You have the cake. I'm on a diet!

That's no fun :-)

I'll send my students over! They have been enjoying your book tremendously. You have clearly done your research on what students want to read!

That means a lot--thank you!!!

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn has stuck with me since last year. She's written a couple others. Dark Places lives up to its name. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is still kicking around in my brain since year before last.

The Magicians and The Magician King by Lev Grossman were fun. Think Hogwarts on crack. I also enjoyed Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. She's a history professor so the details are quite rich.

And for really light reading, the Bibliophile Mysteries by Kate Carlisle are great. As are The Spellman Files books by Lisa Lutz.

That should get you started. ;-)

That's a lot... :-) Thanks! Really want to spend a few afternoons just reading.

Out next month-BURIAL RITES. Set in 1825 Iceland about a woman waiting to be executed. A novel based on a true story. It is quite amazing.

Sounds fascinating--thanks for the tip, Patti.

I am currently reading THE HOUSE OF MIRTH by Edith Wharton and it's definitely the best book so far this year. A superb piece of writing and characterisation. I plan to read at least two classics every month, hopefully two each by the same author.

It's going on my list--thanks, Prashant!

I think terrorism has come out of fiction to haunt us for the rest of our lives.

Enough of it, certainly, Prashant. I'm ready for the rest of the year to be quiet and peaceful...

I've never read a lot of blogs. Maybe ten tops, mostly friends and a few authors or agents I admire. I still read the same ones.

I think that Facebook and Twitter may just be additional time sucks. And they seem to take less time than reading a blog because of the length of the post. But there are so many more--and not all of them of any quality or appeal--that they take even longer than just checking in with someone who actually does have something to say.

My $.02

I'm the same way: I read a handful of blogs, mostly by friends or fellow writers, or librarians...

Facebook is more like a water-cooler spot, Twitter I read for news. Time sucks, for sure :-)

I like reading blogs, as opposed to just Facebook and Twitter. I feel that I get a better sense of the individual in longer posts.

Me too, Jennifer. And on a selfish level, it gives me a chance to talk as long as I want :-)

Fleur, I have never been on Facebook or Twitter. In fact, I'm not even registered on either. I prefer blogs — there's more meat in them. I read about 25 blogs during the week, mostly about books and films, and I learn much as I go along. I think blogs are going to be around for a long time. They are the next best thing to happen after "Dear Diary" and afford an opportunity for wannabe creative writers who otherwise would have no platform to pen their stuff. Some of the best blogs today are blogs based on hobbies and that tells us something.

I like my online friends so I keep going. But at lot of the blogs I read in 2006 when I started it are gone now.

I think you sum up the reason for blogging best, Prashant.

Patti: I wonder if those people just ran out of stuff to say. I struggle with that sometimes... I admire your blog a great deal.

Very cool, Fleur. Congratulations! It's remarkably different from the original cover.

It's the European/French reader sensibilities, I think. They went with more of a comic book style. I like it :-)

How'd I miss this post? Very cool. Not just the cover, but you're published in freakin' France!

Awesome, huh? I hope the kids there love it...

As much as I would like to believe in gender-free books, all of the kids I have known seem to prefer a protagonist of their own sex and theiractivities geared toward it. Somewhere out there must be these boys and girls that would read either book (I am thinking of Brick on THE MIDDLE) but not mine.

I love Brick :-)

My girls like those pink books (me, not so much...), but they also like the gender-neutral or even boy protagonist stuff. So maybe there's hope yet... I do think girls are more receptive readers sometimes.

Join us next time, F.T. We have cake.

Cake--that does it :-)

I actually really miss writing short crime fiction. Things should slow down some soon, so hopefully my brain will have creative room...

Best thing about the movie THE BIG CHILL.

Been ages since I've seen that one...

Fleur, I enjoy reading books from nearly all genres except romance and one of my favourites is spy/espionage fiction, especially the very conservative thrillers by the late Craig Thomas. They have none of the glamour associated with, say, a Tom Clancy novel but the elderly Kenneth Aubrey of British Intelligence is a very realistic and grounded intel op whom I have grown rather fond of over the years.

I don't think I've ever read any of Craig Thomas' work. It's going on my list :-)

Stephen King. J.K. Rowling. Though it might be closer to "worship" than "admire."

