Reader beware!

Hello all!

Well, I've fallen into the well-known difficulty of every new blogger I've talked to...your thoughts don't get put on the blog without some time and typing. Duh! Let alone deciding what's appropriate to discuss with your readers (if there are any!) I've actually stayed awake a few minutes during here and there thinking "oh, I should blog about that!" then sleep descends, and my memory is wiped clean . . .

However, I did have a friend say something to a group of us the other night that got me thinking. Bear with me, this is a little convuluted but I'll get there . . .

One of my dear friends, is (how do I put this politely?) a fierce "non-supporter" of President Bush. Is that p.c. enough? :-) Anyhoo - several of us had dinner together last week, and my previously mentioned friend states that she was watching the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and was really offended by President Bush's behavior. Evidently, every time the camera scanned to him he was talking to someone instead of watching the ceremonies. She thought this was highly disrespectful of the athletes and the whole ceremony. So, when I finally got the chance to watch the ceremonies that I had DVR'd at home, I was particularly interested in watching the president.

Now, let me say here, I voted for Bush. I know, I know! However, I also voted for Clinton. I know, I know! I am an Independent who may decide never to vote again!

To make a long story, longer - the first shot of Bush showed him, sure enough, yakking away to Putin (you know, the Russian dude). I thought, okay, maybe they're talking about the Georgian conflict going on as we watch the Olympics - hopefully, there was a little negotiating going on there. Then the next half dozen shots of the Bushes over the rest of the ceremonies showed the following: Bush & Laura watching the ceremonies, George looking through binoculars at the ceremonies, Laura fanning herself while she and W. watched the ceremonies, the Bushes standing and waving as the U.S. athletes came onto the field. And that was pretty much it.

My whole point is this: are we, as humans, so set in our ways of thinking about others, situations, world events, politics, religion (you name it) that we truly may only see what we already believe we'll see? Does one glimpse of what we believe to be true set us on a dogmatic course of belief? For me to observe this behavior from my normally level-headed friend made me wonder. How set in my own beliefs am I? How many times have I done the same exact thing? I am seldom wrong I'll have you know! (Read: sarcasam please.)

I've always felt that one of the greatest dangers we face as individuals is absolute belief in our own superiority of knowledge. This is where the Middle East is so dangerous. This where our own religious beliefs are so dangerous except maybe the part about "judge not, lest ye be judged." I know that I really got up on my soapbox on this one, but can't we cut each other a little slack please? Whether it's Bush or Clinton. Or each other.

OKAY, so what does all of this have to do with running a mystery bookstore and cheesecake joint? Everything and nothing. Just remember that the overriding premise of a great mystery book is justice, and order restored in the world (as one great bookseller I know stated recently). Deciding who's the bad guy can be a little tricky, but at least in a great book he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And as far as I'm concerned a great book and slice of heaven restore order to my world!

Mysteriously yours,

Pam

My bookmark is currently in James Rollin's Sandstorm.

Home again, home again

We're back! Kauai was beautiful, but I did manage to come home a beautiful shade of red - about medium rare. Granted it was just my upper back, but that's enough! We were there right at the height of whale season, and I couldn't resist staying out much longer than I should have watching the mothers and their new babies cavorting in the Pacific ocean. I've been blessed on many occasions now to sail with the whales, but it's still new and magical to me. I just can't get enough.

So, we're home at C & C and my friends have informed me that I'm suffering from "momnesia" - a new term for mothers who suffer from lack of sleep, therefore, messing up their brain chemicals and making them very forgetful and fuzzy-headed. Ta-da! My momnesia is from my newest child: Cheesecake and Crime, Inc.....the mistakes I have made over the last few weeks are now explained in full! :-)

The to-be-read book pile is now smaller though! I eagerly read Touchstone by Laurie R. King - I'm an avid fan of her writings. Kay Hooper's Hunting Fear was my first taste of the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it - many thanks to, Joyce, one of my great customers who brought it in and suggested I read it.

Soon to be read (shortlist):
Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry (The April choice for our 1st Monday book club)
The Janissary Tree - Jason Goodwin
The Venus Deal - Ken Kuhlken
The Alpine Scandal - Mary Daheim
A Vicky Hill Exclusive! - Hannah Dennison's debut novel

And the list goes on.....

Cheers!
Pam

Aloooohaaa!

I've reached that point where I'm bone tired. Not just I need a nap or a good night's sleep tired. Bone Tired. Ready to lay on the beach, sip a mai-tai, make my way through my stack of unread books and get re-acquainted with my husband. Don't get me wrong - I love Cheesecake & Crime...passionately. My customers are the world's best customers - lively, knowledgeable, and great conversationalists. They are delighted to have us in town and tell us so frequently - what more may a girl ask?

