for review purposes, it's hard to keep up. Would probably wind up with overdue books and late fees. :-)

I had an issue with borrowing something and then a deadline hanging over my head. It helps that when you walk into our library the whole outer area is a book sale room so it makes it easier for me to visit there. Plus it is only down the road.

As a library director, I get "dibs" on great books, but I still buy some, and somehow end up getting a LOT of books free, which is terrific! (Remember ladies, the key word is "renew" when you're afraid you'll turn in your book late! :D )

Finished Ransome's Quest two days ago (LOVED IT!!), then sped through Susan Page Davis' The Crimson Cipher in two days (How did I miss this last year? It was wonderful!).

Now I'm at loose ends! I'm thinking a little Susan May Warren contemporary next . . .

Regina wrote: "As a library director, I get "dibs" on great books, but I still buy some, and somehow end up getting a LOT of books free, which is terrific! (Remember ladies, the key word is "renew" when you're af..."

Now that I can a read a book or two a day I'm not so afraid of the deadline

Patriciaw wrote: "Over the weekend, I got in Carolyn Aarsen's The Cowboy's Lady, book four in the Rocky Mountain Heirs series. Now I'm reading Courageous by Randy Alcorn, the novelization of the movie that comes ou..."

I always love Carolyne's books! She's been one of my favorite authors since I started reading Love Inspired books back in the 90s.

Oooh I heard a lot of great things about the movie Courageous! I totally want to see it.

Melanie wrote: "I'm reading 'Reluctant Runaway' by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.

Melanie
Christian Bookshelf Reviews"

How do you like that?

Sandra wrote: "Ah, I really enjoyed The Red Siren and Blue Enchantress, Judy. I checked them out of the library, and wouldn't you know, they didn't have The Raven Saint.

I just finished The Matrimony Plan, an LIH sent to me to review. (Very enjoyable.) I have Staci Stalling's Price of Silence on my computer, but my print reading right now is Hometown Sweetheart by Lenora Worth. I got it a couple of months ago when Lenora was a guest on Seekerville. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get to it until now. "

I saw that book! It's like a take on Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, right?

Judy wrote: "I went this morning and for the first time in a long while checked out a book from the library. I don't know why I don't think of that more often. Anyways, I'm glad they had the Raven Saint. I don'..."

Woohoo! Your library has a lot of Christian fiction. Mine, not so much.

Patriciaw wrote: "Used to do the library all the time, especially when I wasn't in a position to buy, but it's been a while now. I get so many books for review purposes, it's hard to keep up. Would probably wind u..."

Patricia, I used to always have overdue books! I don't know why I can't read books in time. It's not like I don't like reading!

Regina wrote: "Finished Ransome's Quest two days ago (LOVED IT!!), then sped through Susan Page Davis' The Crimson Cipher in two days (How did I miss this last year? It was wonderful!)."

Oooh, The Crimson Cipher is on my TBR pile, too! Now I have to read it.

Judy wrote: "Now that I can a read a book or two a day I'm not so afraid of the deadline"

I think that's my problem. I don't have as much time to read as I used to, and the whole concept of a reading deadline makes me think of school!!!

Some people hang out at Starbucks. I hang out at the library. And believe me, I know well the process of renewing a book (usually books), Regina. :-) It's great now that I can do it online.

Hometown Sweethearts: Supposed to be a bit of a Snow White tale, Camy, but I haven't gotten to a point where I see that yet. I guess the seven kids are the dwarfs. I'm about halfway through it. So far, it's a cute romance.

Judy wrote: "I went this morning and for the first time in a long while checked out a book from the library. I don't know why I don't think of that more often. Anyways, I'm glad they had the Raven Saint. I don'..."

Haven't read Redeeming the Rogue, Judy, but I love the title. It has so many possibilities.

Good books change you. I'm reading Courageous, which is all about families, but primarily fathers. But that's got me thinking about being more intentional as a mother. Which made me start thinking about being more intentional as a writer. Which made me start thinking about being more intentional about God. Then this crazy idea popped into my head: What if I stopped reading for pleasure--the thing I love to do more than most anything--other than reading the Bible and maybe a non-fiction book here or there, for an entire year? What could I accomplish? How would my life change? Not sure where this one is going yet, but that's what's rolling around my mind.

