Yesterday I went to visit friends who are staying here on the Outer Banks. They had celebrated Christmas here and thus all their presents were under the tree. Soooo, I being a book voyeur started taking toll of what was there thinking that books tell so much about a person. I am sure you have done this. I was trying to match the gifts with the recipient.

I finished reading CAST OF SHADOWS. VERY well done. The very captivating plot includes a doctor cloning his daughter's killer so he can learn who he is. Beyond this there are other storylines that make the book riveting. Look for it in March.

Now I am reading THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, which will be our One To Watch title for February...you will hear more about this on Friday, the 7th. Very well done.

Shocking news about the tsunami. I confess I knew nothing about this form of natural disaster prior to Sunday. My son grabbed his BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS 2005 that was one of his presents and informed us that the world's deadliest tsunami to date had killed 12,000 in Agadir, Morocco in 1960. Knowing that many friends in the publishing world vacation in exotic locations like this, my aforementioned friend who is visiting OBX told me she is sure that we will know of someone who was there. Last night I got mail from my TBR biz partner, Jesse Kornbluth, telling me his stepdaughter had narrowly escaped the disaster while she was on the beach in Thailand. She literally ran for her life. Thoughts and prayers with everyone in that part of the world who has been affected, as well as with their family and friends worldwide.

It's just about 7AM the morning after Christmas and folks already are headed to the after-Christmas sales. I find it very interesting that bookstores stay open late for the on-sale dates of Harry Potter, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton's books, but I cannot recall any opening early for the release of a book. What book would you get up at dawn to go by at 50-60% off? Good question, eh? After all, there are millions of people heading out to buying wrapping paper at 50% off right now. Now that is a concept that completely bypasses me.

Christmas here was lovely. Just perfect. Okay, the one flaw was the moment when I handed my husband the gift that was meant for my older son to give my younger son. Imagine his surprise opening THE ARTEMIS FOWL FILES! Books were a huge hit all around. My husband got the new Follett and Cussler, as well as the Penguin Encyclopedia of Jazz CDs, which is a tome. My older son got the GOURMET COOKBOOK. I am not sure how many 14-year-old boys had this on their lists. The little one got the Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, and then cheerfully endured a whole rift from his dad and me on why Dave Barry is soooo funny.

Serious advice for the next holiday --- Amazon Wish lists. Both the boys made them and it made Santa's job much easier, as well as those of Grandmother Elf and Aunt Elf. They were able to earmark just what epiosodes of Lucy on DVD and which Lego traintrack were needed, as well as their choices for books. Also, they wrote comments as to what they REALLY wanted. Trust me. If you can navigate the wishes of 9 and 14-year-old boys without a compass, you are far better than me.

We are leaving for the Outer Banks in a few minutes; the only reason I would be up this early. I packed a BOX of books. Lest my husband comment about the volume of books that I am bringing and that he not buy my argument that we can share, I have artfully placed Christmas cards that need to be mailed atop the books. Let him instead think we are VERY popular. I am hiding here writing until the car is packed.

I stayed up til 2:30 getting things done before we left. About 2:15 I realized that vacation is all about moving what you love from point A to point B so you can have a good time in a new place. I have WAY overpacked considering I will not do much more than sleep and read.

Am reading a GREAT debut suspense/thriller right now called CAST OF SHADOWS by Kevin Guilfoile, which will be in stores in March. Here's the pull quote they are using for it, "How far would you go to look into the face of your daughter's killer?" More on this one to come. Trust me, it's really well done.

Here's wishing you all Happy Boxing Day. I am off to ride --- and read --- for 7-8 hours.

As promised in our December 17th Bookreporter.com newsletter, here is my new blog. I was stuck when we were naming this, but I clearly knew it was was going to be musings about books, authors and life, thus this is the title we came up with.

Life this week is completely consumed by the holidaze. This morning I made stacks of presents to be sure everyone was "covered." I am sure you all know this moment of truth. You are looking to see exactly what you have been stashing in the closet all these months --- and who has not had enough stashed for them. I heaved a sigh of relief that the biggie gifts have all been bought. Now it's time for "fillers." You know what these are...bonus gifts you give people. I also think of them as "I need more for this person." My favorites for filling in a gift pile --- coffee table books, CDs and videos/DVDs.

With this in mind I trekked over to the Borders at Columbus Circle, which opened earlier this year and has become part of my stomping ground. There I saw a terrific selection of coffee table books --- everything from one on DIANA: THE PORTRAIT, an impressive book by Rosalind Coward with a foreward by Nelson Mandela (Ponder this: who would write the foreward to your book?) to a terrific all encompasing book from SPORTS ILLUSTRATED 50 YEARS: The Illustrated History Book. Stuck on what to get for a last minute holiday purchase or to bring as a hostess gift? Think coffee table books!