If you guys have hung around the jungle long enough, you know that I’m a HUGE fan of author, Stephanie Bond. I’m fortunate to consider her a friend, but I’m also a ridiculous fangirl of her books, which blend tense suspense with hilarity and fun. Her current series, Body Movers, also pushes the limits in terms of sexual tension as the beleaguered heroine, Carlotta Wren, has not one, not two, but THREE (and possibly more!) delicious men she could choose from if she could only make up her mind. Don’t ask me which one is my favorite because my answer changes from book to book…they’re all too sexy and flawed and delectable to choose from! If you haven’t read the books yet, you should! Please give a hot and sweaty jungle welcome to author Stephanie Bond!
Spontaneous Bookmarking
The other day I picked up about 5000 bookmarks from the printer…yet when I need a bookmark, I never seem to have one handy! I think bookmarks are part of the reading experience, though—I have a habit of creasing or sometimes biting my bookmark as I read! Years later I can tell if I enjoyed a book simply by looking at the state of the bookmark and noting its place in a book. (I give a book 50 pages, and if it hasn’t caught my fancy, I put a bookmark there and return it to my shelf. I’ll give it another try on another day when I might be in a different mood.)
And if the bookmark isn’t a bookmark at all, but something spontaneously scavenged as a bookmark, I can probably remember the circumstances of reading the book. If I used a boarding pass, you can bet I was traveling. If I used a sticky note, I was probably at my desk. If I used a paperclip, gum wrapper, or receipt, I was probably on the train.
I should point out that I absolutely cannot bring myself to fold down the corner of a page to mark my place—it feels as if I’m defiling the book. When I was 10, I had a cousin who borrowed my Nancy Drew books and turned down the corners of the pages to mark her place. I stopped loaning her my books.
I love using snapshots as bookmarks, especially if the book is a gift from the person in the photo, or if it was given to me at a special occasion where photos were taken. But it’s also a great, fun use of those wonky photos that get snapped accidentally, like of your feet or the thumb that was accidentally obscuring the lens—it’s good for a laugh, and what else are you going to do with them? I often use a postcard as a bookmark if I buy a book on a trip, or to read during vacation.
I like regular bookmarks, too, especially of destinations, like an independent bookstore. There’s a great indie bookstore called Joseph-Beth Booksellers where I used to live in Lexington, Kentucky. I have lots of their bookmarks because my then-boyfriend/now-husband used to go there all the time. Now when I run across a Jo-Beth bookmark, I relive fond memories. Ditto for the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco, and the Royal Botanical Garden in Sydney, Australia—all places I’ve been and adore. In fact, I always make it a point to collect bookmarks when I travel so I can be surprised and pleasantly reminded of my vacation later on.
I collect bookmarks from writer friends, too, when I’m at conferences. I use them and later look back and fondly remember their first or tenth book and wonder if they realize how far they’ve come. This happened to me once, too, when I came across one of my old homemade bookmarks on yellow neon cardstock that I’d printed for one of my early romance titles. I’m sure at the time I printed the bookmark, that book was the most important thing in my career. And now, over 40 books later, I have trouble remembering the characters’ names! Life marches on.
I leave bookmarks in my books even after I’ve finished reading them. Why? To pass on to another reader. I think of the person in the hospital waiting room opening my donated copy of Christy and wondering about the Visit Carter Caves State Park! bookmark stuck between the pages. Or the blurry, off-center photo of an unknown rug and the toes of red T-strap sandals.
Sigh…I loved those sandals.
My question to you: What’s the most interesting item you’ve ever used as a bookmark in a pinch?
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Atlanta author Stephanie Bond has written over 40 romantic comedy and suspense novels. She currently writes a humorous mystery series for Mira Books called BODY MOVERS. Books 1-3 are available now; look for 4 Bodies and a Funeral, 5 Bodies to Die For, and 6 Killer Bodies to be released back to back in April, May and June. You can print your own bookmarks of Stephanie’s titles at www.stephaniebond.com/print_bookmarks.htm. You can also visit Steph at her blog, Open Book.
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Warm wishes for a Happy Birthday go out to Plotmonkey pal Carol Richards today! We hope you have a fabulous, fun-filled day!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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And welcome Stephanie! I love bookmarks, but like you, can never seem to find them, though I have many. I’ve used playing cards (the Joker), gum wrappers, swizzle sticks, bill statements, boarding passes, receipts, paperclips, rubberbands, nail files, my library card, ribbon, dollar bills…all to mark the page I left off at. I don’t like to dog-ear the pages, so I will use whatever’s handy to hold my place.