Patriciaw wrote: "Good books change you. I'm reading Courageous, which is all about families, but primarily fathers. But that's got me thinking about being more intentional as a mother. Which made me start thinkin..."

Wow I don't know that I could do that. Yes, I read for pleasure, but books are also a creative outlet for me. I use it to refill my creative well as a writer--I notice that if I don't read novels regularly, my writing suffers. It's strange, but it really helps me write better if I deliberately take the time to read novels, too.

There was a spot where I hadn't read a novel for several weeks while I was writing Protection for Hire, and the writing was really suffering. It was like slogging through pea soup. Then I picked up a novel one night, and the next day the words were just flowing.

Then the same thing happened when I was finishing Stalker in the Shadows. I hadn't read in 2 weeks, but I picked up a Love Inspired Suspense novel one night, and the next day I got something like 5000 words in 4 hours. It was crazy. Ever since, I've made sure to be reading something while I'm writing a book.

I know what you mean, Camy. Reading inspires creativity. At times, I've read something (maybe just a particular word) and my mind was off and running with possibilities for my own project that didn't have anything to do with what I'd just read. It's amazing.

Camy wrote: "Patriciaw wrote: "Good books change you. I'm reading Courageous, which is all about families, but primarily fathers. But that's got me thinking about being more intentional as a mother. Which mad..."

Not sure I could completely give up reading either, although if I'm really led to do that, I will. Right now, I'm thinking I'm going to give up reading single titles, which pretty much means I'll be out of the book review business, reading only my LI Reader Service 4 titles per month. That would be 48 books in the year vs. my normal 140. Big difference!

Patriciaw wrote: "Not sure I could completely give up reading either, although if I'm really led to do that, I will. Right now, I'm thinking I'm going to give up reading single titles, which pretty much means I'll be out of the book review business, reading only my LI Reader Service 4 titles per month. That would be 48 books in the year vs. my normal 140. Big difference! "

WOW giving up single titles? Well, if God is leading you that direction, I know He'll bless you in different ways if you obey.

Camy wrote: "Then the same thing happened when I was finishing Stalker in the Shadows. I hadn't read in 2 weeks, but I picked up a Love Inspired Suspense novel one night, and the next day I got something like 5000 words in 4 hours. It was crazy. Ever since, I've made sure to be reading something while I'm writing a book.

When I read a really good book, it energizes me and makes me want to write something just as fun and exciting. I'm reading Karen Witemeyer's A Tailor-Made Bride right now and it's having that effect on me! lol

It's nice to know I'm not the only one, Pam! Hey, you need to put your picture or your book cover for your profile pic.

Camy wrote: "It's nice to know I'm not the only one, Pam! Hey, you need to put your picture or your book cover for your profile pic."

Yay! Got it added. I had tried a couple of times, but it didn't go through. Worked this time.

Im reading Missy's book A family for Faith right now.

I'm reading A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson. It's really good!

Camy, I could barely write 4000 words in 2 days. Wish I could speed it up, but the words flow slowly.

Cara wrote: "I'm reading A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson. It's really good!

Camy, I could barely write 4000 words in 2 days. Wish I could speed it up, but the words flow slowly."

I loved A Most Unsuitable Match, Cara. And I can empathize about the word flow. I'm such a snail when it comes to daily word count. I edit too much as I go.

Ausjenny wrote: "Im reading Missy's book A family for Faith right now."

Oh, let me know how you like it!

Cara wrote: "I'm reading A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson. It's really good!

Camy, I could barely write 4000 words in 2 days. Wish I could speed it up, but the words flow slowly."

Cara, I love Steph's books! They always make me feel good.

About the word count, while the actual writing goes quickly for me, that doesn't include the weeks of preplanning and plotting and the week of editing I do afterward. If you average out the total time, I don't really write that fast.