So great to have you here. :)

Loved your confessions, and I think I share most of them, though I guess my confession would be that I am not a book re-reader. Oddly, I will rewatch television shows and movies, but I almost never re-read books. Very few exceptions to that (I have re-read all of the JD Robbs and all of the Charlaine Harris's, several Noras, but that's about it).

I do think it's funny how we write about things we are so afraid of, and how we like to read about them -- serial killers being one. Of course, what we're really reading/writing about is the evil being defeated, right? That's the ticket.

:)

Sam

I could spill lots of secrets here. :P But sticking with your line of thinking, I'll confess that I absolutely cannot watch horror movies. Not even those Scary Movie spoofs. And I turn my head and plug my ears or I walk out of the room entirely if a commercial for one comes on. I am just a big baby when it comes to that stuff.

But...reading about scary stuff is another story. :) I am really starting to get into paranormal (especially if it's erotic). I've even started to write a short erotic paranormal story and, boy, is fun to step away from my normal contemporary!

I have to tell you...that after scoping out your website the other day (from the link here), I ordered Hotter Than Midnight because...wow, just wow. That guy...er, that cover...is absolutely gorgeous!! Had to have him...er, the book...for myself. :) Can't wait to read it!

I can't go more than a couple of days without reading a book! When I get cranky, my husband runs through a checklist: "Do you need to write? Read? Eat some chocolate? Whatever you need, go do it!"

I'm also terrified of anything with more than four legs. 2 legs = good. 4 legs, on appropriate species = fine. Scorpions, crabs, spiders...anything that scuttles reduces me to a quivering mass of jelly.

Sam, I do agree--I think the stories are often about good overcoming evil. And, for me, I think it may be a bit about control--I can control my bad guys so writing about them is safe. Hmmm--does that make sense?

And Sassa, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy Hotter After Midnight! I also hope that your erotic paranormal keeps going well for you--good luck!

Thanks again for having me here today! :-)

Hi, booklover! A month does seem like a long time, doesn't it? Depending on how long it's been since I've read a good book, it can seem like a VERY long time. But, I realized a few years ago, if I didn't limit by book intake, I'd never get anything written (because if I had my way, I'd sit and read for days). So now, my books are my rewards when I meet particular writing goals. And when I finish a WIP--wow, big reward time! I get to become a glutton and finally have my "reading for days" experience (and I'm doing that now--LOL).

I'm also completely with you regarding your fear of things with 4 legs. But, well, I also have an extreme fear of things with no legs--snakes. Ugh! Saw one in my front yard last night and nearly passed out. Snakes terrify me!

that I tell hubby all my books are for research. Truth is, I'm just dying to read them. LOL!

Sometimes I think I'm boring but really, I'm just too busy and too afraid of getting caught. Karma can be mean! LOL!

Dee

I hide my book purchases from my husband. If he knows I buy books, he thinks he can buy big ticket items that aren't in the budget.

My 2 fav romances are paranormal and suspense as well. Maybe cause I'm addicted to mega alpha males lol

Confessions....not sure I have any I can repeat in public :D

Ashley

Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for visiting with us! I loved your confessions. A few of mine are the same. [I can't imagine not reading for a month. Once, on a research trip out of the country, I packed books with me so I'd have something to read.] I love re-reading books as well.
Hm... confessions... I'm paranoid. LOL. I can't watch horror films, the previews, "special edition" or "dateline" type things without getting a little worried. For the movies, I know it's not real, but what if?!!?
Another random confession is, I'm not sure why [that's not true - but it's a long story] but I couldn't sleep with my closet doors open until I was a senior in college. Not the sliding doors, or "door" doors- even if it was just a crack and I was dead tired, I'd get out of bed and close it all the way. :P

I suppose I have to confess about being ridiculously detail oriented (read:nitpicky) about paranormal stuff in particular. The fantasy world has to be a logical one -- magical things or "unrealistic" things cannot happen "just because." I had to stop reading a book last night, because in my experience of time travel stories, one cannot basically experience astral projection or travel via consciousness, and transport physical objects. You either time travel in physical form, or you don't. Which ever way you choose, it determines the rest of how things work, unless there's a good explanation otherwise. Unfortunately, some romance writers don't always dig into those explanations, since the paranormal plot is really just backdrop for the romance -- and the thing is, for some romance readers, they'll be fine with that, because they don't care about the paranormal particulars. And then you have people like me... paranormal and comic junkies from birth, and we need things to make sense.

