Catty Comments

Harlequin meets... NASCAR

I can't make this stuff up. The title isn't even figurative - Harlequin has signed a freaking 16-book deal with NASCAR for romances set within the NASCAR world.

One interesting tidbit in the article: romances account for 55 percent of ALL mass-market fiction. The remaining books sold, by percentages, are:  15% Rachel Ray "30-minute meal" cookbooks (as if - pure fiction in under 45 minutes...), 5% The DaVinci code, and the other 25% is Harry Potter. Rachel Ray needs to sign a motion picture deal, pronto

These books are truly fantasy - their guidelines are, "...no crashes, no drugs, no alcohol, no sex." Because, um, NASCAR drivers are all gay mormon men who only drive bumper cars?

Weird Christmas presents, part 2

You know that obnoxious little nephew you really can't stand, but you have to be nice to him because he's family? Well, suffer no more, because we have found the PERFECT Christmas gift for the little darling. He will be so traumatized by this evidence of your affection that he will be rendered both speechless and terrified! I'm talkin' about a children's book about the Hindenburg! Yes! It's a poster-size cutaway book in full, fiery color about the 1937 fatal airship disaster  - for 9 to 12-year olds! I am getting that warm feeling already. Here is a shot of the cover, guaranteed to produce nightmares for up to two weeks! (Note: Barnes and Noble is sold out of new copies but there are links for buying used copies. Oddly enough, they are quite inexpensive. I found it at the Safeway in a remainder bin, so you will get a big return in satisfaction for very little money!)

Kid not scared enough yet? Well, step right up and buy the second book in this dubious series - Inside the Titanic! (This one is available new. Just in case you really want one.)