Whether it’s my first or my twenty-first, a new release is still like flying my big granny panties up a flagpole for the entire world to see. I have a new one coming out today: The Pharaoh’s Concubine, from Samhain Publishing. It’s about two men from opposite worlds who find out they’re not so different after all.
People ask if I get nervous when a new book comes out and I have to answer sure I do! Writing can be a roller coaster of highs and lows; you have to take the wins where you find them. I had one come up last weekend at the American Library Association Convention where I was ‘manning’ the MLR Press booth to help out Laura Baumbach and author James Buchanan.
That convention itself was lovely. Good friends, free books, great weather, nice restaurants… what more could anyone want? But at one point, a librarian from the Chicago Public Library system came to our booth. I introduced myself and her eyes widened with that spark of name recognition, and she said she KNEW WHO I WAS.
Holy Cow. Apparently, my St. Nacho’s Series and my book Drawn Together is in the Chicago Public Library!!!
I like money, don’t get me wrong, but finding out one of my books is in the public library somewhere gave me a charge like NOTHING I have ever felt.
The Library.
That my book is anywhere is a tremendous thrill. But finding out I’m in the library is so much more so. I wanted to plant a big, wet sloppy kiss on that nice librarian’s lips for the joy she brought me! (Yet I’m guessing that’s the definition of overkill right there…)
I’m so grateful for all the librarians who have shepherded me around and found me choice things to read and pointed me in the direction of information I needed. I love them for taking care of those books, for guarding my privacy, for looking past my children’s bad behavior, for forgiving us the occasional lost or damaged book while allowing us to make restitution without (much) comment.
By the way, the ALA gives good convention! I’ve never been to one that clean and quiet, and there were free books everywhere.
A great librarian is like the ringmaster in an infinite circus. I’ve spent thousands of hours blissfully entertained by library books.
I gave out oversized postcards of my Stirring Up Trouble cover with calendars on the back… I wonder how many librarians will magnet that to the refrigerator cover-side up?
Does anyone have any spectacular library memories? Taking my firstborn to get her library card stands out in my mind as one of the best days of my life. (In my family, that’s the equivalent of the Lion King holding his cub up for the pride to see…)
Leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an ebook copy of The Pharaoh’s Concubine and… Tell me your own library stories. I’ll do the drawing on Saturday Night to give everyone a chance to join in and announce the winner on Sunday. Good luck!
You can by The Pharaoh’s Concubine here. Here’s the blurb:
As mob boss Yvgeny Mosko’s open secret, Dylan Anderson is happy enough with a passionate, if loveless, arrangement that affords him a life of luxury. But at thirty-six, he wonders how committed Mosko will be to an aging lover.
He finds out when a rival gang kidnaps him in a turf war everyone’s sure to lose. Mosko unleashes deadly force, leaving no one alive except for a young man whose dark eyes tug at Dylan’s heart—and the conscience he thought he’d excised long ago.
Though he tried to stop the kidnapping, William “Memo” Escobar knows Mosko will use what’s left of him to send a powerful message to his rivals. When Mosko’s pampered pretty boy risks everything to help him escape, he can’t believe his luck.
Williams figures he’s better suited to life off the grid, but as the days go by he begins to realize Dylan’s beauty is more than skin deep. And as Dylan coaxes more and more beguiling smiles from William, he yearns for things—like family ties—he’d thought were best forgotten.
Yet behind their newfound happiness lurks the certain knowledge that no matter how careful they are, Mosko will come for what’s his.
Zamaxfield
/ January 16, 2011@Jenre I love those short romances, they’re like jelly beans. I used to enjoy those card pockets, because in elementary school you could see who got which book before you. If you ever saw Miyasaki’s Whispers of the Heart that was part of what happened, the girl gets curious about the boy who reads all the books she checks out before she gets to them. @Cheryl, did that work? Did they get a little more funding, or make enough donations to help? I hope so. @Lauren Finding a new library is always so exciting! @Shaina, four libraries? Cool! It is nice in the city, I’ve very much enjoyed the bookstores in San Francisco and my favorite, Powell’s in Portland.
