キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 07.09.2007
Got up EARLY for the Zondervan authors’ breakfast at 8:30 AM Eastern time, which was 5:30 AM California time. Yes, Camy was not a happy camper.
However, she felt better after getting some food in her.
I sat at a table with Karen Campbell (Zondervan PR), Lee Hough (Alive Communications), Lynn Waalkes (Aspiring Retail, recently renamed to CBA Retailers and Resources), Jana Reiss (Publisher’s Weekly), Brandilyn Collins and Don Brown.
Karen Kingsbury gave an inspiring keynote address that made me feel like dreck for writing fluffy beach reads instead of life-changing women’s fiction. (j/k … sort of). I got a chance to thank Lynn for that great article on upcoming voices in Christian Fiction that came out in Aspiring Retail a few weeks (months?) ago, and I also got a chance to express thanks to Jana for the great review in Publisher’s
Weekly.
Karen encouraged the table to discuss what inspires each of us, and I naturally allowed my irreverent, shallow side show by confessing I rarely read literary fiction OR classics. Yes, Camy is a Neanderthal. My love of Jane Austen just barely redeemed me, especially being surrounded by Lee, Lynn, Jana, and Brandilyn, who are very well-read, and Don who’s just smart as all get-out.
I also attended a brunch for Books and Such Literary Agency clients, which was fun and MORE FOOD. I sat with Sarah Sumpolec and met Carmel Leal, a fellow-Hawaii dweller. Carmen is such a giving, generous woman, as well as being a fabulous marketer—she offered to help me with some marketing and promotion the next time I’m in Hawaii. Isn’t that awesome???
Me and Kathleen Y'Barbo (Janet announced today that Kathleen is now offering her PR services to Books and Such clients for very reasonable, effective packages!)
Sarah Sumpolec and me (I look prego, but I promise it's just the loose dress aided by a good slouch)
Julie Dearyan and me (nice bra strap shot, eh?)
I had a fun video interview with Brett Eastman and Sue Doc Ross, although to be honest, I couldn’t say what it was for. It was just a lot of chatting and fun. Who knows if I even looked good in front of the camera, LOL.
At the videotaping, I met Jamie Langston Turner (Christy winner) and I re-met Melody Carlson, fellow chick lit author, who was introduced to me last night at the Christy Awards by her friend Robin Jones Gunn (Christy winner). I’ve heard so much about Melody’s YA books, especially since I work with teens.
However, the videotaping was waaaaaaay the heck down the hallway at the convention center, and I got blisters on my feet, which I don’t understand because I’ve worn these shoes before and not gotten blisters. Luckily, one of the nice video taping crew guys went and tried to get bandaids for me, and ended up sending a conference worker with a whole slew of them to save my feet. I also changed into my other pair of shoes, which are a brown that did not match my dress—fashion gave way to comfort.
I met with agent Chip MacGregor just to chat and exchange industry news. I love talking with him, he’s so fun. Chip exerted his masculine side with a rasmopolitan that tasted realllllllly good, and I had a gin and tonic with an order of FRENCH FRIES!!!! I reluctantly turned him over to Claudia Mair Burney, but only ’cuz she’s his client, so I guess I have to give way. ;)
I also met lovely Tracey Bateman, and then later saw Cindy Woodsmall and Susan May Warren at the bar with Tracey.
Then I hustled over to the Ritz-Carlton because I didn’t realize I was LATE for my drinks-and-gossip session with fellow chick lit author Anne Dayton. We had SO much fun talking and laughing. I felt much relieved I’m not the only shallow chick lit reader/writer at this convention. I also talked briefly with editor Shannon Hill from Waterbrook, and tried to convince her I wasn’t stalking her. Really.
While in the Ritz-Carlton bar area, I saw Liz Curtis Higgs sitting with friends, and Francine Rivers also came in to sit with her friends. I refrained from acting like a morbid fan by introducing myself and gushing over them—instead, I let them have their drinks in peace. Imagine that.
I met Sarah Sumpolec and her husband Jeff at the convention center, and we went to the Hard Rock Café for dinner with Cyndy Salzmann and Carmen Leal. Was I even a remotely good Diet Girl? Nooooooooo. I had a garlic spinach burger with MORE FRENCH FRIES!!! Then us four girls went to the Westin lobby to chat for a couple hours before turning to bed.
Continued: ICRS Monday
Got up EARLY for the Zondervan authors’ breakfast at 8:30 AM Eastern time, which was 5:30 AM California time. Yes, Camy was not a happy camper.
