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Loyal fans of best-selling author Linwood Barclay will remember the Archer family from No Time for Goodbye (2007). Barclay's new novel, No Safe House, picks up seven years later. Once again, seemingly idyllic neighborhoods hold dark secrets, and the murder of two elderly locals has everyone on edge. The Archers are still recovering—and quite frankly not doing a great job of it. Their little family unit threatens to fall apart, and they soon once again find themselves fighting for their lives.
Barclay certainly has his finger on what makes for a fast-paced, intense tale of suspense and secrets. We wanted to know what books shaped him as a writer.
The Hardy Boys opened the door, but it was Lew Archer who really invited me in.
The first books I ever read—not counting The Cat in the Hat, which is a classic, but not really what we're talking about here—were crime novels.
The first honest-to-God hardcover crime novel I owned was a Hardy Boy book. It was The Great Airport Mystery, the ninth adventure starring brothers Frank and Joe Hardy. There were bad guys. There was action. There was a mystery to be solved.
I was hooked. I read as many Hardy Boys novels as I could get my hands on. The Tower Treasure, The House on the Cliff, What Happened at Midnight.
Somewhere around the fifth or sixth grade, I discovered Agatha Christie. The plots became more intricate, more inventive. I devoured the classics. The A.B.C. Murders, Murder on the Orient Express, And Then There Were None.
About a year after that, I stumbled upon the Nero Wolfe novels by Rex Stout, and loved those even more. The plots were every bit as good as Christie's, but there was something more. There was humor. Crackling dialogue. As memorable a character as crime fiction has ever had: Nero Wolfe himself. (Apologies to Sherlock Holmes fans. Yes, he's probably the single most memorable crime solver, but amazingly, at this point in my mystery education, I hadn't yet discovered him.)
Stout's books were terrific, and, oh joy, there were so many of them. By the time I'd read all of them, I was about 14 or 15, and looking for something new.
I found it on the squeaky, spinning paperback rack at the IGA grocery store in Bobcaygeon, Ontario. It was the Bantam edition of The Goodbye Look by Ross Macdonald, and what caught my eye was the quote at the top of the cover: "The finest series of detective novels ever written by an American." (That was from William Goldman's review in The New York Times, and a few short years later I would be blown away by his novel Marathon Man, which remains one of my favorite thrillers ever.)
No one seems to know whether blurbs work or not, but that one worked on me. I bought that book and was completely drawn in by the detective work of one Lew Archer. I followed him through this case and all the others available at that time, including The Galton Case, The Doomsters, The Zebra-Striped Hearse and, one of the best crime novels of all time, The Chill.
These were the books that changed me. These books showed me how an author could take the conventions of the mystery novel and use them to do more than figure out how someone was murdered in a locked room. Through Archer, Macdonald shined a light on America's darkness. He explored family dysfunction, alienated and troubled youth, the corruption of wealth and, in later novels, the destruction of our environment.
Macdonald may not have been the first to show the world that a mystery could be a novel, that it could be literature, but he was the first to show me. No writer had a greater impact on me up to that time, nor has any writer since.
Thanks, Linwood! Readers, No Safe House is on sale August 5.
Mystery fans: Was there a mystery you read at an early age that you'll never forget?
Author photo credit Bill Taylor.
Ravenous mystery readers know that crime isn't limited to big cities. It's not even limited to Amish farms, charming British villages or too-perfect suburbs. Revenge and murder even finds its way to paradise, such as in Mark Troy's new mystery, The Splintered Paddle. In a guest blog post, Troy shares his insight into the dark side of Hawaii.
Where do most fictional private eyes hang their fedoras? That's easy: New York City, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Far down on the list is Honolulu.
You can name the Honolulu private eye series on one hand. Television gave us Tracey Steele and Tom Lopaka in "Hawaiian Eye," and Thomas Magnum in "Magnum, P.I." The list of Hawaiian private eye novel series begins and ends with Charles Kneif's John Caine. Some mainland-based eyes, such as Sharon McCone and Adrian Monk, have had adventures in the islands, but none have stayed. The most famous Hawaiian crime fighters are police detectives Charlie Chan and Steve McGarrett (both incarnations), but, even with their inclusion, the list is a short one. One gets the sense that there just isn't much crime in the islands.
In the minds of most people, Hawaii is a paradise of golden sands, sparkling waters, waving palm trees and gyrating hula girls. Where are the mean streets? They are everywhere, but, like the changes in seasons, they are easily missed until you have spent time there.
Although I love Hawaii, its beaches and mountains, what I love most are its people and culture. By culture, I don't mean hula dances and ukuleles, but the circumstances of history and geography from which the spirit of the people is formed.
One of the tenets of Hawaiian culture is a long tradition of resisting mistreatment of its citizens and of taking care of the weak and helpless. That tenet is stated in the Law of the Splintered Paddle—Kānāwai Māmalahoe in Hawaiian. The law was the first edict promulgated by Kamehameha I after uniting the islands.
The Law of the Splintered Paddle is basically understood to mean that citizens have a right to defend themselves against mistreatment by the government and that the weaker members of society can expect protection from the more powerful members. The state constitution makes mention of the law and the Honolulu Police badge bears an image of crossed canoe paddles in reference to the law.
Ava Rome, the private eye in my stories, is an outsider. She is not Hawaiian by birth or upbringing, so she brings an outsider's perspective to the culture. In that, she is like many other private eyes. What sets her apart from other private eyes is her mission. Ava believes in the Law of the Splintered Paddle. She believes in protecting the defenseless. She has adopted this basic tenet of Hawaiian culture and made it her mission in life. She doesn't require innocence to take on a client, only defenselessness.
Ava's belief in the Law of the Splintered Paddle is fueled by a burden of guilt over her failure, as a teenager, to protect her brother from bullying. She is determined not to fail anyone else. She takes on a prostitute who is being harassed by a high-ranking police officer and a troubled teenager who has fallen prey to her own bad decisions and to the predations of a marijuana grower. Ava's greatest challenge, however, arrives in the form of an ex-con, whom she had arrested when she was an MP. He is out. He is seeking revenge, and he harbors a secret from her past.
The Splintered Paddle is the story of a private eye, Ava Rome, and her personal foray down the mean streets of Hawaii to protect the defenseless in the dark side of paradise tourists seldom see.
Thanks, Mark! Readers, The Splintered Paddle is now available.
In today's guest post, BookPage contributor Carla Jean Whitley discusses what it's like to go from critic to critiqued on the eve of the publication of her first book.
I was recently part of a group of readers who were assessing recent reads and recommending a variety of books. A dozen people curled themselves around cups of coffee in the second-story nook of my local bookstore, eager to hear what upcoming books the booksellers would suggest.
Some of those gathered—including me—were equally excited to share the best books we'd read lately. But as the conversation grew more analytical, I was taken aback by a realization: Soon, readers could be assessing my book.
I've grown accustomed to reviewing other people's work. Review writing was my favorite course in grad school, and my first writing paycheck was for a book review. I've reviewed books and music for much of the 10 years since that first piece was published. I try to consider the reader or listener, not the author or musician, when I write a review; even so, I'm keenly aware that there's nothing to be gained in beating up on an artist. Even when I'm editing at my full-time magazine job or grading the work of college students, I'm quick to offer criticism coupled with praise.
Will reviewers be so kind when they read my work?
My first book, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music, goes on sale today. It's a history of a tiny recording studio in northwest Alabama and how it became a destination for artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, The Black Keys and the Rolling Stones. Eleven-and-a-half months lapsed between the day I received a signed book contract and the moment I hit send on an email containing my manuscript. I spent those days buried in research, poring over album reviews and old interviews, watching documentaries and searching for mentions of the historic Alabama recording studio. And as I did, I battled the voices in my head, which were quick to assess every stroke of the keyboard.
As I wrote, I often returned to my writing mantra, care of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird: shitty first drafts. I practice this daily as a magazine editor, but writing a book amplified every insecurity I've got. Rather than obsessing about whether people would like the book, if it would sell well or what I might write in the future, I labored to redirect my attention to the thing I know best: Writing.