@Cheryl, I didn’t know that. I loved that movie.
OKAY!!! Big news! I did the random line picker thing and shuffled and shuffled and the winner is: Jason!!!! I’ll email Marie, but if you want, you can email me at zamaxfield @ yahoo dot com just let me know what format you’d like and I’ll get that to you! Thanks to everyone for your wonderful memories of libraries. If any librarians are reading this, for all you do, thanks from the bottom of my heart!
Thanks so much for sharing your space with me Marie! Have a wonderful year and I wish you all the success in the world!
Marie Sexton
/ January 16, 2011Jason!! Seriously, you are the luckiest person on the planet when it comes to winning books.
I swear to the rest of you, this was not rigged!!
Chris
/ January 16, 2011Congrats, Jase!!
Jason
/ January 16, 2011wow!! Thank you so so much!! ~squee~ epub if you have it. I love you!!!
Cheryl
/ January 14, 2011“Annie” was filmed at Monmouth University’s library. Walking in, you’re a little overwhelmed by the marble and the staircase and the organ and the railings and scenes from the movie, and then you think ‘there are BOOKS here, too!’
http://library.monmouth.edu/tutorials/MU_library_tour.swf
Shaina Jones
/ January 14, 2011The Library was my escape. I lived in a small town where there was not much to do if you were not the outdoors type. I had a library card for 4 libraries which I still use today when I go back home from University. I find that living in the city has been a blessing to a person that is as obsessed to books as I am. I still remember a comment a librarian made to my mother when I was returning books and about to search for others, “your daughter is our best customer!” My mother still reminds me to this day about that comment with a smile on her face asking me if I know how many books I have read to date.
Lauren
/ January 14, 2011My favorite memory has got to be walking into the public library near the college campus for the first time. I had checked the undergrad library, but really, the selection of sci-fi, fantasy, romance, anything entertaining, was lacking. Then I walked into the public library. OMG They had a better selection than the ones back home and were probably as good as the bookstores. Happy!
Cheryl
/ January 14, 2011When the city of Newark, NJ drastically cut library funding last year, resulting in the closing of two branches and other branches only being open 3 days a week, people held the loveliest protest. Citizens staged a 24 hour vigil at the main branch of the city library where everyone took turns reading passages form their favorite books, poems, or telling stories about how much the library meant to them and their families.
Jenre
/ January 13, 2011My main memory of the library when I was a kid is discovering their stack of Mills and Boon romances at about age 14. They were short enough to read almost one a day and I used to check out about 12 at a time which is the maximum number of books I could take out. Of course in those days there were no electronic cards, just those small cardboard pockets to hold the book card. Each book had to have the card removed, placed in the cardboard pocket and be stamped with the date. I expect everyone in line behind me at the library counter was cursing
.
Zamaxfield
/ January 13, 2011@Morgon You know, no matter how many times I read something like that it still gives me chills. My very own library card… It’s funny how this particular blog, among all the many I’ve written lately, has brought tears to my eyes, not only from my own memories (I remember exactly what my daughter was wearing when our librarian handed her her first card) but also from reading the really wonderful, sweet, heartwarming thoughts of others on the subject.
While I was responding our governor proposed a budget that would eliminate funding for public libraries. Geez. Way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Thanks for sharing your story, it got me right where I live. Those first tentative steps toward independence don’t always happen when we head out by ourselves, (although, as in your case and in the case of my ill-fated bus ride, they do) but sometimes those first steps happen when you wander into a library and pick up a book…
Morgon
/ January 12, 2011Ahh, libraries…some of my most favorite places on earth! I can easily imagine how exciting it must be to know your books are in the library system, congrats! I’m glad to hear you have a new release out, as I can never seem to get enough of your books.
I have a million wonderful library memories, but one of the earliest is still among the best. I had just gained permission to walk as far from the house as the library was, so I picked up an application and brought it home for my mom to sign. At least, I assume that all happened; what I really remember is the moment, standing at the desk, when I handed in the application and the librarian handed me my very own library card, the key to wondrous worlds.
