Monday, February 16, 2015

Heeding the Call





Have you ever strolled down the street, past a group of stores, and you hear a small voice say, “Stop here. Don’t keep walking. Come in and enjoy yourself, Marja.” You look up and, lo and behold, a bookstore is calling your name. Well, why not stop in and wander through the aisles? You’re not looking for anything in particular. What could it hurt? Uh huh.

If you’re like me, you end up walking out with an armload of books that don’t quite fit into your budget.

My passion is mysteries, especially if they contain a little humor. However, if I’m actually strolling through the store, a lot of mysteries without humor, and other genres, will catch my eye – biographies, history, books on how things work and what they’re called – you name it. A friend, Chris, recommended For the President’s Eyes Only – Secret Intelligence and the American Presidency from Washington to Bush by Christopher Andrew. While I couldn’t use most of what I read in my new book, this was still engrossing research material. The books on the shelves surrounding it looked interesting, too. I had to make myself walk away.

The unfortunate part of this is that now I have a To Be Read stack that boggles the mind, or at least my mind. I’ve got so many books that I want to read, and doesn’t it just figure, I’m at a time in my life when I don’t have nearly as much reading time as I used to.

I have trouble giving books away or selling them. There are many I’d like to reread one day. My bookcases are jam-packed. So is my Kindle.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Cstripbooks%2C201

I just released a new book, How Now Purple Cow – A Bogey Man Mystery. Time to take a brief vacation before starting another book. Maybe I could sit on the couch and eat bonbons and read. Not gonna happen. In addition to the store calling my name, so is my house. Yes, that would be the house that I let go while I wrote. Horrifying, I know, but sometimes when we’re writing we let things go.

In addition to the bookstore and the house, my thoughts keep turning to the next book. Marketing and promotion are calling my name, too. Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

Many years ago my grandmother gave me some ceramic purple cows. They sit on top of the bookcase in my office. One day they started calling my name. They wanted to be in a mystery. Say what? Yeah, that was my question, too, but I couldn’t stop thinking about them. How on earth could I include purple cows in a book?

The unexpected happened. I had a funny dream about two dear friends being spies. Seriously, why would I have a dream like that? I mentioned it to a friend, Evelyn Cullet, and she thought they’d make great characters in a book. She was right. Believe it or not, purple cows and elderly spies make a great combination. Who knew?

I mentioned the basic storyline to my husband, and without a second thought, he said, “How Now Purple Cow.” I started to laugh and knew what a great title that would make. Sometimes he thinks up the best titles. He was responsible for Old Murders Never Die, too.

In the meantime, that To Be Read stack keeps calling out to me. Right now I can’t  talk myself into buying more books. I’ve got to start whittling down the piles of books that threaten to knock me down.

Do any of you have this same time problem? Believe it or not, when I take a peek at my stack of books, I go through guilt for not getting to them. One way or another, I’ll get caught up on my reading.

 (And then I glanced back at the stack and realized one of the books is over 750 pages long. When will I have time for that one?) You can probably hear me sighing all over the country about now. Sorry to disturb your reading time.

Until next time, take blinders with you when you visit your favorite bookstore. You may be able to stay within your budget if you do.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website
CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

Don’t forget that A Well-Kept Family Secret is now available in audio format.

30 comments:

  1. Your husband and you were right, Marja. "How Now Purple Cow" is the perfect title for your new humorous Bogey Man mystery, which I'm reading now. Actually, I should finish it tonight and I'm "dying to know" the ending!
    As to buying books and staying within my budget, well, let's not even go there. LOL

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    1. Thank you, Pat! I hope the ending is satisfying. : ) You never know with spies, especially the elderly ones. Book budget? hahahaha Thank you so much for commenting!

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  2. Delightful post. You should see my TBR pile and the same on my Kindle. Because I'm busy writing, have little time to read.

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    1. Thank you, Marilyn. I sure wish I could find more reading time, as I know you do. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  3. I'm doing my taxes now and I'm appalled at the money I spent on books last year, but, as with many other things, I'll forget that when I next go near a bookstore, which will be on Friday. Good luck with your new book--such a good title!

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    1. Thank you, Susan. Maybe we should start stopping in at the library more often. Our budgets would love us. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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  4. I have way too many books in my Kindle and couldn't possibly live long enough to read them all--or maybe I will live long enough but will my eyesight last that long? But I keep buying and buying. And I have at least 90 favorite authors (all mystery writers) whose books I want to read each year but I keep reading new authors also. (A tropical island mystery will grab me any time.)

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    1. I'm glad to know so many feel as I do and have the same problem. As far as tropical island stories, you've written a few good ones yourself. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!

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  5. Borrowing from library only adds to a TBR stack. Mysteries lead my list followed quickly by several other categories resulting in stacks stashed in every available space. Your new book HOW KNOW PURPLE COW is a smash hit!! Clever cover with spine tingling story.

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    1. Ahhh, thank you, Jake! I'm so glad you enjoyed the story. Maybe I can whittle my stack down a little before I start the next book. Thank you so much for stopping in today!

