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, Supplemental
Blog book giveaway:
To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there.
Paper Moon by Linda Windsor
The Reliance (Legacy of the King’s Pirates book 2) by M.L. Tyndall
Bonus giveaway: The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
My trip to Grand Rapids:
My trip went so great! I’m hoping I remembered people’s names correctly.
I arrived in Grand Rapids around 3 in the afternoon, and Joyce Ondersma (Author Relations) picked me up at the airport. I’d met Joyce last year at ICRS and she’s a wonderful person. She has glorious red hair that I totally envy.
We had dinner with Sue Brower (Senior Editor) and Sherry Guzy (Marketing Director). I also met Marla Bliss and Karwyn Bursma (Marketing Director for Fiction Inspiration) and Joe Questel, who’s part of the Sales department.
We had these Bang-Bang shrimp appetizers that were a blast! (heheh) They were really spicy but really good. I fought Joe for them.
The day at Zondervan was fabulous. First I was shown to a separate “author lounge.” Now isn’t that just way cool? They actually had my name on the door—well, underneath John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian church (I had gone to Menlo Park Pres a few times when I was in college) who had spoken to the Sales Team that morning.
I spent the morning doing videotaping with Josh Green and Adam Stiestra, who’s the brother of Greg Stieltra (Greg wrote Pyromarketing). They were fun guys! They made the videotaping fun. It went really quickly. I hope I looked okay (wish I could’ve lost another 10 pounds before doing the taping, but oh well).
I also met Becky Shingledecker, who’s my developmental editor. She does figure skating for fun! Isn’t that way cool?
At lunch, I met Bill Oeschler (Executive VP of Marketing) again—I’d sat at his table at the Christy Awards last year. I also met Mark Rice (VP of Book Marketing) and Scott Bolinder (Executive VP of Publishing over books and Bibles).
Sherry was there, as well as Karwyn, Samantha Griggs (National Account Rep for Books a Million, B&N, Borders), and Jaime Seaton (General market sales account manager, Costco SamsClub). Samantha is expecting in a month, and she was at work! Jaime sat next to me and she was a riot (she has a cute pink phone too).
I also met Michelle Langer, who is the brilliant art director who did my book cover!!! Blame that fabulous Memoirs of a Geisha look all to her. I also met Karen Statler, the Editorial Manager who was responsible for getting my book out quickly (see below).
I also had a chance to chat with Karen Campbell again—I met her at ICRS last year, and she’s the Senior Manager of Publicity for all of Zondervan. She’s really excited to push my book!
The Sales Meeting segment went well for me. I had brought chopsticks laser inscribed with my name, tagline (Romance with a kick of wasabi), and website address to give to all the sales people (Sherry left them on each seat).
Dineen Miller had designed bookmarks for me (Dineen is a professional graphic designer, and by the way, D, I got lots of compliments on them) which I also gave out.
Karwyn and Sue and Karen Campbell gave a great presentation, and then Sue introduced me. I stood up there, shaking like crazy and my facial muscles twitching like a rabbit (I’m sure I looked just lovely—not).
And then I noticed the video camera trained on me. Wonderful.
So I was my normal irreverent, flippant, talkative, loud self. Very un-professional. They probably wondered if I was really an author or just some crazed person they brought in off the street.
They didn’t have many questions, but Sue and Scott Bolinder saved my behind by asking questions for me to answer. They laughed at all the places I wanted them to, so I was happy with that.
I met the new CFO, Gary Wicker, who made me feel better that I’m not the only new kid on the block.
Last but certainly not least, I met Doug Lockhart, President and CEO of Zondervan. He’s very nice and very tall. I only babbled a little. He didn’t give me any strange looks so I must have come across as somewhat sane, for a change.
Late in the afternoon, I spend a few hours chatting with Sue and Sherry in Chili’s. It was fun—we got to discussing our respective dogs. Sue just got a new puppy who’s absolutely ADORABLE.
I also have good news—my book is going to be out in time for distribution at ICRS in July! This is thanks to Karen Statler, who pushed to get it out earlier. Official release date is August 1st, and it’ll be in stores September 1st.
So, I’m going to go to ICRS to sign copies! I’m also going to give away more imprinted chopsticks and bookmarks there, too.
Blog book giveaway:
To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there.
Paper Moon by Linda Windsor
The Reliance (Legacy of the King’s Pirates book 2) by M.L. Tyndall
Bonus giveaway: The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
My trip to Grand Rapids:
My trip went so great! I’m hoping I remembered people’s names correctly.
I arrived in Grand Rapids around 3 in the afternoon, and Joyce Ondersma (Author Relations) picked me up at the airport. I’d met Joyce last year at ICRS and she’s a wonderful person. She has glorious red hair that I totally envy.
