by NancyHappy New Year!!!
Part of me can't believe we're already in 2011. I remember when that seemed soooo very far away, and now here it is. We're going to have a great year in the Lair, with lots of fabulous guests already set to join us.
I hope it will be a terrific year for everyone. My fingers are perpetually crossed that the AYUs among the banditas and our buddies make the leap to publication this year and our APs climb the lists. Our Suz, aka Suzanne Ferrell, will debut this year, so stay tuned for details on the celebration.
I'm looking forward to the completion of the Harry Potter film saga and am glad the movie will come out before the boy leaves home. Our family saw that series begin together, and we'll finish it together.
I'm also looking forward to the boy going off to college, in a way. We'll miss him terribly, and thinking about his being gone far away makes my heart hurt, but it's such a milestone for him, a big step into adulthood.
RWA National will be in the capital of publishing, New York City, with lots to see and do in addition to having face time with scattered friends and learning about the business. I always enjoy New York.
I'm anticipating DragonCon, as always. That's the "let it all hang out" weekend for me, and the dh is getting into the swing. It will be strange without the boy, though.
To help launch this year in the Lair with plenty of boom, we have a wonderful lineup for January. To start, of course, so many of us and y'all are here today, some of us taking a short break from various football games on TV and others of us seeking refuge from them. There's a lot of noise coming from the gladiator villa, I noticed. Lots of yelling, both enthused and curse-laden. They seem to get seriously into watching burly men crashing into each other.
Our first guest of 2011, Stephanie Dray, will join us on January 3 to talk about her new YA historical fiction debut, Lily of the Nile, with Christie.Anybody besides me notice that the ancient world seems to be very popular in YA these days? Anyone besides me read Mara, Daughter of the Nile as a young adult?
January 4 brings Sandy Blair back to chat with Suz. A great friend of the Bandits, Sandy is bringing us another Scottish tale in the THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF SCOTTISH ROMANCE. Her story is titled Her MacKinnon.
On Thursday, 6th January, Anna Campbell hosts historical author Beverley Kendall who will be talking about her fabulous new Regency A TASTE OF DESIRE. Bev runs the popular website The Season and she’s terrifically supportive of her fellow writers – we’re looking forward to giving her a big rambunctious Bandita welcome when she visits. More prizes!
On January 7 Aunty Cindy brings her good buddy Marie Force back to the Lair to celebrate the release of the second book in her romantic suspense series: Fatal Justice. Don't miss the fun and prizes!
On January 8, Jennifer St. Giles's alter ego, J. L. Saint, chats with Nancy about her romantic thriller, Collateral Damage. This the first in the Silent Warrior series.
On Monday, 10th January, Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe returns to the lair as Anna Campbell’s guest to talk about her wonderful new release MISTRESS BY MIDNIGHT. Maggie is lots of fun and we had a great day last time she visited the lair to discuss her debut historical MISTRESS BY MISTAKE. This should be a great day too – with prizes!
On January 11 we're thrilled to have Regency historical romance writer and Word Wench Cara Elliott with us to chat about her sexy February release, TO TEMPT A RAKE.The middle of the month will be just us banditas and our usual coterie of cabana boys and gladiators and hockey hunks. And the dragon, who made out very well during the holidays.
We can't give you details because those are classified, but I can tell you Christmas Eve was a very near thing for a certain reindeer. Santa refuses to visit the Lair again unless he has a special landing site away from certain flight-capable residents.
On January 21, NYT Bestseller and Writer Beware co-founder A. C. Crispin joins Nancy to discuss the pitfalls writers should avoid as they dive back into their work during the New Year.
On January 27, Kate will host Hannah Dennison, author of the Vicky Hill English Village mysteries, who will seek Bandita advice on how poor Vicky might find the right man and cast off her virginity once and for all.If the banditas can't help Vicky, I'm sure the gladiators, hockey hunks and cabana boys will have some advice (No, Paolo, she's not looking for volunteers from the Lair. Yes, I'm sure.).
January 30 is a very special launch party as Tawny celebrates the release of her 10th book, Breaking the Rules. I'm allowed to say it's a Uniformly Hot Book about a battle of wills between a soldier home from Afghanistan and his best friend's kid sister. There will be what Tawny describes as "major prizes," as well as more details about the book.