We've got the house-sitter/pet-sitter is lined up, and the staff is ready to handle the store without us for a few days. Which brings up a great point: I also have the best staff in the world! When you're visiting the crime scene get to know my crew: Joe, Liz, Drew, JR, Denise, Sharon, Kelle & little Heather. Lendall and I may not be there, but I guarantee that anyone of those people above will take outstanding care of you!

We're looking forward to five author signings in March - Ken Kuhlken, Donna Mabry, Steve Grogan, Hannah Dennison, & Bill Moody. Check out our Events Calendar on our website for the details. If you can't make a signing, let us know if you would like us to set aside a signed copy for you. Just call the store, and we'll take care of it.

Left Coast Crime is taking place in Colorado in March, and I'm debating about whether to try and get there....I love those conferences. You get to meet authors, fans and fellow book-lovers. If you ever get the chance, go to one! You'll discover new friends and a whole new reading list to be devoured. There's a list of conferences on our website that we try to participate in - I'd like to be able to go to every one of them out there. But, alas, time and money are the foes of the traveling bookworm in me.

FYI, I've ordered most of the new releases for Hard Cover & Soft Cover for the next couple of months. Please let me know if there's anything you wish me to have in stock for you.

Our next Mystery Book Club meeting is March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. - we'll be discussing "The Interpretation of Murder" by Jed Rubenfeld.

So, we'll be back before you (or we) know it: feeling re-invigorated and ready to tackle the Cheesecake & Crime world again!

Cheers,
Pam

C & C Bloggers

So, now that I've dabbled around with the blog thing, my blog site will have willing staff members blogs linked to it. You'll be able to access the C & C Inmates blogs directly from here (once I figure out how to do that...).

Joe Foresman, our resident author, crooner and manager here at C & C, will begin his blog today...but, be forewarned I can almost guarantee it will be all about hockey, women, writing, singing and cats. That's Joe in a nutshell. Go figure....

I'd also like to start an Author's Spot where our author's who come in for signings may put a short blog about their experience at Cheesecake and Crime, Inc.

Furthermore, a Customer Comment area would be fun too. As long as you worship the cheesecake, adore our mystery/suspense/thriller section and think that I walk on water (okay, maybe I can't walk on water, but I float extremely well!).

Hugs to all,
Pam

aahhh....here we go!

Happy Valentines Day from all the C & C Staff!

Let me state in advance, that I have never blogged. Talked excessively - yes, written adequately - yes, so, you would think that blogging would be something I could achieve fairly easily. However, since I am a frustrated author I feel an obligation to be fairly literate in my blogging efforts. Possibly even urbane and witty - coming across as an intelligent woman of the new millenium. Don't count on it.

The dilemma of whether to make this blog the personal posts of said frustrated writer or to keep it strictly business has weighed on my mind. Therefore, as with mixing the cheesecake and the crime - I will do both! I hope I'm not hearing gasps of shock from marketing/advertising execs who happen across my blatherings.....

Now that I have opened my dream bookstore/bakery (actually the bakery is my husband's dream) my time is not my own; it is my new child's, Cheesecake and Crime, Inc. As with any child, I love it dearly, but it has changed my life and lifestyle dramatically. My husband has always been a work-a-holic (architect by day, cheesecake baker by night), but I have not. I've always been a fairly balanced work, family, life, kind of gal, but that was the past and this is the now, and foreseeable future - so blogging is just one more thing to take up my time. Hopefully, it will give me a sense of doing all I'm supposed to be doing in the new age of cyberspace and business. Welcome to my brave new world.

So, here it goes, Cheesecake and Crime, Inc. is located in Henderson, NV.

We're at 10545 S. Eastern Ave. in the Trader Joe's shopping center.

We specialize in all things cheesecake along with a great selection of mystery/suspense/thriller books!

We have several book clubs which we'll talk about regularly and our Events Calendar is filling up quickly. We've gotten a tremendous response from the community! They are so happy to have a bookstore in the area and the cheesecake really is too die for!

So, please keep coming in folks, you are a unique crew that frequents our place: just as we are a unique business. We're a great fit and I'm very happy to have met all of you!

And to the authors that have been here or are planning on coming in for events - a big, rotund, squeeze of thanks - you're fab plots, twists, turns and general sense of justice in a crazy world keep us coming back for more!

Here's to great fiction and fantastic desserts - a match made in heaven. God works in mysterious ways! :-)

Check out our website at http://www.cheesecakeandcrime.com/ for more info!