Friday, December 06, 2019

A Want to Not Have to Weekly Link Round-Up




I've been sprung! My ankle monitor has been removed! I'm no longer on house arrest! Oops. Perhaps I should take a moment to curb my enthusiasm...

Okay. All better now.

Wednesday night marked the first time since forever that I went somewhere for a non-medical reason. Denis and I made our way to The Poisoned Pen Bookstore to see Paige Shelton and Mark de Castrique, two of my favorite authors. When Barbara Peters, the bookstore owner, saw me, she exclaimed, "You're back!"

The event was fun and informative (as usual), and afterward, I broke a years-long tradition. You've never seen me in a photo with any of the authors I've met. Being an only child and an only grandchild, I've hated having my picture taken since I could form a coherent thought. But this was a special occasion, and-- besides-- another favorite author, Wendall Thomas, wanted Paige to give me a hug for her since she couldn't be here for the event. There had to be photographic proof, right? So here it is.


And for any of you who may wonder... I'm not vertically challenged; I was sitting down. After this photo was taken, Paige had a lot more books to sign, so Denis and I found ourselves talking with Jenn McKinlay, another of our favorite people. I got a hug from her, too (and was told to go home and put my leg up when she learned we were leaving). I also spoke a few words with and shook hands with Mark de Castrique who was on his way to the signing table, and I got a few more welcome backs from others.

Oh boy, is it ever nice to go somewhere because you WANT to, not because you HAVE to!

On to the links!


►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

►Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett◄
  • On designing floating buildings with an eye to the marine species living underneath, or an upside-down artificial reef.
  • A farewell to Ming, the Siberian-Bengal tiger who spent three years in a Harlem apartment.
  • The best places around the world to see bats (by the millions).
  • A new study reveals how the last woolly mammoths died out 4,000 years ago. That's after the Egyptians built the pyramids.
  • On an active volcano, a northern fur seal population is booming.
  • Connecting with coyotes on the prowl. 
  • Compassionate divers gently coax a reticent octopus to trade a flexible plastic cup for a protective shell. (I'm becoming more and more fascinated by these creatures!)
  • A rescued dog comforts a tiny foster kitten during a bath.


  • ►The Happy Wanderer◄
  • A sleeping chateau, untouched since the Revolution, is for sale in France.
  • Germany's Waldsassen Abbey is the fairy tale library you need to visit.
  • The crime fiction of Rangoon
  • How Taiwan has achieved one of the highest recycling rates in the world.


  • ►Fascinating Folk◄
  • Why Henry VIII blamed his impotence on his wife's looks. (Uh... because he was spoiled rotten, king, and could get away with it?)
  • Iowan John Sandford read 126 books from the Cedar Rapids library one summer. Now he's a bestselling author of more than fifty thrillers.
  • How Mary Roberts Rinehart, queen of the mystery novel, was very nearly murdered.
  • M is for missing Sue Grafton.
  • Dorothy L. Sayers: A crime reader's guide to the classics. 
  • Billy Connolly: "Going to the library changed my life. It may even have saved it."


  • ►I ♥ Lists◄
  • A personal history of gothic fiction in ten books.
  • Five mystery series that will take you on a tour of the South Pacific
  • Crime novels for angry women in an angry world. 
  • Eleven books like Where the Crawdads Sing.
  • Top ten books about Europe.
  • Top ten books about black radicalism.
  • Eleven thrilling John Lawton books that will make your pulse race.
  • Eleven new cozy mysteries to crack open this fall (and winter).



  • That's all for this week! Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll be sharing a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure.

    Have a great weekend, eat plenty of good food-- and read something fabulous!

8 comments:

  1. So happy to hear you're able to get out now, Cathy! That is great! And that is a lovely 'photo of you; thanks for sharing. It is really nice to get out because you want to (as opposed to going places you have to go). In the spirit of that, I want to go visit that Roman shipwreck.... Very, very glad to hear you're on the mend!

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  2. Why am I not surprised that the first place you visited after being 'sprung' was the Poisoned Pen? Of course it was! That is a great picture, Cathy. I love it and I'm glad that you treated all of us to your smiling face, along with Paige's. So happy you are better and my hope is that things continue on in that way for a long, long time. I know all at the PP were delighted to see you and Denis!

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  3. Congratulations on the Jailbreak! It's about time you were able to visit your favorite bookstore. Hope you continue on your healthy path to full recovery. And we'll enjoy your write-ups from visits to the Poisoned Pen.

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    1. I'll just have to get busy writing them up!

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  4. I can't think of a better way to celebrate your freedom. :) Great pic to add to your author collection! Take care and enjoy your mobility, Cathy!

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