On January 31, Kate will host fabulous new author Regan Hastings, whose fiery VISIONS OF MAGIC promises to be the hottest book on the shelves! Who is Regan Hastings? Come get the scoop!In bandita news, we have the following:
Anna Campbell is running a Backlist Bounty for the New Year contest until the end of January. Ten lucky people get their choice of one of Anna’s current books, CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, UNTOUCHED, TEMPT THE DEVIL, CAPTIVE OF SIN or MY RECKLESS SURRENDER. Just email her on anna@annacampbell.info and tell her which book you’d like and why.For more information, please visit the contest page of her website: http://www.annacampbell.info/contest.html
What are you looking forward to in 2011? What book you read or movie you saw in 2010 was your favorite, and why?
75 comments:
Happy New Year to all!
I guess my favorite book of 2010 would have to be Kaki Warner's Pieces of Sky and Open Country. Loved these books but I really enjoyed a lot of books this year so it was hard to choose just one. These books just still stand out in my mind.
Happy New Year and looking forward to the great lineup!
Another great lineup to start 2011 off with a big bang! Thanks for the deets, Nancy!
Happy New Year to all! The firecrackers (totally illegal here in the U.S.) are popping all around my neighborhood (rolling eyes) as everyone welcomes in the new year.
Happy New Year everyone. I have quite a few books that were my favorites this year:
Lover Mine-JR Ward
The Darkest Lie-Gena Showalter
When Marrying a Scoundrel-Kathryn Smith
My favorite movies this year were:
Harry Potter 7
Inception
The Other Guys
Young Victoria
For this coming year I am really looking forward to the final installment of Harry Potter. June is just so far away. I can't wait.
What a wonderful lineup in January! I'm looking forward to all the fun.
I read so many wonderful books in 2010 that I'm not sure I can pick just one. I'll have to think on it.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Stil 2010 here in Hawaii ...
... but looking forward to 2011 in the Lair!
Too many books to list, so I'll defer to my favorite movie. It was shown by Hawaiian Airlines on my way home from RWA (via Las Vegas). THE RIDE is a local produced film that takes a modern Haoele surfer back to 1910 to meet Duke Kahanamoku (who would become the father of modern surfing). It is a charming film of second chances and early Hawaii.
Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!
Wow this month looks AWESOME!!!!!
Hmmmmm I don't really have a favorite book from this year...Mainly because the book I really enjoyed that I read in 2010 doesn't come out until Feb. 2011(I signed up for an advanced e-proof, to review). So, in turn that book doesn't count. I will say of the ones I did read I enjoyed them.
As for movies...the last movie I actually got to watch without screaming kids, or hubby asking nine million questions was The Other Guys, and the was actually pretty funny.
This year I hope to have my house back in order from when my mom moved into my office. I hope that my husband finally learns that the kids do not do everything by themselves, that yes I do have to complete a lot of things for them (I mean our daughter is only 3!) and maybe the sock monster will finally come out of my dryer and DIE!!!!
Happy New Year Everyone!!!!
Happy New Year. "Black Swan" and "Easy A" were my favorite movies and Loretta Chase's "Last Night's Scandal" was one of my favorite books. I'm really looking forward to my favorite shows returning like "Southland" and "Justified." Also looking forward to Pamela Clare's May release.
Congrats on the GR, Virginia.
Well done Virginia have fun with him
Happy New Year Everyone
What a fantastic line up again this lair really rocks.
I gotta say that I have read so many fantastic books this year it really is hard to choose one But Sarah Maclean's Nine Ways and Ten Rues were fantastic Harry Potter way to go and yes we have watched them pretty much as a family as well Nancy and we really are looking forward to the final chapter.
I am also looking forward to ARRC2011 to be held at Bondi in March and the birth of another grandchild in early April that will make 6 lucky me.
have Fun
Helen
Looks like it's going to be an interesting year here. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Happy New Year!
Wow, looks like you're starting the year off with a real bang! Looking forward to it. I read a lot in 2010, but the most memorable for me was actually a classic. After reading so much about it online, I decided to borrow the movie North and South with Richard Armitage from the library and loved it so much that, not only did I buy a copy for myself, I also got the book by Elizabeth Gaskell to read. well, I have watched the movie about 5 times already and plan to reread the book some time this year.
Margay
Happy New Year! I am looking forward to yet another fresh start in the new year. Striving as always to be calmer, smarter, more everything than the last year.
Way, way to many books to choose one, you guys know that is not my strong point. Movies is easy, there is only one that I made the trek to the theatre to see and that was Harry Potter, my attention was caught in the beginning and has not waned an iota since the beginning. Just like last year I will read the books again prior to the final showing, makes my son nuts because I have an idea of what is coming and he doesn't. EG
What a line up for the lair! Were I a sweet young thing I would be jumping up and down clapping my hands, since I am not (and jumping up and down would set a lot of excess bouncing and possibly hurting myself) you will have to let a huge grin let you know just how happy I am. :-D
Virginia, congrats on the bird, and Happy 2011 to you, too.