So, Stephanie (and everyone else), what are you reading these days?
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Welcome, Stephanie! I’m so bad at having bookmarks around I usually grab one of my own!
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YAY! Stephanie’s here! Welcome to the jungle Steph, we’re so glad to have you!!
Now, please don’t hate me but I’m a page-turner-downer. I know, it’s awful and I’m ashamed. I never do it with hard covers–if I don’t have a bookmark with those, I use the paper book cover edge and tuck it in the pages to mark where I leave off. But on paperbacks, I’m terribly guilty.
Trades are tough. Those I don’t like to bend down so I’ll use whatever’s handy–because, though I have a ton of them, they’re never right there when I need them!
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I’ve used rubber bands, i have used a cloths pin. a bobby pin paper clip
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Welcome Stephanie! I’m really bad about never having a bookmark, but I don’t fold down the pages either. I have tons of bookmarks in my house, I can just never find one when I need it. I’ll grab whatever is handy to keep my place.
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Stephanie, I’m with you…I can’t bring myself to bend the pages of a book. I love books, and though I’m okay with opening paperback wide and don’t worry about he crease in the binding, I’m carefull not to destroy it in any other way. I used to jump on my husband whenever he used one of the paperback I’d leave on the coffee table for a coaster (he stopped doing that…finally).
As for bookmarks…I hardly use one. I pretty much remember where I left off in a book. Usually I can remember the page number. Or, if it’s a paperback, the book sort of opens itself right on or around the page I left off on. I do have a handmade crochet bookmark that my sister made and gave me for my birthday one year. On one of her birthdays I gave her one of those metal bookmarks with the charms hanging from the end of it. Even though I don’t use any, I do like those, because they’re girly and frilly with cute littel things hanging from it.
Hope everyone has a great day.
Debbie
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROL!
Welcome to the Jungle, Stephanie! I’m a new Stephanie Bond fan. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your voice. Now I have to get all of your backlist that I can get my hands on and read those.
Lately, I’ve taken to using a bookmark. I confess with a contrite heart that I was a dog-ear-the-corner-of-the-page reader.
I know it’s terrible. I’ll gladly take my punishment. I NEVER did that with hard covers though. I just tucked the pages into the inner flap of the cover. The bookmark I’m using at present has lady bugs on it with a little lady bug charm attached. It says “Don’t Bug Me”. I love this one in particular because as a teenager I used to say the same thing to my mother.
Thank you for visiting the Jungle today and hanging out with us.
Cher
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I love it that you leave a bookmark in the book before you pass it on. I love bookmarks from favorite authors, but I always end up using inserts from magazines (why, I don’t know).
Happy Birthday, Carol.
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Bookmarks? In the past, I’ve used money, a baby sock, a used (though turned inside out) latex glove from the crime lab (fingerprint powder, ladies!), pens, business cards, sticky notes (those are a favorite!). My DH bought me a wonderful metal one with a long tassel and a bead with a wolf pawprint on it. I usually have it in the book I’m reading and when I’m done and grab the next one, the bookmark goes directly in the front of the new book.
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to Stephanie too….
(Sorry – you’ve outed me before. I’m just getting even
Brenda
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I love the Body Movers series! It’s always hard waiting for the next one to come out so to know that 4, 5, and 6 are coming out back to back is great news. My favorite bookmark is usually an emory board. Always handy.
Thanks everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes. You guys really make my day special.
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Steph, is today your birthday?!? And you chose to spend it here with us??
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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Good Morning Everyone!
Hi Stephanie!!!
It seems like we’re pretty divided on this subject so far – but I absolutely will not mark my place by folding down the corner…that’s like *tainting* the book.
I won’t do it even if I’m borrowing a book and someone did it before me – Though, I will laugh at many of the random places they’ve stopped reading…it makes me wonder what happened so suddenly that they paused one page shy of a section break…
Personally, I’m a sticky-note gal, but I’ve also used tissue a number of times (not used of course). I have no idea where my traditional bookmarks are that I pick up all the time – they’re just never around when I need them. Also, I have a few bookmarks that I simply can’t bring myself to use because they were passed down to me and I’m afraid of losing them…
Happy Wednesday
<3 J
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SIGH…yes, today is my birthday. Big thanks to my (our) editor Brenda for outing me, LOL! I’m 44 today, and confess that recently I’ve added plucking gray hairs to my beauty routine! (Am also wearing my glasses more, less for my vision and more to cover up my crow’s feet!)
