Bombay Briefing

Nancy Obert is our roving KBB employee. She follows her husband as he gets transferred around the world and makes sure that he has at least the basic requirements for staying alive before ditching him and coming back home to her books.

Her latest adventure takes her to Bombay and she's keeping us posted about her progress.

Here I am. Arrived safely and have made it through the worst of the jet lag. Having trouble sending e-mails from the hotel, but I finally called in the hotel "geek Squad" and the 12-year-old they sent up has fixed things, I think. Let me know if you don't get this. We thought we had an apartment lined up and went shopping Sun. for appliances and furniture. But now it looks like the landlord isn't that interested in renting the apartment after all, so I'm going out with a realtor this afternoon. Taking my security blanket along (wife of the head of the office) to help me with language problems and to generally keep me company. She's a total sweetheart and hasn't gotten tired of my needy self yet. But I'm sure she will.

Otherwise, things here are just as I remembered: dirty, congested, but exotic and so interesting. The people are so nice and helpful, the food is great, and the weather has been perfect, unusually cool. Miss ya'll.

There's a bookstore in the neighborhood we're looking for an apartment, but I didn't see a "Help Wanted" sign, so I'll get back to Katy as soon as possible. I'll keep you posted. Later, Nancy

What are your books saying?

They say you can tell alot about someone by the books they choose to read. I am inclined to agree - I always see both my current interests, enduring passions, and unspoken fears in my book choices.

Two of my favorite books - 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - both speak to my underlying fear of totalitarianism. There are always a myriad of parenting books on the table by my chair (to help me in an often futile effort to mold my three banshees into responsible adults). I try to throw in at least one title that really makes me think - about my life, my family, my principles - right now that book is In The Time of Butterflies by Julie Alvarez. This book makes me realize that the minutiae I worry about on a daily basis is just that - utterly trivial in the grand scheme of things.

Lest you think I am just an intellectually arrogant stepford mom, I also have quite a large pile of what I call "armchair" books - these books can be somewhat formulaic and I always know that good will triumph over evil but I find it relaxing to be able to turn the analysis off and just have fun reading. So you can get a little peek into my psyche from my books - I value freedom above all else, my family is my highest priority, I generally have entirely too many irons in the fire (and books on the table), and I like to be both challenged and refreshed by a variety of topics.

What are your books saying about you? A bookstore is a great place to start a new conversation....

Make New Friends.......

Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
the other is gold.

I was never much of a girl scout but this scouting song describes so perfectly how I feel about books. Some books are my oldest friends – old, worn, dog-eared. The books I read over and over despite the fact that I know every word. I have discovered so much about them – character inconsistencies and plot loopholes – but I love them despite their flaws and in some cases because of them. New things always exist to be discovered between the covers with each reading – not because the book has changed but because I have.

Ahhh…..but the trill of a new book, the seduction of a new story. Will I love it or hate it? In time will it earn space on the treasured friends shelf or will it be only remembered with vague disappointment and “what could have been”? Who among us hasn’t stayed up all night to devour a new book – unwilling to put it down until the last plot twist is discovered, the last character dynamic unveiled? That is the passion of a new friend – the absorption that comes with unfamiliarity.

The balance of new and old – the passion of discovering new friends (and new books) and the comfort and serenity of our treasured old friends (and old books) – is what makes reading so much fun.

Out of the Box

Two hot young adult titles just went on sale.




Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson, book four in the hit series.

Ranger's Apprentice Book Four: The Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan

Welcome back, Barbara

We're so grateful to have Barbara Rothwell back in the children's area today. Her father passed away last Monday, and she's been taking care of her mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

We have a huge children's area that requires a ton of upkeep, so we really noticed the absence of our shelving dynamo.

Sorry, No Stephanie Meyer

Stephanie Meyer is coming to Houston, but she won't be coming to Katy Budget Books. Sorry guys, I tried my best. The tour was posted yesterday, she will be making one stop in Houston, and one of the Big Guys scored the prize. Okay, I might be just a tad bitter by not mentioning their name, but I think I will wallow in my sorrow for a while! I think Houston is big enough to host several signings, but nobody asked me.

We will be having a fantastic party to celebrate Breaking Dawn, which goes on sale Aug. 2. I'm looking for great party ideas, so let the creative juices flow and let me know.

Back to Stephanie's tour. I will have to be fair here. There are several wonderful Independent book stores on her tour. Maybe next time she's in Houston she will hear what a great time we had at the Breaking Dawn party, and will insist on signing at our store!

Book to Movie

The following is from "Shelf Awareness", a book industry newsletter:

The seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's bestselling series is evidently just too big to be contained by a single film. The Los Angeles Times reported that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be split into two films, "one to be released in November 2010 and the second in May 2011." David Yates will direct both movies, which will be filmed concurrently. Screenwriter Steve Kloves also returns.

"I think it's the only way you can do it without cutting out a huge portion of the book," said Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who is now filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, due to be released November 21. "There have been compartmentalized subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut--although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans--but the seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go."

Book News

Novelist Terry Pratchett will donate $1 million to the Alzheimer's Research Trust, a British charity, to help fund research into the disease, according to the Associated Press (via USA Today). Pratchett, 59, learned last December that he has early-onset Alzheimer's.

"There's nearly as many of us as there are cancer sufferers, and it looks as if the number of people with the disease will double within a generation," he said.

Marked by Moonlight

Hi Everyone!

You missed a fun evening last night. We had author Sharie Kohler (also writing as Sophie Jordan) come by the store to join us for our Shadow Pages Book Club meeting. Her latest title, Marked by Moonlight, is the first in the Moon Chasers Series.

Mousy school teacher, Claire Morgan, is attacked by a very large, hairy, dog that can stand upright. Then totally handsome stranger, Gideon Marsh, tells her she’s been bitten by a Lycan. Werewolves in Houston? Claire doesn’t believe him, but he is threatening to kill her by the next full moon when she changes.

Shadow Pages gives this book a resounding YES. More, please. The energy these two characters create, and the unfolding of the story, keeps us interested. It’s a book you won’t want to put down.

We also had author, Tera Lynn Childs, drop by. Her first young adult novel, OH. MY. GODS., will be released in May and we hope to schedule a signing.

For more information on these two authors, go to:

http://www.shariekohler.net/ or http://www.sophiejordan.net/
and
http://www.teralynnchilds.com/

OK Shadow Pages, how's my first blog? What did I leave out? Think you can do better?

Kisses,

Karla

Book to Movie

HBO is airing a 7 part miniseries based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize winning book, John Adams starting on March 16.

Out of the Box

We just got in a new selection of Texana and Western History. We are especially excited to see One Ranger Returns by H. Joaquin Jackson. His first book, One Ranger, was one of our most popular Texana titles.

Welcome to Katy Budget Books

Hi Y'all!

This is KBB's home for announcing author events, new & upcoming book releases, and best of all, getting feedback from you about your favorite books.

What title made you laugh hard enough to spurt Coke out of your nose? What's your favorite picture book to read over and over? Which author made you so mad you threw the book across the room?

We're looking for a great name for our blog, so let us know your best idea.