I loved King's book on the Kennedy assassination. Brilliant. Still not a Potter fan--maybe someday :-)

Love it! It's brighter than the first book, but still shows action coming toward us. Nicely done.

And the story sounds like great fun. Can't wait!

Thanks, Deb! Thankfully, I had nothing to do with it--I'm in awe of the illustrator who did the cover...

They look very fine together. Different but complimentary.

Thanks, Patti! It was unexpected, this brighter look, but I really like it.

A very eye-catching cover, Fleur, and, as Patti says, both covers complement each other. I like the use of contrasting colours. Whoever buys the first book will be prompted to buy the other too.

Thanks so much, Prashant! I hope you're right :-)

Oooh, nice action shot and quite crisp. I like it.

Thanks, Loren! It's full of action, so it's a good representation.

I like that both books have action pictures to tie them together. I actually really like the new cover's lighter look (feels more kid-friendly to me) and its unique visual perspective.

It took me a bit to get used to the brighter look, Jennifer, but I like it now. I also like that it has the girl character (the first daughter) on the cover; Linc has as many boy as girl fans, so I hope it appeals to them too.

If I absolutely cannot stand a book and the author is someone who is trying to build an audience, I try not to say anything. Perhaps I'm just not the audience.

However, if it's a classic or a bestseller or an up-and-comer that's already drawing a lot of attention, then what I say is part of a larger conversation and I feel free to give my opinion, good or bad.

But I never say I love a book when I don't. I just don't want to compromise my own integrity that way.

I've been able to be subtle about a book's failures if I'm reviewing the book for a job. But yeah, I couldn't honestly review this one saying it's good, and feel good about myself...

Fleur, I have often thought about this. I do review books I didn't like but then rarely do I not like a book. I always find a redeeming feature in all the books that I read. Frankly, I hate panning a book.

Me too, Prashant. I know how hard an author has to work to see that book to print...

Yup, I do, although usually unintentionally. I don't go on the lookout for bad books, but I do think giving (appropriately) negative reviews is a sign of impartiality for reviewers.

I am really tempted right now to give Ruth Rendell's new book a bad review. It was horrible. And certainly she can take it. But really what would the point be. The thing that irked me most was Stassio on the NYT praised it and she's the only I am upset with since I bought it.

Mine was a blockbuster author like that, Patti. The whole time I was reading, I wondered: who edited this thing?? How does that happen?

I think you're right Loren: all glowing reviews makes you look like a phony...

That's a tough one because I really feel authors benefit from constructive criticism. I know I do. However, as an author myself I know that bad reviews can not only sting, but discourage others from buying the book. If it is strictly my own bias/taste as a reader that keeps me from enjoying a book, I probably wouldn't review it. If I know the author, I'll ask if they want my private comments and offer not to post the review. If none of the above are an issue and the book is just terrible - truly an abomination - or simply not ready for publication (as is sometimes the case with Indie books that have been hastily assembled), I will usually post an honest, hopefully helpful, and never snarky review.

This is true: we all want to get better as authors (I know I do :-). You bring up a good point talking about Indie books that are just not ready yet; that's a whole different ballgame...

A very fine post, Fleur. I think blogging and visiting other blogs has made me a better reader than before. Now I not only enjoy reading books but I also like to show off the ones I do, by reviewing them on my blog and taking others by surprise (that rarely happens, of course!). Talk of competitive spirit! Thanks for the link to Simon Wood's post.

You're welcome, Prashant! I always enjoy your blog posts--they're very refreshing, I think.

Maybe when Megan is in MS next year, I can make one of these signings..

Would be SO great to meet in person! Keep me posted on your travels...

I can't believe a teacher would have such a narrow view of books.

I think the teacher was probably just trying to keep the conversation on track--I honestly don't mind (this kid read the book anyway :-). But it's interesting how that distinction is made. The only way I identify a thriller is by its cover, and even then I'm wrong all the time.

If I had to say, I'd have to break it down this way:

--Mystery is more thinking/talking
--Thriller is more running/shooting

It's about the pace--you're right, Deb. And there *is* a lot of running in Double Vision :-)

Too many labels.
Mysteries. Noir. Cozies. Thrillers. Political thrillers. Procedurals. Spy thrillers. Romantic thrillers. Suspense. Paranormal mysteries. Amateur sleuths. Hard-boiled. Forensic.