Sam

Hidy ho, Cynthia! ;)

I will confess nothing.

NO-THING.

M

I buy and or borrow books all the time. I'm not talking about library books but my friends and I trade books and that means postage.

I hide the books I get from my friends. I hide most of the books I buy. Since I pick up the mail (its not delivered to our house) M-F, I can stash in my car and smuggle in when he's not around.

Except for Saturdays. I always hold my breath when we pick up the mail together on Saturdays in case there is a package for me.

And I should point out, its not uncommon for me to get one, two, five packages of books on any given day.

I've tried to explain that if I borrow a book from a friend and return it, it's still cheaper than my buying the book myself. But he knows better than that.

Because it's usually first books by a new writer (to us) that get borrowed. And there have been very few instances where I don't then buy the same book for my keeper shelf. And everything on that author's backlist.

So excuse me as I smuggle in last night's deliveries while he's out running. What he doesn't know, won't really hurt him, right??

ani

I'm with Ani and Crystal and some others--I try to sneak the piles into the house and shuffle them into the existing stacks in hopes that DH won't notice that they're growing...

And you can go a whole month without reading a book? Wow! When the rest of life gets crazy busy, I think maybe a week, tops :) But then something catches my fancy and I won't be able to put it down.

As for scary stuff, I'm a big baby--I'm just starting to try a few paranormals if they aren't too creepy. Anything that's too graphic is out, and I definitely can't watch anything scary. I think I saw a stage performance of Dracula in junior high and bats figured prominently in my "can't get to sleep" fears for years after. And after an episode of Buffy (stop laughing!) I had to sleep with the lights on. Sad, huh?

As for rereading, I have a few I actually reread. I keep way too many thinking that I might want to reread them, but mostly stick to SEP, Jenny Crusie, and a few Noras and Debbie Macombers when I reread.

Thanks for the fun post today, Cynthia! And congrats on your new and upcoming releases!

My two favorite genres are paranormal and fantasy. I love the unusual. However, I can't sit through a horror movie. They freak me out too much so I just don't bother anymore. I am also phobic about my fear of bugs, especially roaches and beetles. When I was a little girl while I was sleeping one crawled on me and I squashed it. When I turned on the light and saw all the guts on me I was traumatized by the experience.

I love your list, Cynthia, and would have those same things on mine, plus a couple of extras:

I read the endings of books-first

I abhor torture scenes and will leave the room, or movie, or stop reading the book, when I come across one

I am addicted to sour Jelly Belly's, and have to have a handful every night while I watch tv.

I can't go a day without reading a book,even if it's only a couple of pages. I don't know how you make it for a whole month!

Hi Cynthia,
My of your confessions apply to make, especially the bit about paranormals and romantic suspenses. Those are my favorites. I also like watching those prison shows on MSNBC. I also like to watch those reality shows on MTV and VH1, like Flavor of Love and the Real World.

I confess to using some of my grocery allowance for ----BOOKS!

I pretty much only reread Noras and JD Robbs - I've been through the entire In Death series up to book twenty twice, although selected ones I've read more than that. I have a few I need to reread every year. Angels Fall in the spring, Valley of Silence in the fall. It's my tradition...LOL

I used to re-read a lot when I was younger, but I think I'm finally starting to enjoy the thrill ride of a new book more than the comfort of the old. Kinda similar to how I rewrote my first book for 16 years (yes, 16!) and now I can't even stand to open the Word file.

Not sure if I confessed anything or not, but it's great to have you here, Cynthia! When He Was Bad looks sinfully good. :)

Cari

Okay, I'm not totally reformed... I'm trying. I make it with over 80-90% of the books I read that I don't read the last chapter after a chapter or two at the beginning.

I know it makes authors cringe. If you wanted us to know the ending you would have given it to us earlier. Hey, sometimes I just need that HEA.

Congrats on your upcoming release. And I loved this post with the confessions. In fact, I share all your confessions. Even down to the TV shows. Do you watch Criminal Minds too? For my personal confession: I am book hoarder. I like to keep my favorites and have too many of them. What can I say? So many great authors, so little space.

Thank you all so much for the comments! I had such a fun time guest posting here at Love is an Exploding Cigar!

The winner of the autographed copy of When He Was Bad is...booklover1971! Congratulations, booklover! Please email me at cynthia@cynthiaeden.com.

Thank you all again--and have a wonderful weekend!