Thursday Thirteen

I enjoyed the Thursday Thirteen from Lesley's Book Nook so much, last week, that I'm going to do a version of her Top Shelf books: books that have been autographed by the authors and what, if anything, the inscriptions say. I'm not sure I have thirteen, but we'll see. Mine are scattered rather than set aside on a particular shelf, so it took some time to gather them. I've bought some autographed books without attending signings and I can't find the romances - I have no idea where I set them aside - so there are only a couple from romance writers' conferences, although I used to attend them yearly.


1. Blind Sided: Homicide When it is Least Expected by
Gregory K. Moffatt, PhD. Greg has been a good friend of mine since I met him as his student in an online class. This was his first book. Inscription:

Nancy:
My friend - I've so enjoyed our friendship. I wish you well in all your many pursuits and I hope you enjoy my book.
Greg


2. A Violent Heart: Understanding Aggressive Individuals by Gregory K. Moffatt, PhD. Greg's second book. He's a psychologist, by the way. Inscription:

Nancy,
Hope you enjoy my new book. You inspire me and your friendship has always been a blessing.
Greg
P.S. You are "N.H." on p. XI

The "N.H." was the first time I've been in anybody's acknowledgments. Very cool experience and I was stunned. Incidentally, I wrote this in my replacement entry when I thought the gremlins got the first . . . weird posting day . . . but I have to add that I loaned this book to my doctor and he quipped, "I hate violence; it makes me want to hit someone." Hahaha.

3. Wounded Innocents and Fallen Angels: Child Abuse and Child Aggression by Gregory K. Moffatt, PhD. Okay, you've seen his bio and books, so here's his photo. Inscription:

Nancy:
As always, thank you for your friendship. God bless you and your family.
Greg
8-03


4. No More Bobs by Cynthia Borris

Cindi's another great writer friend and this is her first book. Inscription:

Nancy,
You are the best of friends
Cynthia

Cindi is an upbeat, delightful lady and a terrific writer; I'm anxious for her to finish her second novel.

5. Rainbow's End and other Stories by John M. Floyd

John's first book and it's about time somebody put together a collection of his work. Another friend, this time from a writing group in the Jackson metropolitan area, John is so prolific you could probably wall paper at least 20 houses with his published short stories. I reviewed this book, recently, so check the archives if you're interested. Inscription:

To Nancy -
My good friend and fellow Mississippi writer. Thanks for your support.
John M. Floyd

6. Time Rider by Rickey R. Mallory

Rickey, a friend from Magnolia State Romance Writers (which I really need to rejoin - I let my membership lapse; I miss everyone) is best known as the author of numerous Harlequin Intrigues. Time Rider, however, is a futuristic sci-fi with a touch of romance and it is my absolute favorite of her books. It's loaded with action scenes and Rickey's medical knowledge really shines through. Inscription:

Nancy,
Thanks! Good luck with your writing. I hope you like Time Rider.
Rickey R. Mallory

7. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle

My first autographed book. I stood in line to get this one autographed, 9 months pregnant and big as a barn, after listening to Madeleine speak at the Woodland Hills Library (which, I believe, is no more) in Tulsa. She was amazing. Inscription:

For Nancy -
Be a Namer -
Madeleine L'Engle


8. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard - I got to hear Linda speak at a romance writers' conference, at which she was the key note speaker. I also ran into her in the elevator and she is a genuinely warm, sweet Southern lady. Inscription:

To Nancy
Hope you enjoyed Sam.
Happy Reading. Linda Howard




9. All The Queen's Men by Linda Howard - Another one from the same conference. Here's an interview with Linda. Inscription:

To Nancy
All my very best.
Glad you liked the book! Linda Howard

Linda misunderstood me, actually. It was Mr. Perfect that I'd read and enjoyed. I've yet to read All The Queen's Men, although I plan to, of course.


10. Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr - I think all of my Nevada Barr books are autographed, but none have any kind of interesting inscription. This is one of my favorite titles. I'm pretty certain I met my author friend John Floyd (above) when I sat next to him the *first* time I heard Nevada speak.

At the time I had this one autographed, she had just finished speaking to a crowd of about 30 at Barnes and Noble in Jackson, MS. I'd asked her if she would speak for our small group of beginning writers (a group that a new event coordinator ditched, once hired) at the first event, mentioned above, and she said she'd be glad to. Of course, she ended up speaking to quite a few people because B & N did promote the speaking engagement pretty heavily. Inscription:

To Nancy-
Nevada Barr


11. The Rabbit Factory by Larry Brown - This one pains me so much because I purchased it from Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi (a must-see bookstore - the Square alone is worth the visit to Oxford, also home to Wm. Faulkner and John Grisham) and probably no more than a month later Larry was dead. I had so hoped to hear him speak, one day. I am a big fan of his nonfiction; I don't think anyone surpassed Larry Brown at describing life in MS from the point of view of a typical Mississippian and at sincerely making your heart just swell with love for Mississippi people. It was already autographed so the inscription is just this:

Larry Brown

May he rest in peace. Larry died way too young.



12. Small Town by Lawrence Block - I was on this Larry's mailing list for many years and missed him the first time he came through for a signing. I wrote him and told him I was disappointed to have missed seeing him and he kindly wrote back that he and his wife had a wonderful time in spite of lousy weather. When he came to Lemuria, again, I made a special effort to stand in line. Inscription:

To Nancy - Cheers! Lawrence Block 2-16-03

I must have fallen off his mailing list when my last email address went blooey on me.


13. Basher Five-Two by Captain Scott O'Grady - I read this book when the story was fresh and Capt. O'Grady was still traveling the country to tell his story and inspire youngsters. I absolutely gobbled it up; it was such an exciting, scary, edge-of-the-seat tale of his time behind enemy lines. When a friend of my eldest son went to Washington D.C. for a Boy Scout event at which O'Grady was scheduled to speak, Daniel told him how much I'd enjoyed his book. Daniel's friend said, "I'll see if I can get him to autograph a copy for her." And, he did. He wouldn't even let me pay. Inscription:

God Bless
Scott O'Grady

I did it! I came up with 13 books!!! Thanks for the great idea, Les!!

As it turns out, I have a lot more but I can't find any of my Mallory Kane books and
Suzanne Cox's book (another MSRW writer friend, Suzanne is such an angel that I must mention her) is undoubtedly with the Mallory Kane books because I have a warped sense of organization and have them shelved by category or author, rather than separating the inscribed books and granting them their own shelf, as Les has done.

Happy Thursday!!!