After months of questioning myself—but never the story of this remarkable recording studio—I'm ready to hold the finished product in my hands.
order from: BAM | B & N | Indiebound | Amazon
Carla Jean Whitley is a writer, editor and teacher based in Birmingham, Alabama, where she is managing editor of Birmingham magazine. She is a regular BookPage contributor, and is still talking about her favorite book of 2013, Karen Joy Fowler's We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. Carla Jean volunteers with literacy organizations and teaches journalism at the University of Alabama and Samford University. Connect with her at carlajeanwhitley.com.
Author photo by Cheryl Joy Miner.
Like his rebellious game warden Mike Bowditch, Maine author Paul Doiron has come a long way. His debut thriller, The Poacher's Son, was nominated for an Edgar Award, and each subsequent book has gained richness and nuance. In Doiron's newest novel, The Bone Orchard, Mike shows signs of becoming a real hero. Doiron shares a little bit about the journey he has made as a writer and how it is reflected in his hero's story.
When I began writing my first novel, The Poacher's Son, I had no idea I was about to change my life. I was a magazine journalist who had written a few nonfiction articles about Maine game wardens, and one Saturday morning, I started noodling around with a short piece of fiction—not even a story, just an anecdote—about a rookie warden and a marauding black bear. For reasons I still don't understand, I wrote the episode from the perspective of the young man, whom I named Mike Bowditch. It didn't occur to me that this might be the beginning of a crime novel, let alone a series of them.
I just wrote the story and, because I liked what I'd done, I kept going. I decided my warden should return home after dealing with the bear. What does he find there? A message on the answering machine. Who is it from? His estranged father. Who is his father? A notorious poacher in the North Woods. Mike Bowditch, I decided, has become a law enforcement officer to make amends for his dad's life of criminal acts.
As I continued writing, I found that one creative choice led inevitably to another. A son who chooses his profession as a rebuke to his father is going to have a lot of unresolved issues. He would be filled with anger and yet crave approval and respect. And because I was writing this story in the first person, it followed that Mike Bowditch would be blind to his own emotional problems. The plot of what I now recognized as the beginning of a novel took shape from this essential conflict in his character. The father is accused of having committed murder, but the son, despite his boiling resentments, cannot bring himself to believe that he is guilty.
Flash forward several years: The Poacher's Son is done, and I have just approached Ann Rittenberg, the woman who will become my literary agent. She asks if the book is the first in a series of Mike Bowditch novels. The idea had been brewing in the back of my mind while I was writing. Game wardens are Maine's off-road police force, and they are involved in the investigation of almost every major crime committed here. There were opportunities for my troubled-but-brave young warden to get himself messed up in any number of stories. In fact, I was itching to tell them.
I also recognized that few readers would continue rooting for an impetuous and headstrong protagonist if he didn't mature, no matter what other noble qualities he might possess. Rather than write about a character who stays the same from book to book, I decided, my series would be about the process of becoming a hero. How does it happen? What mistakes would Mike Bowditch need to make, both personally and professionally, from story to story, and how would he learn from them?
The Bone Orchard is my fifth book, and I have said that it is my best (although readers will get to decide that question for themselves), and I'll try to explain why. Over the course of the series we have watched Mike Bowditch get in recurring trouble with his superiors who believe he is unfit to be a law enforcement officer. At the beginning of The Bone Orchard, Mike has finally come to the same conclusion. He has left the Warden Service and is working as a fishing guide. He is trying to move on with his life. He has gone from troublemaker to caretaker, tending to both a mansion in the woods and the family of an incarcerated friend.
There's only one problem: "Just because you're done with the past, doesn't mean the past is done with you," Mike realizes. After his former sergeant Kathy Frost is forced to kill an unstable Afghan War veteran in what is a "suicide-by-cop" incident, she begins receiving threats. She blames Mike for having left the service, for not having been with her as back-up the night of the shooting. When she herself becomes targeted by a sniper seemingly out for revenge, Mike finds himself outside the investigation and second-guessing his decision to quit. His newfound maturity allows him to see that there are other ways of getting answers than going head-to-head with people. And he realizes, as he gets pulled into the hunt for the shooter, that he has all the necessary instincts and skills to be a successful law enforcement officer after all.
The Bone Orchard is about all the ways the past can haunt us and what we need to do to transcend it—lessons it has taken Mike years to learn. The novel isn't the conclusion of the series. But it is the end of a story I began writing one Saturday afternoon many years ago, and the beginning for a newly self-aware and heroic Mike Bowditch.
Thanks, Paul! Readers, The Bone Orchard is out now!
Author photo credit © 2012 Lori Traikos.
With an entire trilogy coming out in three months, Grace Burrowes has been busy! The first in the Captive Hearts series, The Captive, was released this month. This Regency romance trilogy focuses on the troubled, but of course swoon-worthy, veterans of war and the women they return home to. The next two installments, The Traitor and The Laird, will be released in August and September respectively. In this guest blog post, Burrowes reveals the perks of widowhood for Gillian of The Captive.
Widowhood is a time of sorrow, and widows above all women are to be pitied. Gillian, Countess of Greendale, has waited eight years to earn such pity.
Gilly has obeyed society's rules and married the man of her father's choosing. Eight years later, she's finally a widow, and more than prepared to take advantage of the very same rules that consigned her to a loveless marriage. Now those rules say she's entitled to live quietly on her own. As a widow, she will endure poverty and obscurity happily to have the peace and contentment that even society admits are her due.
Two problems stand between Gilly and contented widowhood. First, her late husband left her dower house in atrocious condition. Creeping damp isn't the worst of it. Bats, possibly; a leaking roof, surely. Second, her young cousin Lucy is much in need of a father's love and attention, but that good fellow has only recently ended captivity in French hands, and is otherwise occupied.
Gilly stirs herself for Lucy's sake to confront the girl's father, Christian, Duke of Mercia. Gilly is prepared to give His Grace a sound dressing down—Lucy needs her papa!—but His Grace dangles a lure before Gilly that tempts her from her plans of obscure widowhood. Gilly wants peace and contentment, and she wants to ensure Lucy's well-being. Christian offers Gilly a place in his household—they are cousins by marriage, after all—and asks her to join him and Lucy at his country estate.
Oh, the blessings of widowhood! Because of her widowed state, Gilly is free to accept Christian's offer and join him in the tranquil, bucolic splendor of the Severn family seat. She has company, she's in comfortable surroundings, and she has a widow's autonomy. She can also keep an eye on Lucy, but increasingly, she finds herself keeping an eye on Christian as well.
He's not a particularly impressive figure at first—weak, mentally troubled, overwhelmed with the effects of captivity and the burdens of resuming his ducal responsibilities. As much as Gilly longs for independence, she can't help but sympathize with a duke who was cruelly deprived of his own independence and taken captive. Christian can't help but admire Gilly, whose relentless independence becomes both an inspiration and a challenge.
Gilly thinks she's playing by society's rules as the story opens, but by the end of the book, for Gilly and Christian, the only rules that matter have to do with love and honor. Propriety and the social expectations? Not so much.
You can see more about the trilogy on Grace Burrowes' website.
With The Catch, readers find themselves hanging on for dear life as Vanessa Michael Munroe—"the cleverest, fightingest and all-around baddest heroines in contemporary suspense fiction"—takes us to Djibouti for her newest no-holds-barred adventure. Munroe is the unforgettable brainchild of author Taylor Stevens, who has a fascinating backstory of her own: She was born in New York state and into the Children of God, raised in communes across the globe and denied an education beyond sixth grade. Stevens was in her 20s when she broke free, and she now lives in Texas.
It's easy to wonder how much of the inspiration for Munroe came from Stevens' own life. As it turns out, that seems to be the question on everyone's mind. Stevens responds, once and for all:
Whenever I walk into an event—be it a book signing, Q&A or author's talk—it's pretty easy to spot the participants who've read my biography and at least one book, but haven't yet interacted with me online or in person. It's easy because they're the ones wearing the guarded, concerned looks, subtly checking me out for signs of sanity, as if at worst I might be right on the edge of snapping and at best might need some soothing and comfort.
