Seattle regains title of 'most literate city'

Central Connecticut State University ranks Seattle no. 1 when it comes to literacy, based on an algorithm that takes into account number of bookstores, advanced degrees, Internet usage, library usage and newspaper readership.

Seattle has once again been named America's most literate city in a survey conducted by John Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University, who has been conducting this survey since 2003. Last year, Seattle had to share the top spot with Minneapolis, but this year Seattle has sole claim to it.

Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., has risen to the number two ranking, and Minneapolis is no. 3. Seattle was first in bookstores per 10,000 population; first in educational achievement (high school/college degrees held by adults); third in Internet usage; fourth in library usage and 17th in newspaper readership. For the full story and the methodology of the survey

By Mary Ann Gwinn, Seattle Times book editor

Seattle Times Review of Jayne Anne Krentz - Fired Up

"Fired Up:" Krentz' tale of an ancient curse, a powerful lamp and a psychic P.I.

Seattle author Jayne Ann Krentz, whose novels regularly ascend The New York Times' best-seller list, has been expanding her fictional universe over the past several years with books featuring a rich cast of psychic protagonists. Originally conceived as a romantic-suspense historical series, Krentz's "Arcane Society" novels have gradually moved into later centuries, where her characters deal with the legacy of old formulas and artifacts that have unleashed both good and evil into the world.

Now, in the series' latest development, Krentz has expanded the "Arcane Society" novels to span three eras, writing the three novels of the "Dreamlight Trilogy" under not only her own name (which she uses for contemporary settings), but also her two pseudonyms: Amanda Quick (historicals) and Jayne Castle (futuristic novels).

Don't be put off by the complicated-sounding plot premises in Krentz's fictional world of psychics and "sensitives." Though there is a bit of a learning curve to encounter when you first step into an "Arcane Society" book, this series (like all good romantic fiction) focuses on strong relationships, fiery attraction and deep loyalty. The icing on the cake is the firing of the reader's imagination: What if you could, for example, touch someone's handprint and realize that he had recently committed a murder?

The newest Krentz, "Fired Up: An Arcane Society Novel, Book One of the Dreamlight Trilogy" (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 368 pp., $25.95), is a Seattle-based contemporary story that's the first of the three "Dreamlight" books. Like certain epic poets, Krentz begins her saga in medias res; the next book will be set in Victorian London, and the final book in the future. These books focus on a unique artifact: a 17th-century lamp that looks like nothing special but possesses considerable power.

First created in the 17th century by the renegade psychic researcher Nicholas Winters, the lamp holds the key to the destiny of the researcher's male descendants. A metal vessel about 18 inches high with dark crystals embedded around the rim, the lamp can only be accessed and activated by a woman who is able to control the lamp's energy and call forth its light.

Krentz's protagonist, Jack Winters, is afflicted with an inherited curse that can only be lifted with the aid of the lamp. He needs to find not only that missing lamp, but also the woman who can activate the lamp — the psychic Chloe Harper, a private investigator. Her psychic sensitivity to "dreamlight" (the psychic traces left behind by dreams) also allows her to read fingerprints and other traces of those who once touched any object.

Chloe's talents make it relatively easy for her and Jack to find the 17th-century lamp Jack is seeking (it's in Las Vegas, of all places), and also for her to authenticate it. They aren't the only ones eager to acquire the lamp, however, and Krentz ramps up the suspense as they face several nasty antagonists. Only together can Chloe and Jack tap the full, terrifying power of the lamp and of their own senses — and, not surprisingly, the power of their increasing attraction for each other, which Krentz makes clear in some incendiary sexual encounters.

Lots of evocative Seattle descriptions and settings make "Fired Up" particularly fun for Northwest readers, who may start looking up and down our rainy streets in search of a little psychic energy.

By Melinda Bargreen

Jayne Ann Krentz talks about the enduring, alluring romance novel

Lit Life |

Recently the literary world was agog over a New York Times report that one category of book is actually selling better than it did last year, a slender little ray of sunshine in a dark and stormy year for book publishing (and everything else retail).

Interesting article which appeared in The Seattle Times

Jane Porter - Odd Mom Out

Jane Porter has a book soon to be released this month (Odd Mom Out) and let me tell you every mom, daughter, niece, cousin, etc. should read it! It's about the "alpha mom", the single mom, the little girl trying to fit in with the popular crowd, it's simply wonderful women's fiction.

Here's an article which appeared in the Seattle Times I thought Porter fans would enjoy। By the way, if you live in Washington State, Oregon, California, Texas, New Jersey, Rhode Island or Hawaii, Jane will be signing and appearing with Odd Mom Out.

"Odd Mom" idea knows no boundaries

By Sherry Grindeland
Seattle Times staff columnist

The women, all poised, beautiful and elegantly dressed, sipped cosmopolitans. The Mom's Night Out party in Medina on Sunday looked like a cross between "Sex and the City" and a sorority meeting. The guests' cars cost more than I earn in a year.

My first thought: "What the heck am I doing at this party?"

I felt like I had just stepped into the pages of "Odd Mom Out," a novel by Yarrow Point author Jane Porter. Like Porter, I was a celebrity guest at the literary event. Guests purchased party tickets at last spring's Medina PTA auction.

Although the book won't officially be released until Thursday, each guest received a pre-party copy as a gift. A party perk was after-dinner dishing with Porter about the book.

Marta, the heroine in "Odd Mom Out," wears combat boots and drives an old truck. She doesn't fit in with the blond, perfectly dressed mothers at her daughter's elementary school. Independent Marta wouldn't care except for the daughter who feels left out and friendless.

The frosting on this chick-lit story is the Eastside setting. I sometimes shop at the QFC mentioned. All 18 party guests recognized the stores, restaurants and icons such as Microsoft's Bill and Melinda Gates and Steve Ballmer.

Our big question was, who was the model for Taylor Young, the ringleader of the book's troupe of perfect wives and mothers? We all swore we knew someone just like her.

We were wrong. Porter, a former teacher, explained the nemesis was an exaggeration from her own imagination.

I was wrong about the crowd, too. As conversation swirled around Judy Sidell's living room, every woman identified with the odd-mom concept. We all had felt like an outsider at different times. Insecurities, it seems, know no economic bounds.

These women do good things, such as raising oodles of money for schools. One of the hostesses, Joan Lambert, moved to California between the auction and the party. She flew back for the weekend, just to help.

Even though I haven't been a PTA member since last century, these Medina moms were as lovely as the friends I still cherish from my children's school days. They schlep kids to soccer practice, to music lessons, to swimming. As I did, they agonize over children making friends and fitting in enough that they'll like school and get invited to sleepovers and play dates.

We had more in common than I thought.

("Odd Mom Out" is published by 5Spot Books. Porter will appear at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble, 626 106th Ave. N.E., Bellevue.)

Pop over to Jane's website www.janeporter.com for her booksigning tour.