Amazon.com has reduced its price on all current Five Star hardcovers, including, of course, mine! The new price is only $16.35.

Authors who can write successfully in more than one genre are rare. After At Risk of Being a Fool, Ms. Cottrell steps—with The Shadebinder’s Oath—into another world, a world of shades, shadowy beings and the Shadebinder, an individual who can compel the dead to do his bidding....

The world which Ms. Cottrell conjures in The Shadebinder’s Oath is a richly-imagined one, a never-land of pirates, a dragon, a sorcerer and ancient spells... It is such a rich world, in fact, that one wonders what other stories it might hold. The author’s prose is compelling, pulling the reader onward in a tapestry of events that will only reveal itself fully at the very end.

Writer's Tip
All writers need critiques, preferably from someone who's not the writer's mother. If you're shy, like me, joining a critique group can be terrifying. (Please, Lord, I'll never do it again, if you'll just let me off this time!) A few months ago, I found a wonderful online critique site, Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.   Timid people like me can post chapters and stories, and trade critiques without that deer-in-the-headlights look that comes from facing a person who's telling you everything you did wrong. I've found half-a-dozen good buddies already. It offers one free month. If you have any leanings in this direction, jump in and take look. Now, if I can just find a similar site for mystery writing, I'll be all set!

Weird Things That Happen to Authors
If you've never had leprosy, or really bad body odor, you probably can't sympathize with an author at a book signing. I never realized I was such an intimidating person until I went to my first signing. People sort of edged by, giving me nervous looks, no doubt afraid I'd attack them and wrestle my books into their arms.  

One young man and his wife looked over every one of my four books. I was most impressed, especially by the fact that they managed to do so with a chest-high bookshelf between them and me. Drawing on my extensive experience in sneaking up on squirrels, I smiled hopefully but didn't speak to them. Squirrels run very fast.

After several minutes of this, they both ducked their heads down behind the bookshelf. I heard some muttering, and the husband popped up again, smiling bravely. "We just want you to know that we think your books all have really good titles!" Overjoyed, I opened my mouth, but as if a trap door had opened under him, he vanished.

The next time you see an author at a signing--unless it's Stephen King, of course--please spare a moment to smile in compassion. it will help us remember that this outcast status will end in an hour or two.

Contest Drawing May 15, 2006
On May 15, I'll have my first drawing. Everyone who's signed up for my newsletter is eligible.

A $15 gift certificate to Amazon.com!