To most, it might seem as if scrapbooking is my main passion. I can see why, nearly three years under my belt of writing scrapbooking articles for this site, not to mention the previous years for another site. I’ve been scrapbooking for 14 years now, and I can tell you honestly, there is no end in sight. As long as there are pictures to be taken, and memories to be made, you will find me in my scrapbook studio, happily scrappin’ away. However, I do have other passions.
I am an avid reader, and when I can combine scrapbooking with my love of reading – you cannot quite understand how happy that makes me. Almost continuously I have some idea book I am reading or a magazine. Several years back, a fiction writer created some books with scrapbooking as a theme in their fictional book. They were good, but I quickly lost interest as it seemed the author was trying too hard to fit scrapbooking into a mystery and the plots were lacking.
For the past several years I have read and re-read many of the journaling books put out by Joanna Campbell Slan. I have written articles about her and her journaling and have always felt a connection with her. In the past couple of months, we have developed an online friendship and I was so excited to hear she had a fiction series coming out. The first book was released two months ago, titled Paper, Scissors, Death. It was an excellent read and I devoured it so quickly when it first came out, that I read it again.
I refuse to give the plot away, so as not to ruin the book for anyone, but I can tell you that Joanna has always had a way with the written word and her new book series is no different. Kiki Lowenstein is your lovable heroine, and her introduction in the first book makes you completely fall for her wit, charm and honesty. This series promises to be a great addition to the scrapbooking fiction that is already out there.
So what was my favorite part of the book? That was easy. The fact that it takes place in my hometown and that I have visited every single location that Joanna writes about. If you haven’t read the book, I encourage you to go out and purchase a copy at your local Barnes and Nobles or Borders bookstore. You can also find more stores to purchase a copy from directly at Joanna’s website. You can also read an excerpt here. Please let me know what you think.
The next book in the series is slated to release June 2009.