Tough one, Fleur. I'd like to think of mystery as hardboiled crime and detective fiction and thriller as edge-of-the-seat suspense and horror. I think Debbie has a good point there.

That's my thought, Prashant--the puzzle is resolved at more of a detective pace.

You're right, Amy :-)

Like you, I was lucky to have many great teachers. My 4th graade teacher, Mrs. Rossow (also the school principal)was strict but fair. And innovative. One lesson was about planning a trip to Australia. We had to learn all about the country (geography, history, sociology), determine what to pack and how much it would cost to buy everything new, and how long it would take to make the trip. In the spring, we tapped the maple trees in front of the school, collected the sap, made maple syrup and sugar and baked biscuits to put the syrup on.

That sounds so cool--both the Australia trip and maple syrup project :-)

Nice post, Fleur. The "media specialist" sounds like a very dedicated teacher and her pupils are lucky to have her. Indian students from a vernacular background are often told to read and memorise English anywhere and everywhere including names of shops and signboards. I didn't have any favourite teachers at school but my English teacher taught me the importance of spelling through his half-hour Dictation class that included word jumble from the previous Sunday's newspaper. I used to look forward to it every week.

What amazed me about this lady was that she didn't seem to let poverty define her kids' education. Very inspiring.

Your story of the Sunday newspaper use in class has that same practical use of everyday reading. Teachers can be so smart...

I am a sucker for classics too, books, films, comics, cartoons, music, histories, documentaries...just about everything. I hadn't heard of this song before. One of my favourite Nat King Cole songs is "Unforgettable." Amazing voice!

I love that one too, Prashant. His daughter Natalie did a 'fake' duet a few years ago, using the old footage--it's pretty neat if you can find it on Youtube.

I love your attention to the classics on your blog :-)

One of the great ones for sure.

Love Nat King Cole! Thanks for sharing this one, and thank you for stopping by the Pikes Peak Writers blog.

Shannon at Writing From the Peak

I am influenced stylistically by anyone I am reading. My writing professor said I would outgrow this but I never have. It is really a problem when I read too many short stories by too many writers. One day I sound like Raymond Carver, the next like someone else. I have to reread my own stories diligently too weed this out.

I see it in my earlier short stories: I can tell when I was reading Elmore Leonard, Stephen King, etc. :-) Not so much anymore, thankfully. Maybe it helps that I write novel-length, don't know.

Great news, Fleur. Can't wait until Kevin is old enough to read your books.

That is so great. Congrats! Fan mail too, even better. Hope you have continuous good news throughout the year.

Thanks, guys! Looking forward to your good news as well. I say 13 is a lucky number :-)

A new year well begun, Fleur. And a Happy New Year to you and your family! 2013? Read more books and do some serious writing.

I like your resolutions, Prashant. Might go the same route...

Fleur, you have lined up some interesting topics for your upcoming presentations and workshops. I particularly liked "How is a story born?" and "How do you build a novel outline?" Just what I need to start writing. I'd love to know how the 3rd to 6th graders respond to "What makes a great scene in a book" and "Let’s plot a novel together!" That should be fun! Do American kids read books? I am not so sure about Indian kids though I find more parents buying books for their children these days.

Kids here read quite a bit, and it's a big part of curriculum here, too. Middle-graders and high school students are so smart and fun... :-)

In The Netherlands (where I grew up), we don't really have author visits, so this is new to me. I love doing author visits.

Boo, you should totally be on the list! I call re-do!!!!!

Hehe, you're too nice :-) My book is more thriller than mystery anyway, and I'm actually looking forward to reading these. Several I haven't heard of...

I think I will join you in trying to get them read--I feel poorly read in the mystery side of things. I have only read three of these, and some I had never even heard of before (The Quick Fix, and Emily's Dress, and the Edge of Nowhere).

Fleur, I hope you are feeling all right now. My best wishes to you on your third book and congratulations on the expanding Twitter following. Nothing like milestones to keep one's spirits up. Thanks for the link to PAPERMAN which I'll check out back home. I rarely pass up anything animated and this one looks good. And if it's about silence then I'll probably learn something!

It's a good one, Prashant. Thanks for the well-wishes! :-)

Cute.

Isn't it? I love the simplicity. Hope it wins.