I suppose, really, this can't be helped. Unusual characters populate my books, and I've led an unusual life. This has resulted in the most frequently asked question: "How much of Vanessa Michael Munroe is based on you?"
At the beginning, this conflation between character and author baffled me. Vanessa Michael Munroe is a hyperpolyglot (someone who speaks more than 12 languages), born and raised in equatorial Africa. She took up with gunrunners at the tender age of 14 and carries the mental and physical scars of a violent adolescence. To plagiarize myself, "the knife became her way to salvation and the missionary's daughter, made to traverse the valley of the shadow of death, walked out the other side an apex predator." She's a chameleon, a hunter, an adrenaline junkie, self-contained, indifferent and shut off from the world—except when she's not.
Oh that I was so brutally badass. Can you imagine the results I'd get at PTA and HOA meetings? Unfortunately, Munroe and I are nothing alike. Well, except for a hijacked childhood—we do both have wacky backgrounds. Mine had me born and raised in an apocalyptic religious cult, growing up as child labor in cult communes, spending far too much time out begging in the cold, and having my education stopped completely when I was 12.
But I'd made peace with all that long before turning to fiction. I started writing as a way to bring to life a small, paranoid, corrupt country off Africa's west coast where'd lived for a little over two years. The thought of drawing on my childhood and adolescence for that first tale never even crossed my mind, and if it had, we would have had completely different characters—and probably not very good ones. I'm far too happy and enamored with life to belong in these intense, dark stories. I cry when I see sunsets and hear moving music, smile at everyone, am a total fraidy cat, and am overly empathetic to the point that my heart bleeds out onto my sleeve, which is super embarrassing. In perfect irony, I also hate suspense and violence—can neither watch it on screen nor read it in books—and yet that's what I write.
Because I'm so opposite the characters that populate these stories, and because Munroe was drawn completely from imagination and snippets of other fictional characters (Jason Bourne and Lara Croft), I couldn't understand at first how anyone could think she represented a real-life person, much less me. But then it got worse. People I'd never met used my fiction as a way to psychoanalyze the author, going on about my tormented psyche, insisting I was obsessed with violence against women, as if they knew me, as if assuming something about me magically made it true. Offended and insulted, I wondered if they also thought Carrie was based off Stephen King.
Once my skin thickened up a bit, once I realized how completely cool the character and author fusion was, I was able to embrace these assumptions for what they were: the ultimate compliment—proof of good storytelling—because the only way fantasy and reality can blend into such earnest beliefs is if the fiction feels real enough for the reader to assume that it had to have been drawn from real life, somehow.
These days I wear the conflation like a badge of honor, and when people ask me how much of Munroe is based on me, I look them dead in the eye and say, "all of it."
Taylor Stevens is the award-winning New York Times best-selling author of The Informationist, The Innocent and The Doll. Featuring Vanessa Michael Munroe, the series has received critical acclaim and the books are published in 20 languages. The Informationist has been optioned for film by James Cameron's production company, Lightstorm Entertainment. Her latest novel, The Catch, will be published by Crown on July 15, 2014.
Thanks, Taylor!
Author photo credit Alyssa Skyes.
John Verdon's brilliant sleuth, NYPD detective Dave Gurney, returns in his fourth adventure, Peter Pan Must Die. Gurney really just wants to live a simple life in the country, but he is dragged back into the crime world when a wealthy real estate developer is shot and the unfaithful wife is convicted of murder. But things don't line up, and Gurney finds himself up against a uniquely sinister villain.
Gurney can piece together a puzzle like no one else in the sleuthing biz. Verdon gives us a peek into his standout character:
Somewhere along the way in my literary education I managed to absorb the simple notion that drama is about conflict. Without conflict there is no dramatic development, no story, no tension—nothing at stake to hold our interest.
There are reasons for this. We have been hardwired by the survival imperatives of evolution to pay close attention to conflict in all its forms, from simple disagreement to outright violence. Conflict attracts our attention, and we want to see what happens next—how it escalates, how it's resolved.
So if I had one overriding priority in mind when I began writing Think of a Number, the first novel in the Dave Gurney series of mystery-thrillers, it was the need for conflict—in every scene, on every page, even with only one person present. (That last one might sound odd at first, but I'll come back to it.)
Since the story idea for Think of a Number began with a character who was in an emotional state of near-breakdown over a series of increasingly threatening letters, I wanted to involve him with a detective who was supremely rational. (Conflict comes in many flavors, including contrast between two perceptions of a situation.) That basic storytelling need gave rise to the core personality trait of Dave Gurney, leading some reviewers to compare him to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot.
But that was just the starting point for the Gurney character. I wanted him to be married, because I believed that would give me opportunities to make him truly three-dimensional and—you guessed it—inject other interesting conflicts into his life.
Gurney's first approach to every situation is analytical. He's always thinking, asking why and how about whatever he observes. He's obsessed with figuring things out. So I gave him a wife who's just the opposite—who loves the experience of living, the immediate beauty of nature, the fascinating aspects of the thing in front of her. She's every bit as smart as he is and often more acutely perceptive, but her way of seeing the world always contrasts with his. I'm especially intrigued by the role of personality differences in a close relationship like this, since it's such a fertile ground for exploring the way persistent disagreements play out in our lives, as well as that ultimate tension between love and selfishness.
I mentioned earlier that I try to put conflict into every scene, even when only one character is present. It's really easier than it sounds, when you consider all the forms of collision and frustration in our lives—for example, with inanimate objects. I recall a detective whose cigarette lighter never works, whose umbrella never opens, whose cell phone battery is always dead at the very moment that he must make a call. And, of course, a man like Dave Gurney faces an ongoing struggle every day with his own durable demons.
Conflict. It defines character and propels narratives. It's what's much of life and all great stories are about.
Thanks, John! Readers, Peter Pan Must Die is now available.
Molly Harper's latest paranormal romance, Better Homes and Hauntings, is the spooky, oftentimes hilarious tale of talented landscaper Nina Linden as she attempts to restore the dilapidated mansion of wealthy entrepreneur Deacon Whitney. But she keeps running into obstacles that keep her from finishing the job, not to mention exploring her feelings for Deacon. Namely: ghosts. In this guest post, Harper shares the inspiration behind the book and her thoughts on played-out horror tropes.
As a child, I watched a little too much Scooby Doo. I remember sitting in front of TV, practically twitching as the ending credits to Guiding Light rolled by, whining, "Is it coming on now, Mom?" Because that day was going to be the day: The day when Fred and Daphne failed to catch the spooky culprit—using Scooby and Shaggy as bait—and Velma would be forced to say, "Jinkies, gang, I guess this carnival really is haunted by the ghost of an evil Cotton Candy Clown."
I was never happy when the phantom turned out to be a guy in a rubber mask. And their reasons for posing as phantoms never satisfied my curiosity. This turned out to be a lifelong problem. Whether it was a TV show, a campfire tale or a non-fiction paranormal-science book, it was rare to find a haunting explanation that left me feeling sufficiently frightened.
And frankly, I got a little judgmental about the actions of the Scooby Gang and the characters in the horror movies. Why did they always split up? Why did they go investigate spooky noises coming from the basement armed only with a flickering candle? Why did they ignore walls dripping blood and disembodied voices telling them to "GET OUT"?
So when I set out to write Better Homes and Hauntings, my first-ever ghost-based paranormal romance, I had three goals for the characters. I would devise the scariest, twisty-est ghost story possible. I would spare the characters the stereotypical, "let's split up" moments. And no one would lose their glasses, ever.
Based on the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, The Crane's Nest of Better Homes and Hauntings is an enormous, stylish structure on a private island. However, it never quite made it as a family home since Gerald Whitney, the business tycoon that built it, murdered his unfaithful wife, Catherine, immediately after it was finished. Gerald died disgraced but unprosecuted, and rumors of a curse followed the family as their fortunes crumbled. Over the years, locals insisted Catherine's spirit was still wandering the halls of the mansion, hiding from Gerald's angry ghost and searching for her lost lover.