Zamaxfield
/ January 12, 2011@Taylor Oh, my goodness, that was so kind of Mr. Comstock. And what a rush to be deemed worthy to enter into the Adult Section before you were of age! Librarians rock out loud. There’s a lot of that job that must be pretty thankless, but I say we all rush to the library and thank a librarian as soon as we can! @Justine When I discovered my first well-researched young adult historical romance novel, An Innocent Wayfaring by Marchette Chute, I swear by all that’s holy a switch flipped in my head and that was it. It was… very much a defining moment for me. When I went from being a reader for brief kicks to being a reader for real and lasting pleasure. I love mysteries too. Books went from something to do when there was nothing better, to something like lasting friends.
@AKM Librarians really can be friends. There was a young man at our library when my kid were small and we used to call him Conan The Librarian. He’s the one who gave my daughter her first library card. I’ll never forget him even though he moved to another library. @Chris Riding the bus to the library was one of the few really independent things I did as a preteen. But once I missed my stop and ended up in that place where buses go to die… You guessed it, I was reading. That was terrifying, but looking back, pretty predictable. Finally my dad came and got me at the bus yard… It was after dark though and I was practically hysterical. Note to self: Buses do not go in circles like the trams at Disneyland. Sometimes they stop going at all. @Tam, I can’t imagine being that far away from the library, but I’ve always lived in the city/suburbs. What a treat though. Like Music Man where they’re waiting for the Wells Fargo Wagon. Speaking of which, there’s a great Librarian song in that musical I kept hearing in my head at the ALA convention and I found myself humming it all day. I love you madly, madly Madame Librarian, Marion… 
@ Sheila Good for you! It’s impossible to imagine life without libraries. I’m sure that your fundraising is going to really enrich some lives and you couldn’t be doing it for a better cause! @Kaetrin Isn’t it wonderful when your kid loves books as much as you do? I have a picture of all of us (except me I guess since I was taking it) on a camping trip. We were all sitting under the awning of my RV in camp chairs, in Bryce Canyon Utah, reading. LOL. Not too outdoorsy of us. @Nicole, I do that too. Even if I’m just visiting someone for a week or two, I scope out the library and the grocery store! If I have those, it makes a strange place feel more familiar. And you’re right, there’s a bonding thing, libraries really bring people together, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild… The whole subject makes me feel HUGELY sentimental… *sighs*
Thanks everyone for your cool comments, I’m thrilled so many people love libraries as much as I do!
Nicole
/ January 12, 2011The library has always been my favorite place in the world. As soon as I could read, I started spending every Sunday morning with my father at the library. He would be in the western section, or looking at Jazz cd’s. I would be in the sci-fi/fantasy section. As I got older, I found my way into the romance section and never looked back. It was always my escape from the boring life of a shy little girl. I could go anywhere, be anyone. Even now, the library is a special place. If I move to a new city, the first thing I do is scope out the local library and get myself a card. When I am feeling said or stressed, I walk among the shelves, looking at all the different kinds of books, and it relaxes me. And now I have two young children, who are often asking me to go to the library, though they went the day before. I am so happy to have passed on my love of reading to them. To see the wonder and excitement in their eyes as they find some new story. It brings me back to those shared Sundays with my father. Some of my best memories are there.
Kaetrin
/ January 12, 2011Back when I hardly had any money to buy books I was at the library all the time – I’m a member of 4 different library systems in the hope that one of them would have the book I was after. Now I don’t go to the library as often but I encourage my little boy to go and soak it all in. Happily, it seems he loves books almost as much as I do.
@ ZA Maxfield – I just read your novella in the His for the Holidays anthology – I hadn’t read anything of yours before but I’ll definitely be looking out for more of your work.
@Marie Sexton – I recently read your Coda series and loved them, especially Strawberries for Dessert – please please please tell me we will see more of Cole and Jonathon?
Marie Sexton
/ January 12, 2011Hi Kaetrin! You will see a bit more of Cole and Jon in Paris A to Z, which is due out in April. Technically this is the end of Zach and Angelo’s story, but it features all three of the Coda couples. After that, there is possibly another story for Cole and Jon, but it’s still brewing in my brain.
Thanks for your comment, and I’m really glad you enjoyed the books!
