Christmas Early!

Now see, during the RWA reporting by Dear Author, Smart Bitches and Kristie, not one person mentioned Anne Stuart. We heard about elevator run ins with Linda Howard and Nalini Singh brushing hair and of course Nora Roberts being well, Nora Roberts!

There were envious sighs by those of us unable to attend but there was a little part of me that was okay with the events because Anne Stuart had obviously not shown.

I've been duped!

In case I didn't mention Kristie came for a visit today and I was excited to hear all about her adventures at RWA. There had also been a question about my love of vampire books - YES so I knew there might be a few titles that would find a home here.

So after hugs and drinks and settling into comfy chairs Kristie brings out the cutest little gift bag and well, I'm pretty sure I was clapping at that point. I look in the bag and I see the tops of some books. I start pulling them out slowly and squeee'd happily with each one. I'm going to post them in a second. She also brought me the first two books in Robyn Carr's series Virgin River and Shelter Mountain. Super Cool!

Then I notice that the bag is still heavy so I look inside and the sneak has put a book in the bottom of the bag. I can't tell what book it is because she has wrapped it in tissue paper. Since I'm already beyond giggly (and really, I soooo don't do giggles) I'm not sure what to expect.

I've never had so much trouble tearing paper off a gift before - I think Kristie used super glue. I was floored when I saw Anne Stuart's Ice Blue but I must have been making a squeeing sound because Kristie says 'you have to open it'.

Oh. Hell. No.

It's signed!!! And it's signed to ME!!

I hugged the book, I hugged Kristie, I hugged the book and well, you get the picture.

Kristie stood in line for me!! Kristie was feeling claustrophobic that day and still stood in line for me!!

Since Kristie is a bookie like the rest of us I can only hope she knows how much it means to me that she took time to get me a signed Anne Stuart.

Bob was pounced upon when he got home from work and shown the new beauty. He was suitably impressed (I was BBQing and there was no way he was going to ruin a good thing) and told Kristie that he would have to start work on the shrine the next day. I'm not sure if he knows this but I'm taking that to heart!

So today was a perfect day. We drank pop and ate potato chips and rehashed all the happenings in Dallas. Kristie told me about the other authors she had met and about some of the books they have written (Kristie has a great memory for plots, whereas I'm lucky if I can remember if I've ever read a book), I got scolded for not reading One Summer by Karen Robards (I explained my 'crazy' to her but I don't think she was feeling me) and we searched through my bookcases for one particular book. At one point Kristie said 'You don't have these in any kind of order, do you?'

Uh, no.

Bad Cindy.

Oh! And she showed me some cool tricks on Excel that I didn't know about to help me with sorting books. I think I may be motivated to catalogue all the books I own. Okay, I'm kinda scared of doing this as I will then know the exact number of books I own and although I'm sure I can take it, I'm not sure Bob can survive the shock.

Course, I could catalogue his tools.

Okay, I have to go and find the perfect spot to put my book. I'm wondering about a shadow box but Bob doesn't like them and I wouldn't get to pet the cover whenever I want to.

What?

No.

I don't stroke book covers either.

Sheesh!