Tales of ghosts and curses persist until Deacon Whitney, the first successful Whitney in more than a century, sets about restoring the mansion to its former glory. A team of restorers, including comely landscape architect Nina Linden, plan to stay on the island for the summer to breathe life back into the Crane's Nest, and the weird phenomena begin before Nina sets foot on the island. The characters are drawn into the mystery of Catherine's death, but the spirits inhabiting the mansion are none too happy with their sleuthing.
As someone who has grown up with the horror movie tropes, it was a lot of fun to play with those themes and the characters' awareness of them. I loved hiding clues in strange places around the house and letting the characters stumble into information. My "Mystery Gang" experience fear, ferret out the truth and find love – because this is a romance, and even though Fred and Daphne never got together, I'll do what I want. And in the end, there is a real ghost and a twist, without a rubber mask in sight.
Better Homes and Hauntings is a childhood dream fulfilled and I hope the readers enjoy it.
Will you be picking up Molly Harper's latest romance?
California native Karen Keskinen follows up her 2012 debut mystery, Blood Orange, with a new adventure for private investigator Jaymie Zarlin. In Black Current, the body of a local teen is found in a tank at the Santa Barbara Aquarium. It's ruled a suicide, but the girl's parents hire Jaymie to prove otherwise.
In a guest blog post for Private Eye July, Keskinen shares what it's like to be the featured author at book club meetings. It's no small job, that's for sure:
I've never been a chakra-and-crystals kind of girl. Sometimes I think a New Age is just what we need, but most of the time I find that this age we live in is—you know—good enough. And yet one night a few weeks back, as I walked home in the dark from a book club engagement, one of those New-Agey words popped into my head: shaman.
Yeah. As I walked home from a meeting right here in Santa Barbara, California, that's what I felt like: a shaman. Maybe I didn't exactly feel like one, but for the first time, I could sense the power those ancient storytellers wielded through their words.
This little city bristles with book club encounters every night of the week. Readers congregate in highbrow get-togethers and lowbrow get-togethers, well-heeled gatherings and run-down-at-the-heel gatherings, co-ed clubs, single-sex clubs and not-all-that-keen-on-sex clubs. But all these confabs have two characteristics in common.
One is food. Many so-called book clubs are actually misnomered: They are more accurately food and drink clubs. And huzzah to that! I've stuffed myself with full-on meals, nibbled at dainty noshes and, as a special tribute to my first book, taken part in a blood-orange-themed spread. You have not lived till you've tasted calamondin and blood orange pound cake. Yet, I digress.
Another feature these meetings have in common is that they encourage some feisty conversations, especially among my fellow Santa Barbarians.
Notice, I don't claim readers think Blood Orange and Black Current are the greatest reads since Ulysses. But here in our town, these books are proving to be provocative, flaring matches put to drought-dried kindling.
When I arrive at a book club meeting, I usually say that I'll stay for no more than an hour. I warn the members in advance that they might grow tired of me, and also that they might like to have time to say what they honestly think, once I leave. It makes no difference: I always seem to be driving or trotting home around 10:30, my mind roiling from the torrid and intense conversation, in no way ready for sleep.
The questions begin innocently enough. For example: Why is Jaymie Zarlin's office address, 101 W. Mission, in fact that of the Cat and Bird Clinic? But soon, minutia dispensed with, matters warm up.
Are the rich so awful? Are cops corrupt? Are people that mean? So we talk about the bad in good people, and the good in bad. We talk about the abuse of power and the power money bestows. About corruption, both personal and systemic. And we talk about that corruption right here in River City, not in some theoretical realm.
In every book club I've visited, somebody has had her cage rattled. At one recent gathering, people were debating in twos and threes when a young woman said loudly: "Jenny, I've never heard you talk like that!" The room fell silent. Flushed, the accused looked away. For maybe the first time in her life, Jenny had publicly dropped the f-bomb.
I've thought about shamans over the past few weeks. How did they work their magic? They were conduits, mediums, copper wires. The shaman had her ear to the ground, a nose for the news, she didn't miss much. And she let all that flow into her, through her, and on out to the ineffable, what we fear and don't understand. Then all that power, transformed into story, flowed back again.
The face of the fear doesn't matter: Once upon a time there were broken limbs that turned septic, and mountain lions that could flail open a man. Now we have terrorists, torturers, rapists. The bogeyman changes masks as the centuries pass, but never his nature, which is the ability to evoke dread.
The shaman's tools never change, either. She has only three, but what a three they are! People, places and things. Waving those three wands, she teases out her listeners' fears and dreams and heartbreak, then weaves all that chaos to make a map, a guide for survival. A story.
When book club members ask me questions about the settings, characters and special objects in Blood Orange and Black Current, I know their interest is piqued. But when they ignore my answers and insist on supplying their own, that's when I know I'm their conduit: The readers are redeeming my stories, remaking them into their own.
Recently at one local meeting, an older woman announced she knew the real life people I'd used to create two of my characters, Dr. Bruce and Cynthia Wiederkehr. In fact, Bruce and Cynthia were created from whole cloth, but I had the good sense to keep quiet.
My reader whispered their names to a friend sitting beside her, and the two women raised eyebrows and exchanged knowing smiles. The Sha-Woman reached for a slice of chocolate cheesecake, and felt good. She'd given it over to them, it was their story now.
Thanks, Karen! Readers, Black Current is now available!
Suspense author Alafair Burke's new Ellie Hatcher novel, All Day and a Night, came out last month, on June 10. Oh, happy day—the on-sale day—also known as the day that makes authors crazy.
It's not the reading or writing of books that makes an author stupid. It's a book's publication that seemingly shaves a standard deviation from an author's IQ.
About a week before a new book comes out, I start to lose sleep, playing Words With Friends until 2 AM only to wake up at 5 from a dream that makes the Kimye-on-a-motorcycle music video seem ordinary. Awake, I'm too unfocused to produce anything useful, so I find myself in front of my refrigerator, posting dog pictures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (the time-suck trifecta), and, the worst, repeatedly refreshing the not-yet-published book's Amazon page to check its ranking. (Oh, c'mon @YouJudgmentalWriterYou, you know you've done it!)
By the time pub date comes, my brain is like a lazy uncle watching infomercials in his boxer shorts surrounded by Pop-Tarts, canned frosting and a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
And this has been only the precursor to on-sale week, when, if you're lucky, you get to hit the road, juggling interviews and blog posts between flights. In some ways, the learning curve here can be steep: I get better by the minute at talking about the book and my writing process. It's like a master class in how-to-talk-like-a-writer. But becoming a book-talking savant can extract a cognitive price.
Here are a few of the idiotic things I have done on book tour:
Supposedly Lloyds of London will insure anything. If so, they should consider selling a policy to cover all of the stray jackets, make-up bags, flip-flops and headphones I have lost over the years during on-sale week.
In a search for validation that I was not the sole victim of this phenomenon, I contacted some of my favorite authors to ask whether they, too, get stupid during on-sale week. This is what they told me.
Michael Connelly, author of The Burning Room:
"I have gone to the wrong hotel room, trying to open the door of the room corresponding to the room number of the night before. Usually this is late at night and more than once this effort has awakened and scared the crap out of the sleeping occupant. I've been mistaken as a would-be hot prowler and grabbed by security a couple times. They rarely buy my explanation that I was in room 213 the night before in a city in another state."
Megan Abbott, author of The Fever:
"Once, in Scottsdale, Vicki Hendricks and I escaped scorching heat by ducking in a bar for a beer before our event. A man in his cups—on his way to jail for a month—pulled down his pants to show us a Mom tattoo on his posterior." (The punchline? They thought maybe, just maybe, he'd show up at their reading as promised.)
Chris Pavone, author of The Accident:
"I stop sleeping well a week before [the on-sale date]. I fall asleep poorly, then I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I think working would be no good, so instead I read, then I seem to fall asleep again just as I should be getting up, so then someone wakes me, which results in me being overtired and cranky at the exact point when I most need to be well-rested and happy."
Laura Lippman, author of After I'm Gone:
"I got into the wrong town car when I was booked on 'CBS Morning.' I had my contacts in (oh, vanity), and I misread the driver's sign. Almost ended up at the 'Today' show."