Sheila
/ January 11, 2011Libraries are important. I go to a couple of book clubs at mine. I am currently involved in a 6 week read-a-thon to raise funds to keep all the Carnegie Libraries in Pittsburgh open so that no neighborhoods lose their community gathering place.
Tam
/ January 11, 2011I grew up in the great white north where there was no public library. They have one now but not when I was a kid. For us poor deprived souls we could order books in the big city 300 miles away and they would mail them to you and let you read them. I remember being introduced to Babar that way and nothing was better than the next bundle of books in the mail. I think libraries are invaluable and when I lived in Europe, I missed it terribly. I was in Poland and there was only one small English language book store on top of it. We did buy some books from Amazon.co.uk, but that was expensive as well. When we moved back to Canada I practically lived at the library for the first few years, catching up on everything I’d missed (or I thought I’d missed) while I’d been away.
Looking forward to your new release and yay on being in the library.
Chris
/ January 11, 2011Congrats on the new release, but especially congrats on being in the library!!
Good library memories – I have lots. Riding to the Rochester (MN) Public Library on the bus with my mom when I was a preschooler. Going to the much smaller Stewartville (MN) Public Library for years and years. The elementary school library and librarian who were so good to me. The various branches of the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) when I was an undergrad and then in grad school. The Bemidji (MN) Public Library, the Rapid City (SD) Public Library, and the tiny Hill City (SD) Public Library kept me sane during summer recreation/forestry jobs in the middle of nowhere. The Minneapolis Public Library (Walker Branch) that I can walk to now. The public library near work where they know me on sight…
AKM Miles
/ January 11, 2011I’m originally from a small town, very small, and had read all the books in the library, so every time they got a new shipment in, Maryann, the librarian, would call me to tell me. Off I’d go to get new ones. She was wonderful and a life friend. Good memories of that dark basement library.
Justine
/ January 11, 2011I loved spending time in my village library as a child. I used to take 6 books at a time which was the maximum they’d allow. I always had my nose in a book. I read as much as I could and always had books on order. I then progressed to the young adult and adult fiction. Was even then a romance junkie with mysteries thrown in. Some of my happiest memories and leaving the library with new books. Not been to one in years now. But am still a complete book addict – ebooks made life alot simpler and lighter.
Loved all your books and eagerly await the next one
Taylor
/ January 11, 2011My hometown library was so small and yet they seemed charmed by this young reader. I blew through the entire “under 13″ section twice before I was 11, and they didn’t quite know what to do with me.
Finally, the library administrator, a very kindly older gentleman named Mr. Comstock, brought me into his office and painstakingly wrote up a list of recommended books, books he himself would allow me to take out from the adult section. This was a big deal, since anyone under 13 couldn’t even go into the young adult room, much less read adult books.
There were some biographies and historical non-fic, some classics, he didn’t see anything wrong with me reading westerns *grin*, and a smattering of Harlequin Romance and Presents.
Just the fact that this gentleman took so much time and nurtured my interest in reading still resonates with me today.
Zamaxfield
/ January 11, 2011So many great responses, I’ll try not to leave a thousand messages in reply but @PD I’ve gone in to get away from too much sunshine and blue sky… LOL It’s good to get away with the Bronte girls when you’re from sunny soCal. @Phoenix No Kidding, that library card is the ticket to anywhere… So exciting @Tara OH! I used to want to drive either the bookmobile or the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, they both still give me chills! @Zuradia My mother talked about the day she got her library card till the day she died. For many of us, I guess, that memory is crystal clear and wonderful… You sorta made me cry! *sniff* @Kelly, Oh man me too, where to start? @Melanie THAT would be a great children’s book and I double dog dare you to write it! @Elfen, the smell of books is sacred, isn’t it? @Amanda B. That is hilarious, they knew when you weren’t in town, I’ll bet! I used to take my kids to the library kid events and we’d take up a lot of space because there’s four of them… Lots of books went home, most came back.