Choosing a particular book can be really difficult when you've read a lot you enjoyed, can't it?
Nas Dean, Happy New Year to you, too!
Jo, firecrackers were illegal in this state for much of my life but were readily available just across the state line, so there were always fireworks on holidays.
Happy New Year to you, too, Danielle. The only one of those books I've read was The Darkest Lie. I've enjoyed the Lords of the Underworld series.
We want to see Inception particularly.
Hi, Laurie--Picking one book can be tough. I'm one of those people who blanks when asked to list things, but that doesn't stop me from asking other people to do so. *g*
Kim, welcome to 2011! That sounds like an interesting movie. Airlines around here seldom show indie films.
BJ, LOL on the sock monster! We have one, too, but it's in the washer, not the dryer.
You can count that book if you like. You read it in 2010 even if it's officially a 2011 release.
I hope all your New Year wishes come true.
Jane, I love Southland and Justified, too. Southland comes back Tuesday, I think. I've been watching reruns, trying to get caught up.
Helen, Happy New Year to you, too! Sounds as though you have a big 2011 coming up, especially with that new baby to look forward to. I hope everything goes smoothly.
We read the Potter books aloud as a family. Even though the boy was well past the being read to stage when the last one came out, he asked that we read it together, as we had all the others, so I'm particularly glad we can see the last movie that way, too.
Mason, Happy New Year to you, too.
Dina, Happy New Year back atcha!
Margay, wow! You must've really loved that movie. You know Richard Armitage is a favorite around here, too.
North and South to me, though, was John Jakes novel and TV miniseries about the Civil War. I'll have to check out this version.
Dianna, we wouldn't want you to hurt yourself! *g* I think we're going to have a lot of fun around here this year.
Harry Potter snared us from the get-go, too. At the end of the lat movie (I'm being vague in case anyone still hasn't seen it), after that big, cliff-hanging "uh-oh" moment, when the screen went dark, this little kid down front cried, "Nooo!"
That broke the tension, and everyone in the theater laughed.
That's "the end of the LAST movie." *sigh*
Nancy, you definitely should check it out, if only to see Richard - he is amazing in that movie!
Margay
Margay, I hear RA is amazing in pretty much everything he does.
When I stumbled off to bed last night, not exactly drunk, but totally tired, I remembered I'd forgotten to say Whoohooo to Virginia (again!) and answer the question.
Now, what was the questions LOL?
Oh yeah, I saw so few movies last year that I'm not sure I have a fave, but I did enjoy the recent TRUE GRIT. LOL all the way through it, but that could've been because I was surrounded by my two favorite men who laughed like hyennas.
As for what I wish for in 2011, as always I hope for a contract.
But I'd be really self-absorbed if I didn't also wish that everyone I love has a steady income, a stable work and family atmosphere, and personal satisfaction whatever their situations.
Happy 2011 all!
Nancy, that is so true! I've been watching him in MI5 and he is just sooo good.Now I have to watch Robin Hood; I've only seen youtube clips, but want to see the whole show!
Margay
HAPPY 2011 TO EVERYONE IN THE LAIR!!!
I think it's going to be a TERRIFIC year for the Banditas and BBs. More fun, more books, more cabana boys! What's not to love??!?
My brain is too fuzzy this morning to select books or movies from all the wonderful releases in 2010 (I'm afraid I'm one of 4 people in the world who has not seen the latest Harry Potter). But I'm looking forward to even MORE in 2011!
Cabana boys! Break out the mimosas!
AC
Virginia, is it auspicious to start the new year off with the GR? Hm!
And I can't wait until Vicky comes to give us advice on shedding our virginity. Always good advice to have! ;-)
Jo, do we infer that True Grit is really good? Or laughably bad?
I hope you get your New Year's wishes.
Ooh, favorite books and movies are always tough. I have to say, I really loved reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And, in a similar epistolary style, I re-read Jean Webster's Daddy Long Legs and read her Dear Enemy for the first time. Completely charming!!
Margay, I have yet to see RA in MI5. BBCAmerica doesn't seem to carry it.
I hear they're doing some bizarre things with his character, though.
I plan to acquire the first season on DVD this year.
AC, if your brain is that fuzzy, you must've had a great New Year's Eve.
I also am looking forward to more this year--more books, more movies, more fun in the Lair.
Kim, I added The Ride to m,y Netflix queue!
Margay, wasn't North and South wonderful? Oh, and you reminded me that I saw Return To Cranford last year and adored it. Also recommend Miss Potter, which was terribly romantic and sad!
