Abusing the TBR Pile

Earlier this month, Mai wrote a post about the end of summer being a time for reflection and goal setting. That's always been true for me! Between the end of the busy season, a birthday, and the beginning of the school year, I usually have a lot to brood about.

As I filtered through September's releases, I've discovered that lots of authors whose debut books are languishing on my ever-growing TBR shelf have new installments coming out soon. My reading goal for fall, then, is to take on these series starters. I'm sure I'll find more than a few gems!

I'm particularly looking forward to starting Anne Aguirre's series. Grimspace is the first and Wanderlust comes out next month.

I have heard nothing but raves from the blogosphere and my patrons about Chelsea Cain. I have Heartsick in my locker, waiting for break time. Sweetheart is her new release.

Caitlin Kitteridge is a new member at the League of Reluctant Adults, and I've been chomping at the bit to start the Nocturne City series! The first is Night Life, and Pure Blood comes out next month.

I guess C.E. Murphy's Negotiator series doesn't count, as I've read, and enjoyed, Heart of Stone. House of Cards is #2 in the series, and Hands of Flame is the new release. Good stuff there!

Yesterday we got to celebrate Savanna's release day for When a Good Angel Falls. (Woot!) And next month, we'll squee with Trish when her Harlequin American, A Firefighter in the Family, comes out! Ladies, welcome to my TBR pile!

So what are you guys reading? What's in your TBR pile or on your to-buy list? Talk to me in comments before 10 a.m. central tomorrow, and you'll be in the drawing to win a book of your choice!*

*The book must be in print or available in e-format. In the case of e-books, a distributor or publisher gift cert will be awarded.

Winner!

Cathy! You're this month's TBR winner! E-mail me at melhiers at comcast.net with a title from your wishlist. The title must be in print or currently available as an e-book.

Abusing the TBR Pile

My reading lately has taken a turn for the super slow as it does every summer. Thankfully, I had a couple of Jane Austen audiobooks to get me through. I'd never read Northanger Abbey, and now it's seriously threatening to replace Persuasion as my favorite!

I'm looking forward to August, when life gets back to normal, and I can make at least a dimple in my out-of-control TBR pile! And, of course, I'm still adding to it.

There's some good stuff coming out this month that I don't want to miss. Like Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett. This is the first epic fantasy in a long time that has caught my eye.

Bound by Shadow by Anna Windsor kicks off a back-to-back released series that sounds too kick butt to miss. And Hidden by Even Kenin is a sequel that's high on my list. Electra Galaxy's Mr. Interstellar Feller by Candace Sams has one of the niftiest titles since Savanna's Murder By Hairspray in Gardenia, New Atlantis. I love the Darkyn series by Lynn Viehl and Twilight Fall is just sitting there, begging me to read it. As is The Iron Hunt by Marjorie Liu! I'm a huge Lilith Saintcrow fangirl, and she's launched a new series. Night Shift is the first one.

So, what are you all reading? What books are you adding to your TBR piles this month? Since I'm posting this late, you have 'till the next post goes up tomorrow to comment. A random commenter will win a book of her choice from her wishlist! (As long as the book in question is still in print.)

Abuse the TBR Pile!

It's Abusing the TBR day! And I've changed the format! Already!

Monday morning is no time for market research. Especially when I haven't had my coffee yet. And I figured it'd be more fun to talk about the new books we're drooling over.

So, from here on out, Abusing the TBR pile will focus on all the good stuff coming out each month. I'll post the ones I plan to add to my TBR pile. You guys tell me what you're going to read. And if you comment by 11:59 central time, you'll be entered in a drawing to win a paperback book of your choice (as long as it's still in print!) or a gift certificate to Fictionwise.

My June TBR list is pretty sf/fantasy heavy. There are lots of great paranormals coming out this month!

The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey

I have been a Lackey fan since I read the Arrows of the Queen trilogy in High School and I love the Godmother series!

Horse of Whispers by Margaret Lucke

I love gothics, and this one seems like it'll have a dark, mysterious feel to it.

Walk on the Wild Side by Christine Warren

Okay, I can't resist a book that features a Tennessee librarian and werelions. I just can't.

Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward

I am a Ward fangirl. I admit it. She had me completely hooked after Zsadist. I have a HUGE thing for flawed and broken heroes, and you can't get any more flawed than the Brotherhood.

Nightkeepers by Jessica Anderson

I also have a huge thing for mythology. I've wanted to read this one since I heard her talk about research with Ward at RT.

A Curious Affair by Melanie Jackson

This one looks like a paranormal cat mystery! I really liked Jackson's goblin paranormals.

Spectre by Phaedra Weldon

I stumbled across Weldon's first book, Wraith, completely by accident. If there was buzz, I never saw it. But I loved Weldon's funny, quick tone. For that alone, I'd pick up this one!

Personal Demons by Stacia Kane

Okay, I'm cheating a bit because I already read this one. I got my paws on it at RT, and devoured the whole thing on the way home. (My lovely hubby drove the whole way so I could read!) This book holds the record for shortest time between TBR pile and keeper shelf!

Your turn! What are YOU drooling over this month? Any recommendations for me?

Abusing the TBR Pile: Readers' Advisory For Writers - The Vampire Edition!

It's the inaugural Abusing the TBR Pile series post! Woot! I suspect I'm probably the only person really excited about it. Which is why I'm giving away a copy of one of these books to one lucky TM reader who comments before 11:59 p.m. central time today! I'll announce the winner, who will then squee, and directly afterward e-mail his or her choice to me. If you choose an e-book, your prize will be in the form of Fictionwise micropay credits/publisher gift certificate for the amount of the book. Violating e-book copyrights is bad, m'kay?

So, what's up with the AtTBRP book lists? Back in February I posted an entry called "Books that Suck and the Readers Who Love Them." We discussed how performing peer critiques and analyzing some of the published work we read can help us improve our own writing.

I decided to use my Librarian Readers' Advisory Superpowers to make balanced lists of books for writers who are analyzing genre markets.

We'll abuse our TBR piles every month with a different genre and giveaway, as close to the 15th as we can get.

Two caveats:

These lists are by no means comprehensive. Omission or inclusion of a title makes no statement about the its quality. I will, more than likely, repeat genres as older titles go out of print and new ones get published.

AtTBRP book lists aren't just for writers! Bibliophiles of all flavors can use them to discover new authors and expand their reading.

Ready? Since we Title Magicians all write paranormal (among other things, of course!), I figured it would be appropriate to start with a paranormal subgenre. This month? It's all about vampires.





Blood Ties: The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout
Nocturne by Elizabeth Donald
Evermore by Lynn Viehl
Kiss Me Forever/Love Me Forever by Rosemary Laurey
Lord of the Night by Robin T. Popp
Tall, Dark, and Dead by Tate Halloway
Sweeter than Wine by Bianca D'Arc (E-book)
Night Rising by Chris Marie Green
Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready
Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward



So, tell me. What genres are you most interested in?

*Today's list was compiled with the help of Gale Group's "What do I Read Next" database , AquaBrowser's Fiction Connection, LibraryThing, Vampire Romance Books and the book Genreflecting: a guide to popular reading interests by Diana Tixier Herald

**Edited for clarity. Never let me post pre-caffeine again.