@Ann, oh, yeah. Thank you Andrew Carnegie, indeed huh? “Armload of books and a heart full of anticipation…” that’s just lovely. *sighs* @Amanda Shy works well with libraries, it’s a great place to go with no expectation of having to be overtly social… Plus there’s all those books to read! @ThinkWithin I don’t go to the library as much as I used to either, the kids started reading more manga and we had to go elsewhere because our local public library didn’t have any… Now I read a lot more m/m and they don’t have those either. I should donate mine… Hm…@Jem, isn’t that odd! Ours doesn’t carry much GLBT. I think they’d consider mine porn because the language is frank and the sex explicit — not that there’s anything wrong with that as I see it but I live behind the Orange Curtain. @Hayley, aw thanks so much! @Jason I looked forward to library day too, so much. Such anticipation. What will I read today!@Rachel Our local library sponsors a “Campout in the Library night” for kids… They take sleeping bags and pillows and listen to stories and have snacks… Our librarians are so intrepid… @Kei-chan It’s amazing seeing it (seeing anything really) through a child’s eyes. A million adventures waiting for you to open by turning a page… Thanks for sharing your thoughts everyone!
Sabrina Ayala
/ January 11, 2011Libraries. I have a sort of love/ hate relationship with them. I love them because I can try new genres and authors all without risking my hard earned money. I hate them because when I find an awesome new author… I have trouble giving the book back. Lol. On the whole though, libraries are my comfort spots. I curl up at the library with a new book and let my worries and troubles waste away for a couple hours. When I leave, they come back, but for those few hours I am at peace.
-S
p.s.- LOVED Crossing Borders
PD Singer
/ January 11, 2011I love libraries: the whole county pays taxes to keep Pam in books. Congrats on being in one!
They’ve always been my refuge. I went to college in upstate New York, where the sky turns gun-metal gray in October and one sees blue again sometime in April. I’m a Western girl, and that gloom…. I learned to study in the second sub-basement of the library, where no window looked out into a sunless day, and the books surrounded me. That library probably saved my life.
Phoenix Emrys
/ January 11, 2011Libraries. Spent half my life in one growing up. Even got to work in one as a part time job when I was in high school. That was pretty cool. Just walked up to the head librarian and said I wanted to work there and she should hire me because well, I wanted to work there and she just should. Believe it or not, she gave me the job. Snort.
But by far my fondest library memory was the day I got my library card for the adult library. I was about seven or so, and my folks made a big production of taking me down there, the the North Bay Public Library and walking me ceremonially over to the adult side and getting me signed up. When the librarian handed me that card it was like she’d just given me a solid gold ticket to paradise. I proceeded to rack up up some serious stampage on that sucker. Yep, it didn’t get much better than that!
Tara
/ January 11, 2011When I was in elementary school I loved bookmobile day. My school didn’t really have a library so the bookmobile came every Thursday and I would alway get in trouble for staying to long or trying to take too many books, but there were so many choices! (I’m still that way)
Zuradia Worrell
/ January 11, 2011First of all, congratulations on your new release. That is indeed exciting news. Now for my library story. I remember when I got my first library card. I was in fourth grade. I had already been through the slim selection available to me at the school. (I’ve always been a big reader.) So one Saturday, my step-father takes me and my brother on a walk around the block, or so I thought we were going around the block. Well instead we end up walking literally across the street and into this building. I remember looking around and my eyes getting big looking at all of the books available. Then he takes me up to the counter and helps me fill out the paper to get my first official library card. That day I checked out so many books at once, that the librarian there had to give me a large bag to carry them all. Please believe that I read them all and brought them back a week later. This time though I was prepared. From then on, if I knew I was going to the library, I brought a backpack with me. Since then, I have always kept my library card up to date, never letting it expire.
Kelly, The Glass Dragonfly
/ January 11, 2011My hometown library was an older building and it was lovely. I loved going in there, just to be in the building. And then there were books! I remember the kids section was in the basement and I remember being a little overwhelmed. Where to start!?!
melanie marshall
/ January 11, 2011I love the library. I have so many happy memories from going there as a child, taking my daughter who loves to read there as she grew up and then as a Naturalist who did nature story times, running over to my children librarian friends to see if they had any recommendations for me.
