Sorry it’s been so long since we’ve had an Apple Seeds, but it takes some energy, and I just didn’t have any.  Now, we’ll give it a try.  Mr. P has been doing almost everything (including the laundry), but writing the news is just not his thing!

Sherry and Karen have been holding the place together for everyone, so give them thanks for keeping the doors open.  They have been doing a wonderful job for all of us.

The funny thing about being really sick is, I couldn’t read, couldn’t concentrate.  After years of reading two or three books a week, I have not read a book since November.  A daily news-paper front to back, but not a book.  So I’m now into reading reviews and listening to your reports, assessments of authors.  I like author gossips, too.  Who doesn’t!

There are new children’s comics out there that are cute and are readable and we are hoping we get some of them.

          Because of the many high profile cases involving recalls of Chinese-made toys containing lead, on August 2008, to take place February 10, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act became law.  And, wow.  No one realized it would include stores like us.                                              

          That also meant expensive testing costs or equipment, and in the case of new books it could end up with costly returns to distributors.  In the case of used books, libraries, stores and nonprofits it would mean having to dump everything.  At this time we, and many stores similar to ours, chose to continue the sale of the books as usual and will throw out anything “looking” questionable while letting publishers and legislators work it all out. 

Congratulations to Harlequin as it celebrates its 60^th year of romance publishing of series and women’s fiction novels. 

Mystery author Donald E. Westlake passed away.  I went into stopyourekillingme.com which led me to his website.  Westlake died in late 2008, so even his (clever) site doesn’t acknowledge that yet.  That’s all I know at this time, sorry.

Debbie Macomber’s The Manning Grooms combined Bride on the Loose (1992) and Same Time, Next Year (1995) which is PW’s Dec. 08s Bestseller List.  They were such good books we were passing them all over the former job I had!  (A while ago!)  To read at home, of course.

            Debbie’s “Twenty Wishes” was on #9 the First Week out on

            the April 13th Paperback BestsellerList.

The same week, every Publishers Weekly (PW) Children’s Fiction Bestseller dealt with death, spooks, vampires, ghosts, and those kinds of scary thrillers.  No la-de-dah happy tune skippity de do dah day books for our kiddies.  No sirree.  …………Good grief.

A hardcover bestseller, Clive Cussler’s (with Jack DuBrul) “Corsair” is the 37^th book and the 6^th Oregon Files adventure.  PW  stated that Cussler’s most famous finds was the Hunley, a Civil War sub that sank and was then lost off the coast of the Carolinas for more than 100 years.  With his background, it is hard to tell Cussler’s fiction from his non-fiction.

You know you’ve “made it” when you are an answer in the L.A. Times Crossword Puzzle.  As author Christina Dodd can attest to!

Jon Land, an author in his own right, interviewed thriller/political author Richard North Patterson for Romantic Times Bookreview magazine, (RT) January, 2009.  Politically-minded Patterson had at one time served on a number of Washington, D.C.-based political and social boards.  Patterson had traveled to Nigeria to further research the violent background of his latest novel “Eclipse”.

Seventeen of the twenty-four (17 of 24) books interviewed in May RT for Mystery, Suspense & Thriller Ratings & Reviews were HARDCOVERS, including Lee Child’s top rated, caffeine-addicted Jack Reacher latest “Gone Tomorrow”.  A first-rate thriller.

Of course.

While checking thru all the Bestseller Lists, of course James Patterson shows up all over the place.  So, I’ll leave each of you to your own “gotta read” lists of his books!

Never be discouraged:  According to PW, “back in second grade, Sherryl Woods received her only unsatisfactory mark—for her inability to make up stories.”  OR, could it be that it challenged her enough to turn her into an author?  Uh huh, uh huh.

Just saw a mosquito on the window.  On the inside.  Lost track of it and now I’m itching all over.  And slapping at imaginary bites.

Mr. P is watching Papa Robin scurring here and there with bountiful grass catchings almost obscuring his body.  He’s found a home—apparently with little time to spare.  Nailed above the two sheds in the back are years of deer hunting stories told by the antlers of our two hunters.  Right in the middle, under the over-hang, one of the largest antler is this perfect robin’s one-story, one room nest, free rent room with a view being built.  ‘should be interesting; we think it may be the tenants that moved in last year on the handles of the snowblower.  They were good neighbors, and entertaining.

I’ve noticed every once in a while very popular Christian Romance Bestsellers have become incorporated into Paperback Bestseller/Trade Listings.  Karen Kingsbury is one such author, with her “Take One” novel.

It’s that time of year to remind you that it’s our Anniversary Month.  May 15, 1991 was our opening day, with Nina our first employee, business trainer, all-around CEO, janitor and book stacker.  Always encouraging, she pushed us to keep on keeping on, and worked with us for 9 years until just before her husband Bob’s death.  Oh, did I tell you the store was located in the (now) restrooms of Benson’s?  Everybody has to start somewhere!

Do you have someone in your home living with dyslexia?  To learn more about it, go to Stephen J. Cannell’s website for an easy-to-understand audio series.  Cannell has lived with it all his life, and has done very well, despite it.  His latest novel “On the Grind” was at #19 in January, and his “Three Shirt Deal” has gone into second printing.

Oh, and it’s also time to update you on what Janet Evanovich has had Stephanie Plum doing.  Well, Plum Spooky came out in a full length hardcover in January, hitting #1 Bestseller its first week out, too.  Of course.  Then, you can look for (hardcover again!) on June 23, “Finger Lickin’ Fifteen” will hit the shelves.  Ach, such a title.  Guaranteeeed to be #1 by 6/24 on the am.

Remember to give our Writer’s Group a try:

Every Second and Fourth Thursday at 5:15 pm here at the store.  Bring a short sample of your (prose) writing to be read and critiqued, we are gentle, but supportive.  Come join us.

 Gotta go…Happy Sunshine!…