Ivy Pochoda, author of Visitation Street:
"I found myself alone in Boston for the first three nights of my book tour including on my pub date. I was excited and nervous and lonely, and didn't really know what to do with myself at night. So I drank as if I was on spring break. During the days I ran from event to event a little more dazed and confused then was appropriate for a newly published author."
Lisa Unger, author of In the Blood:
"I am scatterbrained and confused on the road, overwhelmed I think with so many logistics, demands, exhilarations and disappointments (it ain't all awards and standing room only). Once, while packing for a conference, I practically sprained my shoulder patting myself on the back for being so organized and such a light packer. It wasn't until I arrived at my destination that I realized I had neglected to pack any pants!"
Today—after accidentally swallowing tomorrow's allotment of pills from my vitamin container—I vaguely recalled from my college psych education that this temporary case of the I-Love-Lucies might have a cognitive explanation. Because I certainly wasn't sleeping, I shot off a late-night email to my undergrad mentor, Daniel Reisberg (Reed College, author of The Science of Perception and Memory).
"People can do a wide range of things on auto-pilot," Dr. Reisberg explains, "but automatic behaviors tend to be easy, but badly-controlled, and often leave you with actions that are habitual (even if they're not what you intended at that moment). For example, you're in the car, driving to the store. You intend to turn left at the corner, but, under stress, you turn right, taking the route that you usually take on your way to school."
So that's why I head for my usual airport (Newark) when I'm supposed to go to LaGuardia, turn right into a restroom instead of left, and walk out of a hotel room carrying the book I was in the middle of reading instead of a book I finished writing months before.
I should feel comforted, but I'm not.
I get stupid because of stress? Ten books in, shouldn't I be beyond that? After all, I know, at an intellectual level, that by the time the books are printed and shipped, there's nothing more for me to do. Whatever happens this week is out of my control.
Stress? Nah, I'm too cool for that. But these silly slips reveal the ugly truth.
Thanks, Alafair!
Author photo credit Deborah Copaken Kogan.


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From the creator of The New York Times bestseller Boing! comes the riotous story of a cat gone berserk -- four times over an in alphabetical order each time. Kitty is not happy hen she's told that her favorite foods are all gone and all that's left are Asparagus, Beets, Cauliflower, Dill...and 22 other equally unappealing vegetables. So she: Ate my homework, Bit grandma, Clawed the curtains, Damaged the dishes, and so on, through Z. Only when tastier things arrive (An Assortment of Anchovies, Buffalo Burritos, Chicken Cheesecake...) does she Apologize to Grandma.
"With the alphabet as his jumping off point, Bruel (Boing!) recounts just how far things can go awry when cats go bad. After Kitty discovers that the only food in the house consists of 26 kinds of vegetables (asparagus, beets, cauliflower and on through zucchini), her mood turns blacker than her scraggly fur coat. She unleashes her own alphabet of woe that will have youngsters howling with laughter (and cat owners young and old will understand that many of these scenarios do not require a total suspension of disbelief). Bruel chronicles the misbehavior by dividing the spreads into eight strips, each containing a kind of visual one-liner devoted to a single letter. 'She... Quarreled with our neighbors,' the author writes, as Kitty watches through the mail slot while a human holds a note that reads, 'Meow Hiss Hiss...!' The furry protagonist even 'Sold my toys' (Kitty seems to have appropriated her unseen owner's lemonade stand for this purpose). But when the humans restock the larder with cat-friendly food (rhino ravioli, shark sushi, etc.), the feline turns over a new leaf — in alphabetical fashion, of course. Even readers who've mastered their ABCs will laugh at Bruel's gleefully composed litanies and the can-you-top-this spirit that animates every page. Ages 4-8." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
In this riotous picture book about a cat gone berserk, Kitty is not happy when she's told her favorite foods are gone, and all that's left are unappealing vegetables. She stops misbehaving when tastier things arrive.
About the Author
Nick Bruel is the author and illustrator of the bestselling Boing! He was a children's bookseller in New York City and currently resides in Tarrytown, New York, with his wife, Carina.
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German is the language of the third ranked economy in the world, (by GDP, after the US and Japan). With Germany being a major player in the European Union and in global business, German is the lingua franca and most common second language of much of central Europe.
More people speak German as their native language than any other language in Europe. It's no wonder, since Germany's 83 million inhabitants make it the most populous European nation. But not only the residents of Germany speak German. It is also an official language of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. And it is the native language of a significant portion of the population in northern Italy, eastern Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, eastern France, parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Romania.
Germany's economic strength equals business opportunities. Multinational business opportunities exist throughout the European Union and in the Eastern European countries, where German is the second most spoken language after Russian. Companies like BMW, Daimler, Siemens, Lufthansa, SAP, Bosch, Infineon, BASF, and many others need international partners. If you're looking for employment in the United States, knowing German can give you great advantages. German companies account for 700,000 jobs in the United States, and US companies have created approximately the same number of jobs in Germany.
German students can participate in Hessen Exchange, coordinated through UW-Milwaukee and the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen. It is a broad program with a variety of courses offered among participating institutions throughout Germany. Internships are available for qualified students.
For more information on German, please contact:
Kristine Butler-Chair
284 Kleinpell Fine Arts
More and more companies are looking for individuals with global intelligence. With only 3 to 5 percent of the world being native English speakers, the demand for multi-lingual individuals grows daily. Beyond learning a language, Modern Language students gain the ability to communicate with a variety of people and understand cultural differences. Students learn in diverse settings in and out of the classroom - from community work to travel abroad opportunities.
Students in the Modern Language Department focus on professional development through their language studies. All classes provide an emphasis on professionalism, allowing students to use their language skills in different types of environments. Small class sizes promise individual attention; our proximity to a large metropolitan area gives students the opportunity to participate in cultural events, partnerships, and internships all while enjoying the perks of a small community environment found at UW-River Falls.


text: Though we knew the black & gold colors of Kappa Alpha Theta would give us a wee bit of a challenge, we absolutely loooved getting playful with the kite. The breeze was a fun way for us to show how the first Greek lettered sorority spread across the nation! Of course we added the pansy and star and think this print has True Promise! ;)


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(RNN) - Several classic works of American literature are being removed from Britain's General Certificate of Secondary Education curriculum in favor of British works, the Guardian reported.
The report said Michael Gove, the education secretary, insisted on the alterations to the secondary education curriculum.
OCR, one of the largest exam boards in British education, will release the revamped national standards this week for accreditation.
Among the notable works on the curricular chopping block are the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller and the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
The Steinbeck novella was studied by 90 percent of British teens taking the English literature exam in the past, a statistic that "really disappointed" the education secretary, according to the Times.
The redesigned syllabus, used to prepare high-school aged children for their competency exams, also de-emphasizes 20th century works to focus on older literature such as "Shakespeare, 19-century novels, Romantic poetry and other high-quality fiction and drama," according to OCR.
Gove has been widely criticized on social media. Some of Gove's detractors accuse him of making choices based on anti-foreign sentiment, including Arthur Miller biographer Christopher Bigsby, professor of American studies at the University of East Anglia.
In this vein, actor Chris Addison commented about the controversy on Twitter: "Bloody foreign books. Comin' over 'ere, stimulatin' our intellects."
The Department for Education defended the curriculum change, the Guardian reported, stating that the move bans no books.
"It does ensure pupils will learn about a wide range of literature, including at least one Shakespeare play, a 19th-century novel written anywhere and post-1914 fiction or drama written in the British Isles," the department stated.
Students take the GCSE in the 11th year of schooling, and can earn a grade from A to G, with A being the highest level of certification.
Copyright 2014 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.


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So I really want to cut right now.
I mean.. a lot.
But I need to stay strong right? I'm trying guys, I promise. I just need some motivation because I'm getting 10 more hate messages a minute. So uh, reblog this I guess. Every reblog is another day I'll go without cutting. I swear I'll try.
(via 0fficialselenagomez)


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While cultish fans cannot wait for Trader Joes to open its first store in South Florida, the supermarket chains contractor hasnt been able to start renovations in Pinecrest.