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  6. Like you and your commenters, Marja, I have a TBR stack, too. I mainly borrow from the library, but I renew them up to four times before reading them or returning them unread. I order the books online, through the county library's website, and pick them up locally. When I pick them up, I always walk out the library door with at least two other books that I must see. Sometimes, I will buy the books after perusing them, realizing that I must OWN them. As if I don't already own way too many books . . .

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    1. You hit on a key point, Eileen. There are books I feel I must own and add to my bookcases. That's my downfall. Love the library! Thank you so much for commenting!

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  7. I wear a sweatshirt with the saying, "There's no such thing as too many books." Which, incidentally, is and has always been, my motto. Another of my favorites is, "So many books, so little time." While my bookshelves are overflowing, I find that there are certain authors I will always read first. Right now, I'm really enjoying, How Now Purple Cow.

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    1. Thank you for pasting a big grin on my face, Evelyn! I have a sweatshirt that says, So Many Books, So Little Time. I've gotten away from some of my favorite authors, and that breaks my heart. However, when Harper Lee's new book comes out, everything else will have to wait. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  8. Nice blog Marja, and though my reviews are of audiobooks, this is a lovely resource for titles and authors

    Come visit some time, http://audiothing.blogspot.com.au/
    Regards, Bec

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    1. I'm on my way over to check out your blog asap. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  9. Interesting post, Marja :-)

    I love to read ...and I love to 'own' the books I love as well...! So not only I require a huge budget to buy books ...I will also be needing to buy a new book shelf soon ...Since my old one is crammed full :-) Lolz

    As for bookstores ...I rush into them before they even have a chance to notice my presence ...much less call out my name...! :-)

    By the way, you might be glad to know that I just bought your book "The Bogey Man" in the "Sandi Webster Mystery Series", and will be starting it this very day...! Will give you my feedback after reading it ...though I already feel sure that I will enjoy it :-) In any case, really looking forward to it...!

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    1. You sound like me, Ramla. It's really difficult to pass up a bookstore, or books anywhere I find them. Yes, more bookshelves are in my future, too.

      Thank you so much for taking an interest in The Bogey Man. I hope you enjoy it. And thank you so much for commenting!

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    2. Hi Marja,

      As I wrote to you in Goodreads, I did enjoy THE BOGEY MAN ...and am grateful to your talent and hard work that provided me with many delightful hours of reading...! :-) Thanks a lot...!

      Moreover, apart from the post that I did on you and your books, I intend to link this page on my upcoming post of "Cozy Mysteries (February, 2015)", when I mention your latest book "How Now Purple Cow", so that the readers of my blog can also enjoy the background story as to how this book, and the title, came into being...! :-)

      Well, thanks again...!

      Regards,
      Ramla Zareen

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    3. Thank you so much, Ramla! Word-of-mouth is the best promotion available, as far as I'm concerned.

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  10. Letting housework go while you write? Boy, can I identify with that! Adding to the need for housework are the 50 or 60 books that won't fit on or in my bookshelf. My TBR pile is daunting!

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. At least I know I'm not the only one who lets things go. : ) Happy reading! And thank you so much for commenting!

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  11. Between writing (and that includes promoting, marketing and publishing, blogging, social media, work, family and housework, I barely have the chance to read. Or read at all. And now my TBR list is growing larger on Goodreads. But that's mostly in part that I added some new books to it after asking for suggestions for books where the MC slips/travels into a different time period or fantasy world. And today I've just added "Undertow" by Michael Buckley onto the list because I liked the book trailer. Now I'm off to find more books featuring teen+ female detectives of the Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars variety. Sigh, I never learn.

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    1. LOL You practically left me breathless, Lidy, but I know just what you mean. Thank you so much for commenting today!

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  12. Isn't "book budget" an oxymoron? Mount TBR would seem to indicate that it is. I have difficulty avoiding bookstores and library used book sales, but have done better letting go of those I will honestly never read again since two Little Free Libraries went up in my neighborhood.

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    1. You're doing better than I am, Heather. I even have trouble letting go of the ones I know I'll never read. I keep thinking, "Maybe one of these days..." Thank you so much for stopping in today!

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  13. Definitely not enough time--and eyes wear out... Great your hubby came up with the title for your latest! Neat. I've downloaded, now I need a week to escape into reading, Ha!

    Madeline

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    1. Ah, yes, the eye problem. That can be an issue for some of us, Madeline. : ) If you find that week, tell me where it was. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  14. Living in a rural area has its advantages. There are no major booksellers within an hour's drive of me. I can't hear THAT call regularly. However, I am addicted to thrift store books and library sales. Besides the lower initial price, I am contributing to a worthy cause, right? Until I get hooked on an author and then hit Amazon to get the rest of the series.
    Cozy covers are a must have in print form. My bookshelves NEED them!
    The best thing about a very cold winter is no one gives me a hard time about staying home to read.

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    1. I'm so glad you added the part about when you find authors you like, LJ, you end up hitting Amazon. : ) Thank goodness for cold weather, I think, in some ways. LOL Thank you so much for stopping in!

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