But truly, the funniest memory is of Aspen Hill Library, back when the childrens sections were still allowed to have “pets”. They had a small bunny, Alfred, and it had gotten loose somewhere in the childrens section. We were all commandeered to look for the little rascal (who was a real escape artist!). After much searching, I was the one to find him. I was laughing so hard that it took me a while to call out, because there he was, all bright eyes and nose a twitching in the 580′s section, crouching on the shelf amongst the childrens animal books! I should have known a library bunny would be so literary! I have often thought that it would make a wonderful childrens book!
Please enter me in the contest too! Thanks.
Elfen
/ January 11, 2011Favorite memory: when my hometown’s new library opened and it had an awesome foyer with a skylight… being about 10 yrs old, walking into that library, bright & shiny, then smelling books… the whole experience is kind of burned in. All my life, books have been my favorite friends, so this pretty place to wallow in them was quite special.
Congrats on the new release, sounds fantastic – I’m looking forward to it!
Amanda Beyerlein
/ January 11, 2011When I was a child, the local library used to tell my family that they knew when we were on vacation because their circulation fell by 50%! Once a week, we would go to the library with three bags – one for me, one for my mother, and one for my brothers. As a teen, I volunteered for the summer reading program and worked in the school library. Now, as an adult with a house FULL of books (thousands!), I still find myself at the public library on a very regular basis. So many books, so little time!
Ann Byassee
/ January 11, 2011When I was a kid, we settled in a small town in Kentucky. The public library was within walking distance, so every Saturday I would walk there, spend hours browsing, and then make my selections and go home to curl up with my new friends. Even though our town was small, the library was quite good. It was a Carnegie library (thank you, Andrew Carnegie!). On my recent visit home for Christmas, I saw the new library the town has just built. It looks wonderful, and I’m pleased my hometown still understands how important a library is to the community. But my favorite memories are of the old library and those Saturday walks with an armload of books and a heart full of anticipation.
Amanda
/ January 11, 2011In high school and college I spent hours in the school libraries. I am a shy person but I love to read so they were a perfect fit for me. When I was a child I loved our local library because it had so many childrens books but as I became an adult I noticed its adult fiction section was limited. Looking back I can say I read more romance novels from the high school library then from the towns public library, thats rather odd now that I think about it.
Anyway I can’t wait to read The Pharaoh’s Concubine, it sounds great!!
ThinkWithin
/ January 11, 2011I remember when my mom used to take me to the library as a child. We didn’t have much money, so the books I had to read at home were in bad shape from overuse. She would allow me to choose 10 books each time to take home. Then when I was a teenager, I was so excited when I was finally able to have my very own library card!!! Sad to say, but I don’t really use the library anymore. But I still love to visit.
Jem
/ January 11, 2011Sadly, my library (despite being in one of the richest, highest taxed counties on the East Coast) isn’t worth the trouble. They don’t have enough popular works, and their LGBT section is non-existent. I am delighted that your titles are in a public library somewhere though! Hopefully, more M/M romance will creep into the system. Could your provide a blurb for the new book? The Samhain site is down for maintenance…
Marie Sexton
/ January 11, 2011Jem, you’re right, I should have added that into ZAM’s post. If you go here and scroll down, you can find the blurb.
Thanks!
Jem
/ January 11, 2011Thanks!
hayley
/ January 11, 2011I can not wait to read this. I love your work!
Jason
/ January 11, 2011I loved the school library when I was young. I got so excited on the days I knew we would visit the library and I could pick out a new book to read.
Rachel Haimowitz
/ January 11, 2011Oh man, the library used to be a second home to my geeky self. Once in college I got to spend an evening in the basement of the university library, where they kept all the boxes and stacks and piles of books they hadn’t looked at yet, or had pulled from the shelves, plus a bunch of random old artifacts like 18th century spinning wheels and scythes. That old-book smell was *everywhere*. Coulda been happy down there for months.
Kei-chan
/ January 11, 2011Like you my favorite library moment is probably taking my oldest to get his library card. He was so excited. He wanted to take home every book he saw. We settled for a pile of Star Wars and Scooby Doo books. His tastes have broadened, but he still takes home a pile.