Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Reading

Back to the Bookstores!

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Took a day trip down to Lincoln City recently and visited a bookstore I wanted to checkout, Robert’s Bookshop. When I entered, the maze of pathways and books thrilled my writer soul. There are few things I like more than winding through aisles, nooks, and crannies to discover used and antiquarian treasures.

This eclectic bookstore has everything from older books to vinyl records, poster art, and other collectibles. Be still my heart.

The children’s book corner came complete with a small rocking chair. The paperbacks were kept company by hardbacks and various posters and artwork on the walls. I kept moving into the warren of shelves feeling like Indiana Jones. A book quest is always a happy challenge.

Because I am a lifelong reader, I forged on until I discovered the romance section. Far back left corner, just so you know. A wide range of older paperbacks greeted my eyes. Even favorite vintage romance books. Score!

There were also surprising items, like a signed photo of Erle Stanley Gardner (Perry Mason author) and Clark Gable’s driver’s license. Those items are chocolate sprinkles for a bibliophile on a quest.  To say nothing about the miniature vintage paperback books wrapped in plastic to protect them.

Then I found two paperback copies of Gidget and Gidget Goes Hawaiian with actress Deborah Walley’s picture on the covers. Yes, I know Sandra Dee was the original Gidget movie actress. I always wanted to be Gidget, but swimming is not one of my skills, hence my Army days.

You can find Robert’s Bookshop at 3412 SE Highway 101 or online at robertsbookshop.com The shop is hard to miss. There is a 1967 Boeing 727-100 aircraft nose sticking out the side of the building in the parking lot. It’s a private office, no visitors allowed, but a heck of a landmark.

When we venture into September with Labor Day weekend in the rearview mirror, it means the start of the rainy season here in Oregon. And I’m good with that. Nothing like a soggy day to venture into the many Oregon bookstores, then curl up with a book at home accompanied by hot cocoa and cookies. Simple pleasures are the best.

And if you want to add to your fall reading pile, Forbidden Warrior, my latest book in the Moonstruck Makeovers series is out now. Check it out here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FN8QVL6F

Because the rule in my house?

You can never have too many books when the cold weather arrives.

Or cookies.

Happy Fall, Y’all!

Celebrating Jane Austen

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Some of my teacups surrounded by my two new Jane Austen books. It’s always time for a relaxing tea party and a good novel.

Want to escape?

Me too. So that’s what I did last weekend, I retreated to Jane Austen.

For me this meant rewatching Hallmark’s Paging Mr. Darcy and then streaming Austenland. And then I was down the research rabbit hole.

Discovered this is Jane’s 250th birthday year. Then I found a new book about the women authors who inspired Jane’s writing. Off to Barnes and Noble I went and pounced on that volume, then found a collection of all seven of her novels. Score! Snatched that up too.

Austen confessions. I haven’t actually read the books. Not growing up. Not sure how I missed her in all my high school literature classes. But I was reading Harlequin books from the git go. And a huge Shakespeare fan, so not sure how I got derailed. But then, I saw the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice. With Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden.

Sweet mother of boots and breeches.

I know. Let’s all take a moment. In reverence. Make sure to breathe.

The rain scene?

Then when Darcy strides across the fields?

Never in all my born days… Vapors. Swooning. Breathing optional.

I adore that film so much I have two DVD copies in case one gets scratched.

Say what you want about us Baby Boomers and our analog media, but the Army taught me; if you don’t have it, you don’t HAVE it.

Then I discovered something else.

It’s the 20th Anniversary of the movie and they are bringing it back to the big screen in selected theaters on April 20th!

Not sure my heart can take it. I checked locally and it is in three theaters here in Vancouver, Washington, and in Beaverton, Oregon, on April 18. Ladies and gents, check your theater listings. It’s movie go time!

Now, if for some unromantic reason you don’t prefer Jane Austen, you do you, but here are some other escapes.

Opening March 28th is The Penguin Lessons, which I didn’t know about, based on the book of the same name. A story of a teacher and his bird. Based on a true adventure. This is a must see for me.

Last night on Netflix I started watching The Residence, a murder mystery series set in the White House. It is brilliant. Of course, Shonda Rhimes produced it, so expect only the best. I stopped at three episodes. Not easy. Had to get some sleep. Back at it tonight.

Or go outside for a promenade.

It’s been rumored we might have three days of sun next week. Always a win.

Or hunt down where you can view other Jane Austen inspired movies from Hallmark like An American in Austen, Sense and Sensibility, and Jane and Love from 2024, or Unleashing Mr. Darcy from 2016. Or the gazillion others made over the years. Emma is a big favorite of mine too, with Ann Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, and Bill Nighy.