Trader Joes is known for its specialty and organic foods at prices below those of other specialty grocers. The closest store to South Florida is in Naples.
To open a Pinecrest store at 9205 S. Dixie Highway, Trader Joes out-of-state engineers are trying to meet Miami-Dade Countys strict building code. After Hurricane Andrew, the county adopted some of the strictest construction regulations in the country. For example, structural plans submitted in Miami-Dade County are reviewed for wind-resistance by a government engineer, who commonly asks for changes.
What we have in the county is very unusual, people are not used to getting their plans reviewed like we do here, said Eugenio Santiago, a Key Biscayne chief building official and consultant in Pinecrest. They are not used to anybody questioning things like we do.
Trader Joes executives leased the new location last year. Village officials had issues with the building, electrical, mechanical and structural permits. After getting feedback from the village earlier this month, the supermarkets contractors are expected to resubmit their permit applications. All of this is normal in Miami-Dade.
It is part of the process, the villages planning director, Steve Olmsted, said. We asked for some changes to the façade in terms of the design of the building and additional landscaping.
The extensive renovations to the 13,800-square-foot store include removing end portions of the building both at the north and south ends, adding natural stone in place of brick along the front and sides of the building, replacing the ground floor slab and downsizing the building store front.
Jeannette Golindano who started the Facebook page Bring Trader Joes to Miami Florida was hoping the construction had already began. She recently posted several pictures online of the empty Pinecrest locale, which is near the Dadeland South Metrorail station.
I can hardly wait for it to open, Golindano said. I will be driving by again this weekend to see if there is any progress.


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Childhood ADHD Often Persists Into Adulthood »
"March 4, 2013 -- Nearly 30% of children with ADHD continue to struggle with the condition as adults, and some may develop other mental health issues, commit suicide, or end up in jail, a new study shows.
"We suffer from the misconceptio"...
Read the Childhood ADHD Often Persists Into Adulthood article »
Focalin Patient Information including How Should I Take
In this Article
- What is dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
- What are the possible side effects of dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
- What is the most important information I should know about dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
- What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
- How should I take dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
- What happens if I miss a dose (Focalin)?
- What happens if I overdose (Focalin)?
- What should I avoid while taking dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
- What other drugs will affect dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
- Where can I get more information?
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
Do not use dexmethylphenidate if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take dexmethylphenidate before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
You should not take dexmethylphenidate if you are allergic to dexmethylphenidate or methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), or if you have:
- glaucoma;
- motor tics (twitches);
- a personal or family history of Tourette's syndrome; or
- if you have significant tension, agitation, or anxiety.
Some stimulants have caused sudden death in children and adolescents with serious heart problems or congenital heart defects. Before taking dexmethylphenidate, tell your doctor if you have any type of heart problems.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use dexmethylphenidate:
- severe depression or a history of mental illness;
- a history of drug or alcohol addiction;
- seizures or epilepsy;
- high blood pressure;
- heart disease, heart rhythm problems, or congestive heart failure; or
- if you have recently had a heart attack.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether dexmethylphenidate is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether dexmethylphenidate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Long-term use of dexmethylphenidate can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child using this medication is not growing or gaining weight properly.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 years old.
Dexmethylphenidate may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Dexmethylphenidate should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Dexmethylphenidate is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
How should I take dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
This medication is usually taken in the morning before breakfast. You may take it with or without food.
You may open the dexmethylphenidate capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of applesauce to make swallowing easier. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Store dexmethylphenidate at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Focalin Patient Information in Detail
- What is Focalin?
- What are the possible side effects?
- What is the most important information I should know?
- What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking?
- How should I take?
Additional Focalin Information
Focalin - User Reviews
Focalin User Reviews
Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.
Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Focalin sorted by most helpful.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.


text:
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Authorities say a suspect is in custody in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in a wash on Tucson's east side.
Pima County Sheriff's officials say 49-year-old Michael Donald Norris is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder.
The body of 51-year-old Debra Ann Scotko was discovered Tuesday night in the Pantano Wash. Tucson police officers responded to a 911 call about a woman in distress.
The wash is in the county's jurisdiction and deputies and officers searched the area for a man believed to be involved with the woman's death.
They say Norris was found a short time later and detained.
He was booked Wednesday into the county's Adult Detention Center. Authorities didn't immediately know if Norris has a lawyer yet.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Series star Lana Parrilla (Evil Queen/Regina) keeps warm with Prince Charming's coat, featured in the series' Pilot episode.
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Phillip Phillips is doing something a little different in his latest video . The clip, for his new single "Where I Come From," is made up of live footage shot during an appearance at the Alaska State Fair in September.
Billboard premiered the clip on Wednesday; it shows Phillip and his band performing the song on an overcast and rainy day, on a stage at the foot of a mountain range, in front of a bunch of fans who look cold and damp, but happy.
Phillip told the publication, " The Alaskan background was a perfect complement to 'Where We Came From.' I hope everyone enjoys the scenery and music as much as I enjoyed making it."
"Where I Came From" is the third single from Phillips' platinum debut, The World from the Side of the Moon . He'll re-release the disc on November 19 with three live tracks, including "Where I Came From."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


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Vive la Republique!
© Mr Lopez, Jul 2010
Climbers: Pete Walts


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The following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation.
These optional excursions might or might not be offered. Whether it's a special
dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site,
optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus,
they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we
also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to
craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal
suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your
vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you
can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided
might be in a foreign currency; you can use our online
currency converter for exchange rate information.
Once you have booked your vacation, Globus provides the ability to pre-purchase
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A Taste of London
A unique chance to combine a traditional London pub experience with a relaxed, night-time river cruise, viewing some of the capital's most beautiful illuminated sights. Enjoy a three-course dinner with several local menu choices, including fish and chips and steak and ale pie at an historic London pub in the City of London. Following dinner you will enjoy scenic views from the comfort of your private cruiser. Highlights include Tower Bridge, St. Paul's and the Houses of Parliament, with commentary from your guide as you cruise along the River Thames.
Afternoon Excursion to Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. One of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II the castle is still used regularly for ceremonial and state occasions. Visit the magnificent State Apartments furnished with priceless works of art by Holbein, Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck. See wonderful St.George's Chapel the burial place of ten monarchs including Henry VIII and Charles I.
Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews
Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and London residence of Her Majesty The Queen. During August and September when the Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the Palace's state rooms are open to visitors. These are the heart of the Palace, lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection which are used for ceremonial occasions and official entertaining. Before entry to the Palace you will visit the Royal Mews, one of the finest working stables still in existence. See the State vehicles, both horse-drawn carriages and cars, used for coronations, royal weddings and State Visits, including the magnificent Gold State Coach which has been used for every coronation since 1821 and was last used for The Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
Shownight - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Friday, Saturday)
Roald Dahl's deliciously dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka comes to life in a brand new West End musical directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes. When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it's the chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets he's always dreamed of. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors and amongst the incredible edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the wonder of the original story that has captivated the world for almost 50 years is brought to life. A chocolate garden, an army of squirrels and the curiously peculiar Oompa-Loompas must be believed to be seen in this spectacular new musical that is choc-full of fantastical treats to dazzle your senses.
Shownight - War Horse (Friday, Saturday)
War Horse, based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, is a powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and magnificent artistry. South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company brings breathing, galloping, full-scale horses to life on the stage - their flanks, hides and sinews built of steel, leather and aircraft cables. Experience the emotional journey that charges through the battlefields of history straight to hearts of audiences around the world.
Shownight - War Horse (Friday, Saturday)
War Horse, based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, is a powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and magnificent artistry. South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company brings breathing, galloping, full-scale horses to life on the stage 8212 their flanks, hides and sinews built of steel, leather and aircraft cables. Experience the emotional journey that charges through the battlefields of history straight to hearts of audiences around the world.
Tower of London and Crown Jewels
The Tower of London is one of the most famous historic buildings in the world. Built by William the Conqueror in 1066-1067, it has been guarded by Yeoman Warders (popularly known as the Beefeaters) since the 14th century. It has been a fortress, a royal palace, a prison, a place of execution, and an armory. It is most famously known as the home to the priceless Crown Jewels, including the solid gold crown used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Imperial State Crown and Sovereigns Sceptre, the incredible Cullinan diamonds, and the Koh-i-Noor.