Caren wrote: Virginia, is it auspicious to start the new year off with the GR?
Hmm, indeed. Very good question. If this were the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar, would that be good or bad for the GR? Aside from inflating his already insufferable ego, of course. *sigh*
As for Vicky's appearance, I think we may have a little trouble keeping Paolo in check. I noticed that date has a big, fat, red circle around it on the kitchen calendar. Sven looked at it, shook his head, and muttered something under his breath. Demetrius, OTOH, snorted and kinda smirked.
Caren, I've heard great things about the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel society. It may be one of my rare forays into mainstream fiction this year.
Nancy, you won't regret Guernsey. It is completely charming and a real treat. As for Paolo, I'm beginning to be nervous. I'm not sure if I'm nervous for us or him, though, given Demetrius' reaction...
Caren, fireworks in the Lair are always interesting. A clash between Demetrius and Paolo, though, would be so one-sided. The head of the gladiators against the cowardly-est cabana boy? Hard to envision that lasting long.
Sven can hold his own with any of them, but Paolo usually prefers to beat a quick retreat.
We'll see.
Unless the circle on the calendar is some trick of the GR's.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Avatar was my favorite movie by far. Loved the theme and the technology was fantastic and it even had a HEA. Picking a favorite book is a lot harder! I enjoyed The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Wild Irish Sea by Loucinda McGary and The Irish Warrior by Kris Kennedy - just to name a few!
Hey Nancy! Popping in between bowl games, (and a trip to the store to feed the masses here).
Loved True Grit, too, Jo! Went with my son to see it and I have to say Jeff Bridges did a great job as Rooster. But the girl who played Mattie was really quite good! Loved the humor in the movie, too. Dark and gritty humor, best loved by men, but I love it, too!
Best book I read in 2010? So many books, so many good reads!
Hmmm, well the best series was the "Dream Light Trilogy" by Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle.
Wishing the Banditas and Buddies a very happy new year!! And happy rooster catching to Virginia.
Happy New Year! The Lair is going to have another great month!
I have had a lot of fave books this year. Inspirationally, LIGHT FROM LUCAS was a fave. It is written by a prominent Iowa businessman and it's about the hardships and rewards of raising a disabled boy. An old backlist book of Suzanne Enoch's was one fave because the hero, Saint, was a very wicked man who turned into a delightful gentleman (still with a bit of a wicked streak). But, as I said, there are too many to really name!
Hi, Catslady--The boy loved Avatar. I haven't seen it yet, though.
The dh got The Hunger Games for Christmas. I'm planning to snag his copy. . ..
Hi, Suz--Maybe True Grit is like Pirate Radio, with some of the humor more apt to appeal to guys. It sounds great, though.
Good luck feeding the masses!
Keira, thanks, and Happy New Year to you, too!
Deb, that memoir sounds interesting.
I get into reading backlists when I discover a new author. It's like a major treat and generally lasts a while, which is nice.
Nancy, I've been watching it on public television (Channel 2 in Massachusetts).
Caren, North and South was to die for, filled with so many moments that can stir even the non-romantic heart. I just saw the Cranford movie on Masterpiece recently and really enjoyed it. I also liked Wives and Daughters (also by Gaskell), but not as much as North and South.
Oh, and how could I forget? I also borrowed Jane Eyre from the library and had the same experience as with North and South - watched it a number of times before taking it back, then got the dvd for myself and read the book. Amazing! I got the version with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens - he is a drop dead gorgeous Rochesster. Though, I can't wait to see the new version with Michael Fassbender, another favorite actor of mine.
Happy New Year! As usual sounds like another great month in the liar. Looking forward to more "visiting" here which always keeps me smiling. Am terrible at picking a favorite as I like different books for different reasons so can't help you there :)
Happy New Year to you too! I really enjoyed the movie, The Young Victoria this past year. I also discovered a few new authors - Tessa Dare and Erin Quinn and Lisa Kleypas.
awwww! BIG THANX, Catslady for mentioning my Wild Irish Sea as one of your fave books. :-) You're such a sweetie!
And HELLO to our darling Keira! Hope we see you more often in 2011.
Nancy, I suspect you are right that the big red circle on the calendar is a prank by the GR. He's always trying to stir up trouble betwixt the gladiators and cabana boys. He's SUCH A RASCAL!
AC
Margay, our public TV shows MI5 sporadically--when it's not Pledge Week--and they haven't caught up to the current season. Or at least they hadn't last time I saw it. They still had Rupert Penry Jones as the male lead.