Right now, I am reading Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos.

Love is the greatest power on earth.

Let’s refill our hearts and work toward everybody getting a happily ever after.

Inside and outside the book pages.

I leave you with the 20th Anniversary film trailer to make your day.

You’re welcome.

 

Are You In A Summer Frame Of Mind?

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Played hooky from my blog today. I blame the nice summer weather and escaping from the day job to get the brakes done on my car. Waiting for Subie to get her new shoes, I read one of my favorite romance books while the scent of rubber tires and popped popcorn drifted through the waiting area.

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Who knows how to relax better than a cat? Nobody!

By the time I arrived home, all I wanted to do was continue to laze around in a summer daze. So that is what I did. Spec Ops Cat helped out too; he’s a pro at relaxing. Some days the best thing to do is to enjoy the summer breezes and slow down. Read, relax and recharge.

Are you in a summer frame of mind?

Las Vegas Education?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Still processing all the things I saw in Las Vegas, but I’ve come up with some lessons learned that might be helpful to others.

Did not see any books in Las Vegas on the Strip. Okay, I saw a couple children’s books at the Siegfried and Roy Dolphin and Tiger Sanctuary, but the only other books I saw were in the Elvis exhibit from what he had on his nightstand. Elvis loved to read. Yes!

White tigers and lions are amazing; tiger cubs even cuter! Tigers are bigger than lions. I had no idea. Cubs make the cutest growly noises when they play.

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McDonald’s has some killer oatmeal and it’s way cheaper than $7.99 for a bowl of room service oatmeal. McDonald’s is also smoke free, which cannot be said about any other place on the Strip practically, except Denny’s.

I gamble very little, bet a buck and cashed out at $1.11. Don’t drink much and didn’t go to a show. I wasn’t there for a convention, bachelor or bachelorette party. So I am not their target demographic. I’m good with that. Las Vegas hosts 22,000 conventions a year. That is NOT a typo.

The street performers are everywhere. Personally ran into KISS, Chewbacca, Mickey and Minnie, Hello Kitty, Catwoman, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, multiple Minions, the snowman from Frozen, show girls, dominatrixes (how do you make that plural?) some guy in cowboy boots, cape and red, white and blue underwear who must have been freezing and Darth Vader. To name a few. All I did was walk outside.

Took in the night lights bus tour of the casinos and when everyone was taking pictures of The Mirage volcano erupting, I was taking pictures of them and the rest of the Strip. Another rule from photojournalism; when everybody is looking in one direction, look the other way!

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Highlights were seeing the dolphins, lions and tigers and learning about the conservation program to save them all. Enjoyed the Elvis exhibit from Graceland very much. Got to see his actual Army uniform too. The end of the exhibit had a 26-minute film of Elvis performing from 1956 to 1973. You can only see it at this exhibit and it is amazing.

One song in particular he sang hit me pretty hard and I wasn’t the only one tearing up. I’ve thought of it many times since returning home.

In these days before Thanksgiving, I am so glad to live in the USA and be grateful for all I have. Because no matter what happens, America was built by dreamers for dreamers. We have to keep dreaming big.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Writers Must Be Young Reader Book Pushers!

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by Kimberly A. Cook                        (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Read a wonderful article on Friday by Frank Bruni of the “The New York Times” about the importance of literacy in our nation and the disturbing pleasure reading figures for young adults. Seems the current digital natives are veering away from reading to plug-in and zone out even more than we thought.

Original keeper books from my salad days.
Original keeper books from my salad days.

It made me think of my book favorites from grade and middle school. I promptly went to the keeper shelf and gathered a few and took their picture.

Interesting to note what I read in my early years is what still drives me now; romance, mystery, suspense. Seems we might know what writers we are to become by what we read as children.

Kids not reading for pleasure is a huge issue. The article quoted a statistic from the Common Sense Media report that reading for pleasure has declined for ages 13 to 17. It goes on to say “Fewer than 20 percent of 17-year-olds now read for pleasure ‘almost every day.’

Whoa! I know teens are busy, but this is not good for many reasons. The article goes on to talk about the symbiotic link between reading and intelligence. Just like exercise the more you do it the fitter you become, body or brain.

It has never been more important for our youth to read for pleasure. This crusade does not belong to only the Young Adult authors, this is a mercenary business need for all writers. If we don’t make young adult readers, we won’t have adult readers!

It’s time to become a book pusher today!

Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/opinion/bruni-read-kids-read.html?_r=0