Sandra Hyatt

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The talented USA Today best-selling author Sandra Hyatt passed away this year. Her last book Lessons in Seduction is being released today in print and on December 1 in e-book.  I'm joining others in the romance community in getting the word out about the book.

I had the privilege of meeting Sandra at the RWA Convention in Washington, DC and then again in San Francisco. She was bright, energetic and very giving of her time and talent to others.  Her writing was superb as evidenced by her best-selling status and it is no surprise that Romantic Times Magazine has rated her last book with a 4.5 star rating.  Here are a few buy links but the book is available on many other sites and in your favorite bookstore.

Amazon print: http://amzn.to/s7nHHg
Kindle edition: http://amzn.to/sTItby


Sandra, thank you for all the great reads.  Carol

Unusual Libraries

Sunday, November 27, 2011

After learning about the Derby Line library, I wondered if there were other unusual libraries. To my delight, there are. This little gem is private, built to house a Tolkien collector’s extensive collection.

Then here’s one of the world’s smallest libraries in the world. When a British phone company wanted to take away the iconic red phone booth in the England town of Westbury-sub-Mendip, the locals rescued the booth by using it as a library.

Open 24 hours a day, the booth has a light inside for midnight browsing of the 100 books, CDs, and DVDs donated from the libraries of the townsfolk. 

I want one! Carol  

A Library With No Books

Monday, November 21, 2011

International border line within the library

In the United States there's a library with no books and an opera house with no stage, and they're both in the same building. 

I've been researching Vermont as the setting for my next book and came across an interesting oddity. The village Derby Line that borders Canada has a library deliberately built to span both countries.

Derby Line was incorporated in 1791 but because of an erratic survey, the border separating Canada from the United States was drawn incorrectly by the surveyors in the 18th century, above the 45th parallel which was the agreed boundary. Derby Line was founded based on that line, above the 45th parallel.

A binational couple, the Haskells, chose to construct the Haskell Free Library and Opera House on the international border in 1904 so that people on both sides of the border would have use of the facility. Patrons of the library from either side of the border may use the facility without going through border security.

The library collection and the opera stage are located in Stanstead, Canada, but the door and most opera seats are located in Derby Line.

The library/opera house isn't the only place with the international border running through it.  For some individual homes, a meal may be prepared in one country and eaten in the other.  



The library collection and the opera stage are located in Stanstead, but the door and most opera seats are located in Derby Line. Because of this, the Haskell is sometimes called "the only library in U.S.A. with no books" and "the only opera house in U.S.A. with no stage". Its two addresses are 93 Caswell Avenue, Derby Line, Vermont and 1 Church Street, Stanstead, Quebec.

We're Baaaacck!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

While I still can't access Blogger via my main Internet, I finally have been able to access through another service. Go figure.

Since I've last posted, I finished Her Dark Protector, which has a release date of March 26, 2012 from Carina Press.  This book begins my new mini-series called "The Justice Hunters" centering on a shadow society. The Justice Alliance for centuries has guarded justice and the rules of laws.  Whenever chaos threatens to reign, the organization steps in.  Calling themselves the Justice Hunters, the members come from all segments, from business leaders to professors, but most have something in common: they have lost a dear one to violence.  As opposed to vigilantes, they strive to protect witnesses, find evidence and otherwise help to maintain order.  They have eyes and ears everywhere from the courtrooms to the streets.


As the release draws closer, I'll tell more about the book. In the meantime, Maddie is happy to have my full attention again. I'm also tackling my long neglected yard and house and looking forward to the holidays.  My trivia team The Blazers continues its winning ways and in the future I'll be posting about some interesting bits-and-bobs of information.  Of course, Maddie will be adding her two-cents in.  

Carol