However, she felt better after getting some food in her.
I sat at a table with Karen Campbell (Zondervan PR), Lee Hough (Alive Communications), Lynn Waalkes (Aspiring Retail, recently renamed to CBA Retailers and Resources), Jana Reiss (Publisher’s Weekly), Brandilyn Collins and Don Brown.
Karen Kingsbury gave an inspiring keynote address that made me feel like dreck for writing fluffy beach reads instead of life-changing women’s fiction. (j/k … sort of). I got a chance to thank Lynn for that great article on upcoming voices in Christian Fiction that came out in Aspiring Retail a few weeks (months?) ago, and I also got a chance to express thanks to Jana for the great review in Publisher’s
Weekly.
Karen encouraged the table to discuss what inspires each of us, and I naturally allowed my irreverent, shallow side show by confessing I rarely read literary fiction OR classics. Yes, Camy is a Neanderthal. My love of Jane Austen just barely redeemed me, especially being surrounded by Lee, Lynn, Jana, and Brandilyn, who are very well-read, and Don who’s just smart as all get-out.
I also attended a brunch for Books and Such Literary Agency clients, which was fun and MORE FOOD. I sat with Sarah Sumpolec and met Carmel Leal, a fellow-Hawaii dweller. Carmen is such a giving, generous woman, as well as being a fabulous marketer—she offered to help me with some marketing and promotion the next time I’m in Hawaii. Isn’t that awesome???
Me and Kathleen Y'Barbo (Janet announced today that Kathleen is now offering her PR services to Books and Such clients for very reasonable, effective packages!)
Sarah Sumpolec and me (I look prego, but I promise it's just the loose dress aided by a good slouch)
Julie Dearyan and me (nice bra strap shot, eh?)
I had a fun video interview with Brett Eastman and Sue Doc Ross, although to be honest, I couldn’t say what it was for. It was just a lot of chatting and fun. Who knows if I even looked good in front of the camera, LOL.
At the videotaping, I met Jamie Langston Turner (Christy winner) and I re-met Melody Carlson, fellow chick lit author, who was introduced to me last night at the Christy Awards by her friend Robin Jones Gunn (Christy winner). I’ve heard so much about Melody’s YA books, especially since I work with teens.
However, the videotaping was waaaaaaay the heck down the hallway at the convention center, and I got blisters on my feet, which I don’t understand because I’ve worn these shoes before and not gotten blisters. Luckily, one of the nice video taping crew guys went and tried to get bandaids for me, and ended up sending a conference worker with a whole slew of them to save my feet. I also changed into my other pair of shoes, which are a brown that did not match my dress—fashion gave way to comfort.
I met with agent Chip MacGregor just to chat and exchange industry news. I love talking with him, he’s so fun. Chip exerted his masculine side with a rasmopolitan that tasted realllllllly good, and I had a gin and tonic with an order of FRENCH FRIES!!!! I reluctantly turned him over to Claudia Mair Burney, but only ’cuz she’s his client, so I guess I have to give way. ;)
I also met lovely Tracey Bateman, and then later saw Cindy Woodsmall and Susan May Warren at the bar with Tracey.
Then I hustled over to the Ritz-Carlton because I didn’t realize I was LATE for my drinks-and-gossip session with fellow chick lit author Anne Dayton. We had SO much fun talking and laughing. I felt much relieved I’m not the only shallow chick lit reader/writer at this convention. I also talked briefly with editor Shannon Hill from Waterbrook, and tried to convince her I wasn’t stalking her. Really.
While in the Ritz-Carlton bar area, I saw Liz Curtis Higgs sitting with friends, and Francine Rivers also came in to sit with her friends. I refrained from acting like a morbid fan by introducing myself and gushing over them—instead, I let them have their drinks in peace. Imagine that.
I met Sarah Sumpolec and her husband Jeff at the convention center, and we went to the Hard Rock Café for dinner with Cyndy Salzmann and Carmen Leal. Was I even a remotely good Diet Girl? Nooooooooo. I had a garlic spinach burger with MORE FRENCH FRIES!!! Then us four girls went to the Westin lobby to chat for a couple hours before turning to bed.
Continued: ICRS Monday
Comments
And how fun you met up with Anne Dayton. I just won a copy of The Book of Jane and can't wait to read it before I another deadline looms. Have fun schmoozing and eating :)
Julie
Loved the update - sounds like so much fun. Do you think they would ever think of having the confernece in Australia - hahahaha!