We had dinner with Sue Brower (Senior Editor) and Sherry Guzy (Marketing Director). I also met Marla Bliss and Karwyn Bursma (Marketing Director for Fiction Inspiration) and Joe Questel, who’s part of the Sales department.
We had these Bang-Bang shrimp appetizers that were a blast! (heheh) They were really spicy but really good. I fought Joe for them.
The day at Zondervan was fabulous. First I was shown to a separate “author lounge.” Now isn’t that just way cool? They actually had my name on the door—well, underneath John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian church (I had gone to Menlo Park Pres a few times when I was in college) who had spoken to the Sales Team that morning.
I spent the morning doing videotaping with Josh Green and Adam Stiestra, who’s the brother of Greg Stieltra (Greg wrote Pyromarketing). They were fun guys! They made the videotaping fun. It went really quickly. I hope I looked okay (wish I could’ve lost another 10 pounds before doing the taping, but oh well).
I also met Becky Shingledecker, who’s my developmental editor. She does figure skating for fun! Isn’t that way cool?
At lunch, I met Bill Oeschler (Executive VP of Marketing) again—I’d sat at his table at the Christy Awards last year. I also met Mark Rice (VP of Book Marketing) and Scott Bolinder (Executive VP of Publishing over books and Bibles).
Sherry was there, as well as Karwyn, Samantha Griggs (National Account Rep for Books a Million, B&N, Borders), and Jaime Seaton (General market sales account manager, Costco SamsClub). Samantha is expecting in a month, and she was at work! Jaime sat next to me and she was a riot (she has a cute pink phone too).
I also met Michelle Langer, who is the brilliant art director who did my book cover!!! Blame that fabulous Memoirs of a Geisha look all to her. I also met Karen Statler, the Editorial Manager who was responsible for getting my book out quickly (see below).
I also had a chance to chat with Karen Campbell again—I met her at ICRS last year, and she’s the Senior Manager of Publicity for all of Zondervan. She’s really excited to push my book!
The Sales Meeting segment went well for me. I had brought chopsticks laser inscribed with my name, tagline (Romance with a kick of wasabi), and website address to give to all the sales people (Sherry left them on each seat).
Dineen Miller had designed bookmarks for me (Dineen is a professional graphic designer, and by the way, D, I got lots of compliments on them) which I also gave out.
Karwyn and Sue and Karen Campbell gave a great presentation, and then Sue introduced me. I stood up there, shaking like crazy and my facial muscles twitching like a rabbit (I’m sure I looked just lovely—not).
And then I noticed the video camera trained on me. Wonderful.
So I was my normal irreverent, flippant, talkative, loud self. Very un-professional. They probably wondered if I was really an author or just some crazed person they brought in off the street.
They didn’t have many questions, but Sue and Scott Bolinder saved my behind by asking questions for me to answer. They laughed at all the places I wanted them to, so I was happy with that.
I met the new CFO, Gary Wicker, who made me feel better that I’m not the only new kid on the block.
Last but certainly not least, I met Doug Lockhart, President and CEO of Zondervan. He’s very nice and very tall. I only babbled a little. He didn’t give me any strange looks so I must have come across as somewhat sane, for a change.
Late in the afternoon, I spend a few hours chatting with Sue and Sherry in Chili’s. It was fun—we got to discussing our respective dogs. Sue just got a new puppy who’s absolutely ADORABLE.
I also have good news—my book is going to be out in time for distribution at ICRS in July! This is thanks to Karen Statler, who pushed to get it out earlier. Official release date is August 1st, and it’ll be in stores September 1st.
So, I’m going to go to ICRS to sign copies! I’m also going to give away more imprinted chopsticks and bookmarks there, too.
Comments
I'll see you at ICRS... will you save me a signed copy???
The chopsticks and the bookmark are both really awesome ideas!
And that weight thing, ugh, I totally agree. I have to be in front of the camera this weekend and I am dreading it. How shallow of me, I know, but I just can't help it. And I'm sure if I didn't have ten pounds to lose, I'd still obsess over something else. Like my outfit or my shoes.
But I LOVE the chopsticks. Too cool!
-Marilyn
: )
Camy :)
ROTFL!!!! You are too funny, girl!
Congratulations on a successful meeting, but I will slap you for not reminding me you would be gone so I could pray for you. (JK)
So glad the bookmarks were a hit. The chopsticks are perfect! I'm so excited for you, going to ICRS! How cool is that?
So excited for you, woman!!
Missy
I thank God almighty for giving the world some Christian Asian-American authors. I'm really excited about your book and I hope it's a GREAT success!!!
ROFL!!!!
You are such a sweetie! :: smells roasted coffee and swoons ::
Yes, that was me that commented on your blog...during sales conference {shhhhh}
:: looks up to Sue's comment and hides ::
Glad you like my phone!