Excursion to Mount Titlis
Drive to Alpine Engelberg - Central Switzerland renowned sport centre - to take the Titlis-Rotair, world's first revolving cable car, up to 10,000 feet where eternal snow resists even the summer sun. A panoramic view all the way up with 360 degree vistas on glaciers and icefalls. If you are looking for a nice place to rest the Restaurant on top of Mount Titlis is the one for you with breathtaking views from its terrace and solarium.
Mount Pilatus
Journey almost 7,000 feet (2,132m)up - via the world's steepestcogwheel railway (with an inclination of 48 degrees), the silent aerial tramway and the panoramic gondola for spectacular views over central Switzerland. The Mount Pilatus mountain range was first inhabited by Celtic herdsmen and later became well-known to travelers worldwide when completion of the Gotthard Route made the area more accessible. The rugged cliffs above Lucerne have been cloaked in myth and legend since the Middle Ages when it was believed that a dragon with healing powers and spirits inhabited the rocky crevices.
One Hour Cruise on Lake Lucerne
Board your private motorboat for an enchanting and relaxing one-hour cruise on glassy Lake Lucerne, also known as the Vierwaldstattersee (Lake of the Four Forest Cantons). Marvel at the spectacular mountain scenery and admire fjords, bays, and rolling meadows.
Swiss Folklore Party and Dinner
Contrary to belief, not all Swiss can yodel or blow the alphorn, but those you will meet at your after-dinner folklore party are real experts. They entertain you with merry melodies on the accordion and traditional dances, while you sample cheese fondue and a drink of your choice.
Country Dinner
Enjoy a traditional Bavarian dinner, including drinks, at one of the area's most famous restaurants.
Dinner and Show at La Nouvelle Eve
No visit to Paris is complete without a night out at the cabaret! Enjoy a whirling international dinner show (unlimited wine) at Pigalle's one and only La Nouvelle Eve.
Dinner and Show at Moulin Rouge
Enjoy an unforgettable evening at the world-renowned Moulin Rouge, home of the French Can Can for more than a century. Dinner with half a bottle of wine is served during the show and a glass of champagne completes your evening in style.
Dinner Party and Illumination Drive
A perfect introduction to Paris! After a full-course dinner with choices of typical French dishes, drinks included, your tour director will show you the "City of Light."
Excursion to Montmartre
Leaving from Pigalle take a little train for an enjoyable ride up to Montmartre, the most artistic and picturesque district in Paris, with its impressive landmark white-domed Basilica of Sacre-Coeur built in the late 19th century in Byzantine style. Admire the surprising view over the rooftops of Paris and walk around Montmartre's narrow streets to discover unexpected jewels like Saint Peter's Church - one of the most ancient in Paris, the Lapin Agile - the oldest of Montmartre's cabarets, the Bateau Lavoir - where Picasso created cubism, and the grocery store featured in the movie "Amelie". Soak up the atmosphere of Place du Tertre and watch the portrait artists in action or even sit for one of them yourself before returning to Pigalle by funicular.
Excursion to the Palace of Versailles
Travel out of Paris to the lavish 17th-century baroque Palace of Versailles, built by the Sun King, Louis XIV, with its magnificent State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, and Royal Chapel. Your Local Guide will bring its history to life during your visit, then time at leisure to stroll through parts of the elegant 250-acre gardens. Louis XIII originally purchased Versailles and its surrounding land to serve as his hunting lodge. Later, his son, Louis XIV, decided to make it his seat of government, and in 1682, he installed his impressive court and numerous noble visitors in sumptuous surroundings, a symbol of absolute monarchy. NOTE: This excursion is not available on Mondays and public holidays.
Dutch Dinner and Evening Walk in Old Amsterdam
Accompanied by your tour director, stroll through some of Amsterdam's oldest streets and view historical 17th century buildings, monuments and the Oude Church. A typical dinner in a cozy restaurant is included.
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The Apartment Therapy Team's ICFF Wishlist
Attending ICFF has become an annual event for me and just like any other anticipated "holiday", it is with a mixture of excitement, anticipation and just a tinge of concern (will it be as good as last year?) that I arrive at the Javits. The other constant is that I'm part of a crew — a big team of us hit the show and we generally have a post-game wrapup of our favorites; the things we'd take home if we could. This year, I'm sharing our wishlist with everyone...
Maxwell, Founder/CEO: My favorite thing and most remarkable design in my book was the Obus by Joby. This thing absolutely KILLS the Candela from a few years ago, which I loved so much. It's LED driven so that it requires very little power and runs for a LONG time. It's two lights in one: a directional flashlight and an ambient globe. It's movable as it comes off it's base AND can go outside where it's totally weatherproof (not just a light mist, but a heavy rain).
Annie, Contributor: My personal favorite find at ICFF this year was the azalea velvet Mayweather Sofa at Khouri Guzman Bunce Limited. I actually gasped when I saw it. In ordering upholstered goods for interiors, I spend a lot of time communicating with vendors trying to rework designs to exclude standard tufting, because when done in grid-like swathes with big buttons and lots of topographical padding, it can look pretty dated. In this piece, the tufting was the main attraction - it forms interesting geometric shapes in small segments, and is only on the seat back surface. The velvet upholstery highlights the detail by reflecting light and creating shadow, and the color saturation adds interest to the simpler areas of the sofa without being dark enough to hide those bold lines. Stunning!
Cambria, Managing Editor, Re-Nest: My favorite from the show was the Ikat rug collection from Luke Irwin. I'm a total rug nut, since I tend to favor pieces that have the ability to define a room. These rugs certainly fall into that category, with their gorgeous, vibrant mix of colors and oversize, abstract patterns. I feel like it's a bit naughty, actually: your room could wear this and nothing else!
Mariel, Sr. Sales Associate: MASHStudios has a new line of Furniture called the PCH series, which I loved! The furniture is treated weathered solid teak with wood grain-patterned aluminum drawers. There were about 5 different designs of this model series and they were all customizable...and who doesn't want that! Take a look at the image I attached. It's a beaut, no? I loved the contrast between the aluminum and the teak and how the silver finish stood out of the furniture. It's also such a clean look that can go well with so many spaces. I'm a fan!
Abby, Contributor: I was really moved by the vases and snow globes that Neil Conley designed. more art than functional household item, the message is so poignant and so delicately conveyed.
Mat, Contributor: My wishlist pick is from an Austrian company with roots in traditional silver manufacturing, Wiener Silber recreates classic pieces and collaborates with contemporary designers on innovative new works. I especially love the cutlery designed by Thomas Feichtner, with its folded, angular form.
Sarah, Marketplace Editor: My favorite was the 'Folded' porcelain tile by Raw Edges for Mutina at the Stone Source Booth. I'm a tile junkie, and this is a showstopper. Made from porcelain, it looks and feels like folded paper - the material draws you in and you can't help but touch it. It comes in 6 different folded patterns, which you can use in one continuous pattern or mix together in different combinations.
Carrie, Managing Editor, Ohdeedoh: It's not every day I get excited by an ottoman, but the Oliver is not only handsome but both functional and flexible in a small home. I could see using it as a coffee table with a tray, as a footrest, an extra seat for a guest and especially to stash away toys, extra blankets or my gold doubloons. It's also built by hand in the USA.
Chris, Sales Director: I love the new Moleskine pencils. I have to admit that I was a skeptic: how the classic Moleskine notebook serve as the inspiration for an entire line? Yet, it really works. These pencils are my favorite, they clip to the cover of any Moleskine notebook. The storage panel looks great for work travel -- it keeps a bunch of gadgets and cords organized and you can move it from your suitcase to your messenger bag. It's made to work with the Moleskine line, but would work well with most any bag.
