FAB Picks: Because Readers Have A Slush Pile, Too!

If you are reading this, then obviously you love books. And if like me, that love sends you to other industry blogs, such as agents, editors, and authors, then you've heard of the infamous slush pile. You know, that pile that agents and editors have to read through to find "the next big thing," or at least the "next thing that's going to earn us some cash." Well, I say to you, that readers have a slush pile to deal with too. The only problem is, we're paying for it.

Reading is much like gambling. There really are no safe bets. Even some of our tried and true authors let us down occasionally, and the proclamation of NATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF... means jack smack anymore. After all, how do I know that this unknown to me author didn't hit the bestsellers list because they were the only new release in that specific genre that week? Or that their family isn't extremely wealthy and therefore went out and spent an unholy amount of money on their "babies" book so they could have plenty around for dinner party gifts, therefore inflating the sales figure for the first few weeks of the books release? After all, I have a stack of books that all have that Bestselling proclamation on the front that I can't make it through the first three chapters. It's a gamble, I tell ya, and if, like me, there is not a bookstore within easy driving distance, and your only source of books is the Big W or the internet, then the stakes are even higher.

That, my dear lovelies, is why I do FAB picks. I can't speak for dee, but maybe she'll chime in here, but for me, I do FAB picks because I LOVE finding that new author, the one that promises great things from book one. I buy and read plenty of stinkers, that when I find a new author that is just hitting the literary world, and they write a story that touches my heart, or makes me laugh, or has me closing the book wanting more (and wanting it NOW), then I love to sing their praises. I also hope that as I sing their praises, others notice, and when they see that book on the shelves, they know that perhaps the gamble won't be as HUGE as normal.

So, you see, as we weed through our "slush pile", that ever popular TBR (To Be Read) stack, when we find some one new that stand out from all the rest, we bring them to your attention with our FAB. And I hope, that as you spend a week at dee & Dee getting to know these new authors and their work, you not only enter for a chance to win their amazing books, but put them on your list of authors to buy! I know that Richelle Mead, this months FAB pick, is on my To Buy list for a LONG time, and look at all the great things we'll be seeing from Richelle in the future!

And since her debut novel SUCCUBUS BLUES is what has me singing Mead's praises, I thought I'd share a bit more of what drew me to the book. Tomorrow, I'll post a full review on the book, but today, I thought I'd share a few of the quotes that stood out for me and why:

"...Humans continually labor under the delusion that there really is a precise set of rules on what sin is and is not, rules that one might break without even realizing it. In reality, most people know when they do wrong. The feel it. Sin is more of a subjective matter than an objective one..."

"Love is rarely flawless," Carter pointed out. "Humans delude themselves by thinking it has to be. It is the imperfection that makes love perfect."

There are few authors that can put those kind of thought provoking statements in a book, and not sound preachy or pretentious. In fact, until now, Charlaine Harris has been the only other author that has been able to pull that off for me. Mead has found a way to fuse together insightful prose with romance, paranormal, and humor that will have readers begging for more.

Don't forget, there is still time to enter this months contest! Click here for details. Also, no one has correctly guessed my two favorite Cusak movies (actually, two of my favorite all time movies) so make sure to take a guess for a chance at another prize!

Take Care