I saw a version of Jane Eyre--or I think I did--with Timothy Dalton as Rochester, but I don't remember who played Jane.
My exposure to many such classics was through the now-defunct Classics Illustrated Comic Books. This summer, I found a copy of the one I had adapting Lorna Doone. I remembered the cover. I went out and bought the book because of the comic book.
Now there's a romantic story just waiting for a film adaptation!
Gamistress, I totally understand about the not picking. Choosing can be hard. I have favorites in romance, in science fiction, in fantasy, and even in nonfiction.
Unfortunately, I'm always behind, as the teetering TBR tower attests.
We're glad you like stopping by. We enjoy having you and all our other buddies stop in. If we were just writing blogs for each other to read, it would get old in a hurry
LilMissMolly, I heard great things about Young Victoria. I'm a sucker for costume pieces, and it's on my list to check out.
AC, I suppose we'll find out at some point whether the GR has been meddling. As you point out, he's a rascal, so I wouldn't put it past him.
Woo hoo! First day of the new year! What a great lineup for January!
In 2011, I'm looking forward to all the new books being published! Ha! Oh and though I'm cringing at it being comedic and starring Seth Rogen, I'm kind of both looking forward to and dreading the Green Hornet movie.
Okay, I'm totally cheating here by my favourite 2010 read is a toss-up between Gail Carriger's Soulless because it was such a hoot, Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mystery series because I love the interaction between Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy and midwife Sarah Brandt, and Cherie Priest's Boneshaker which was just a really cool adventure. As for favourite movie, hands down that title goes to Push starring Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning. It's actually from 2009(so Wiki tells me seeing as how I don't recall hearing about it when it was in theatres!) but I didn't discover it till this past year...actually, I've rewatched it so often that I've lost track of the number of times I've seen it!
Happy New Year, Banditas! I'm looking forward to a fresh start and a book deal. :)
Pissenlit, I share your sentiments on the Green Hornet. I always love a good superhero movie, but I always cringe at a bad one. The trailer is not comforting.
I read Soulless, too, and thought it was fun. I have Boneshaker on the great teetering pile but haven't yet read it.
I didn't see Push, either, but maybe on video. We didn't get to many movies last year.
Vanessa, Happy New Year, to you, too, and I hope you get what you're looking for.
Margay, our PBS station is airing MI5 tonight (supposedly), an episode with RA. So we'll see.
Nancy - The trailer is not comforting.
Ya, it really isn't. I was a fan of the old shortlived tv series with Van Williams and Bruce Lee and *cough* it's possible that I had a teeny tiny crush on Britt Reid/The Green Hornet. I think my eyes crossed the first time I saw the movie trailer.
I'll be looking forward to seeing
the 9th of 10 grandchildren reach
school age and celebrating both a
milestone anniversary & birthday.
I guess any year when I reach one
more birthday is a milestone! LOL.
Great lineup for January, I look
forward to meeting ( or meeting
again) with the outstanding and
very talented guests!
Pat Cochran
Pissenlit, I am SO with you on the old Green Hornet series. Van Williams was dashing. Seth Rogen, not so much.
Pat, congratulations on your grandchildren rolling toward adulthood. I bet they're fun to watch!
Thanks for stopping by, everyone. I'm bagging it for the day. Happy New Year, one and all, and may all your wishes come true!
Happy New Year! Sorry I didn't make it here yesterday. I was too busy taking naps. ;-)
Great line-up for January! Lots of my favorite authors making appearances here in the lair. Nancy, I'll definitely be here on the 8th for your chat with J.L. Saint about her new book, Collateral Damage. I loved this book!
It would be hard to pick just one favorite from among the books I read in 2010 but a few (other than Collateral Damage) that stood out for me were Paula Quinn's Seduced By a Highlander, Holly Jacobs' Homecoming Day, Rocki St. Claire's Edge of Sight, Tiffany Clare's The Surrender of a Lady, Jeanne Adams' Deadly Little Secrets, Tessa Dare's Three Nights With a Scoundrel, Beth Andrews' A Marine for Christmas, Eloisa James's A Kiss At Midnight, Jo Bourne's The Forbidden Rose, Kaki Warner's Open Country, Toni Blake's Sugar Creek, Teresa Medeiros's The Devil Wears Plaid and Kris Kennedy's The Irish Warrior.
Happy New Year everyone. What a great line up for January.
One of the best books I read was Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight. I just loved that book. It had every emotion you can think of i it. And the other was Sandra Brown's Rainwater. Both books I'd recommend to everyone. Beautiful stories.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
Only the truth and nothing but the truth, Aunt Cindy. I loved The Wild Irish Sea!!
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