Gregory, Managing Editor, Unplggd: Wandering ICFF there were plenty of desks to admire, but none seemed more thoughtfully designed for everyday use than these Tools at Schools classroom prototypes from The School at Columbia University. Maybe it was because the kids presenting at ICFF exuded a contagious enthusiasm for their ideas and answered all of questions assuredly, but we left amazed 8th graders helped design these desk/chairs from the point of conception all the way to prototyping, each design carefully addressing common storage and utility issues specific to students, all with deft aesthetic execution. I'd award these kids a report card of A+!
Janel (me!) , Executive Editor, Apartment Therapy: I love the Tip Ton by Barber Osgerby for Vitra. I first saw (and tried out) this chair in Milan during Salone and couldn't get it out of my mind. Seeing it again in NYC sealed the deal. Smart, stackable, stylish, colorful, light, long-wearing and really, so super comfortable — it covers all the bases of what you want out of an affordable, casual chair. And, getting to hear the story behind the design (in a nutshell: developed for use by school kids, based on a thorough review of student seating in England over the years) directly from the very intelligent and charmingly-accented designers Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby certainly added to the appeal. Definitely on my wishlist — I see a Tip Ton or two in my future!
• ICFF on Unplggd
• ICFF on Re-Nest
• ICFF on Marketplace
• ICFF on Apartment Therapy
9 Comments
This was my first time attending ICFF and I was blown away! My favorite thing was also that gorgeous Mayweather velvet silk pink sofa - I wanted to bring it home with me! My partner's favorite was the obus by Joby dual purpose light!
Love that Tip Ton chair. Is it available in the US? And what does it cost? The link was unenlightening.
MizLoo - it's coming to the US through Vitra this summer - I don't know if US pricing has been set yet, but if you stay tuned, I'm sure we'll blog it when it becomes available
I'm in agreement with Cambria...I was surprised at how many rug people were at the show and the designs that copied the classic Uzbek ikats were phenomenal.
Moleskine pencils. Mmmm...
What does the ikat rug cost? I went to their website, but there are no prices listed.
i need to save up some money for some of the things ive been seeing around this site. my apartment could use a remodeling.
Dare I ask how much that sofa is? I looked at it online, and it is 10 feet long! It would be a commanding central piece for my living room, but I fear that it will cost more than my whole apartment!
That sofa is to die for!


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The nation's first-ever Green Goods and Services report has been in the spotlight of scrutiny, as critics question whether the Obama administration is classifying a broad range of employment as green jobs for political intentions ahead of the November presidential election. The controversy highlights a central question: What exactly are green jobs according to the federal government?
In March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the results of the first Green Goods and Services survey, a comprehensive snapshot of U.S.-based jobs and sectors that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources. The BLS survey included 120, 000 business and government establishments and sampled 333 North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) industries, all which were classified as "potential producers or providers of green goods and services."
Green goods and services (GGS) jobs, per BLS definition, contain two components: outbased-approach and process-based approach. Process-based jobs include worker duties that involve making their establishment's production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources. Output-based jobs concern producing goods or providing services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources. The BLS report only covers the output-based jobs.
The survey included all private establishments and state, federal and local government entities in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia. BLS explains that industries included in the GGS scope may consist of industries that may produce green goods and services that fall into at least one or more of the following five groups:
- Production of energy from renewable sources
- Energy efficiency
- Pollution reduction and removal, greenhouse gas reduction and recycling and reuse
- Natural resources conservation
- Environmental compliance, education and training and public awareness.
Findings show that in 2010, 3.1 million in the country were employed in GGS jobs. While the public sector held 860,000 green jobs that same year, most green employees — 2,268,800 — were working in the private sector (see infographic).
Private-Sector Green Jobs
Within the private sector, the top green industries with the greatest number of GGS employment were manufacturing (461,847 jobs), construction (372,077) and professional, scientific and technical services (349,024). The BLS report also breaks down GGS jobs by state. The top states, with over 95,000 GGS employment in the private sector, included Ohio (97,027), Illinois (103,344), Pennsylvania (149,377), Texas (169,367) and New York (134,065), with California as the most concentrated state in GGS jobs (230,758).
Public Sector and Government
The public sector had 860,300 GGS jobs, or 4 percent of total public sector employment. Local governments had the biggest portion of GGS jobs, with (476,500). State government GGS jobs totaled 227,100, equivalent to 4.9 percent of all state government employment.
The federal government had 156,700 green jobs, which accounted for 5.3 percent of overall federal government employment, with public administration as the leading sector.
Green Job Backlash
The BLS findings and have stirred controversy. Probing into the types of jobs the BLS classifies as green has revealed a wide spectrum of jobs — ranging from antique shop employees to hog and pig farming— being categorized as GGS employment.
Last month, at a congressional oversight committee hearing, Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) ignited controversy when he implied that the Obama administration is labeling a broad scope of jobs as green for political purposes. The criticism stems back to the 2008 presidential campaign, when Barack Obama promised the nation 5 million new green jobs within the next 10 years, progress of which has been slow, as Reuters reported in April.
At the hearing, Issa interrogated John Galvin, the BLS's acting commissioner, who confirmed that the extent of jobs that are considered green include a bike-repair shop clerk and school bus drivers — jobs that fall far from the realm of more well-recognized green fields.
While green jobs may be broadly defined by the federal government, the nation nevertheless has a better understanding of where green goods and services exist and what sectors are leading the way for growth. Similar green job findings are also reflected in a separate Brookings Institution report, "The Clean Economy: A National and Regional green jobs assessment." The Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings worked with Battelle's Technology Partnership to develop and study the clean economy.
According to that study, there are 2.7 million workers employed in the clean economy, with the manufacturing sector playing a major role. According to Brookings, 6 percent of all clean economy jobs lie in manufacturing establishments, compared to just 9 percent in the broader economy.
In recent weeks, the controversy, dubbed the Green Scam, has caused media outlets, such as Forbes, to point out that no true firm definition of a green job exists, while others reflect on the importance of greening the economy.
The New Republic emphasized, "The relevant political questions are not: "How many green (or non-green) jobs do we have, or which party created them?" but "How do we best promote environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, while continuing to raise living standards?"
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July 9, 2012
Beth – Nice job – thanks for some straightforward reporting on this.


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Riding the Herd, Before It Moves
Voices, May 23, 2011
You might have missed it: The day when an investment fund started following the crowd, before the crowd starts to move.
That was last Monday -- May 16, 2011 -- when a boutique investment firm in London started up a fund that will use real-time analysis of investor sentiment as expressed on social media to figure out where fear and greed – human emotion – is about to take capital markets.
Paul Hawtin, founder of the Derwent Capital Markets fund, called this the "fourth dimension" of investing.
And if he gets it right, he expects to be able to generate 15 percent to 20 percent annual returns, on his investors' capital. Because, if you can see the emotion coming, you can get three or four days head start on trading stocks in its coming wake.
That's the power of being able to aggregate and mathematically analyze 100 million tweets or other social communications every day.
But the advantage could be short-lived.
It took just one week, until today – May 23, 2011 – for another set of mathematicians to release sentiment forecasting to the mass investor.
An Israeli firm, Sentigo, is taking a slightly different approach, but the sentiment, if you will, is the same.
Its Wall Street Scanner software will scans more than 7 million pages of information from news outlets, financial analysts and, yes, Twitter and Facebook, to figure out which way the top 2,000 stocks in America are headed. Tomorrow.
The app is headed onto the Apple iTunes digital file store. It can be downloaded to an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Next: Blackberry and Android machines. The cost: Nothing.
For investors who think their opinion doesn't matter and the only logical thing to do is follow the herd – before the herd moves – the aggregation of opinion and the mathematical analysis of same now promises a new form of couch-potato investing.
Don't worry about which way the market is headed. Just make sure you've got the app installed on your machine. And that it's connected to your own personal execution management system.
Unless the crowd is wrong.
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DEV & The Catarac's electro-pop hit mixed with Nicki Minaj's punchline-heavy 'Roman's Revenge' (Produced by Swizz Beatz). This is the first mix I've done using Serato Scratch Live on my work setup. Began as an experiment as I personally like this song better at a higher tempo (see: Lexie Mix), however I actually enjoyed the finished product so I figured I'd post it for your enjoyment.
May 31 2011