Happy shared birthday to you, Carol, sister Aries.
Thanks for having me, today, Jungle-ettes! I’m really enjoying all the commentary about bookmarks, and how resourceful everyone is! Keep the ideas coming! (And thanks for the nice words about the Body Movers books!)
I see that PlotMonkey bookmarks are available by sending an SASE to Carly–I’ll be sending off for mine today!
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Hi Stephanie – thanks for visiting with us today – and great post! As for bookmarks… I rarely have them around. I refuse to fold pages etc as well. For the longest time, I’d just remember where I was in a book. Generally that’s still what I do – even if I’m reading a number of books at the same time.
I think, however, the strangest things I’ve used for books are money – bills -$1, I think the craziest was a $20. (And it was a library book too! Have to check those carefully.) Or… a tissue. Haha, there are boxes of tissues all over the house because we all have allergies – so… there you go.
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Happy Birthday Stephanie & Carol….
To answer your question, I have used hair bands (good old fashion Goody ones) as a bookmark if my good bookmarks aren’t around. I do like bookmarks, I am one of those people who love going shopping at Borders/Barnes to look at bookmarks and books.
I am on cloud nine when I go too. I have some that are crescent moons and some kitty cats.
Stephanie, I am reading book 3 of the Body Movers. By the time I finish, I can start on book 4 when it releases next week. I love the storylines of Carlotta.
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Does anyone remember this book from WAY back: The heroine was investigating the disappearance of a female–she might have been a relative of some kind. The heroine went to the missing woman’s house and, while perusing through the books in her library, remembered the woman had a habit of using her fingernail to underline phrases that she liked, leaving telltale indentions in the page. Near the end of the story, the heroine happened to be at the library questioning the people who worked there and found a book in a return pile with the same telltale indentions. With a little digging, she discovered the books had just come from a local asylum and ta-da! she realized the missing woman was being held there against her will. (Although, LOL, apparently her captors were nice enough to let her read books on loan from the library!)
That story has stuck with me after all these years because I remember thinking how distracting that would be to read a book where someone else had underlined their favorite phrases–even if it was only with their fingernail!
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For crazy bookmarks, I have used calendar pages, receipts, business cards and clothes pins.
I also one of those people who can not bring myself to fold in the page of a book. I know that this is werid, but I get really sad when I see that pages have been folded. I can’t even bring myself to crease a spine of a book.
Stephanie, do you have a favorite bookmark? I have two, one is Marilyn Monroe and the other is an old irish prayer.
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Happy Birthday, Stephanie!
I think it’s cute that Brenda outed you.
Cher
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Oooh Happy B-day ladies!!!
I am pretty normal about my bookmarks, I have used a bookmark, a postcard, a torn piece of paper, nothing fancy.
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Hi everybody…Happy Bday Carol…I hope that you have lots of fun today…even if it’s between the pages of a well-loved story…take a lot of time for yourself if you can…
Stephanie, Welcome to the jungle…thank you for taking the time to come and swing a view vines…
I love you post…bookmarks are a girl’s best friend, despite the claim that diamonds are…I don’t really have any unique things that I have used in a pinch…I just memorize the page number and move on from there…I love the idea of using those accidental pics and bookmarks from places you have visited…might have to try that one…
I also like the idea of leaving one in books that you are “giving” away…I know that if I have met an author, I tend to keep their book marks in the appropriate book…I am somewhat anal that way…I hate when people turn turn the pages of my books…I “yell” at my students for doing the same thing too…I have some bms on hand, so that I can help them take care of books that way…
It is really great having you here…I hope that you enjoy your stay here, monkeying around with us all day…okay, I will stop with the jungle references….haahahahhahaa…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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The most interesting thing I ever used for a bookmark was the very first credit card I ever got. I had paid it off and closed the account but to me it marked a turning point in my life. I had been divorced and had become a single mom and I was only 24. The card represented my new found freedom and the fact that I was a mother of an 18 month old. I WAS A GROWN UP! Wow when did that happen while I wasn’t looking?
Now I have been with my current (Second and last) Husband for 18 years now and I STILL have that credit card marking the spot in a book that was one of my favorites! LOL
Happy Birthday Carol!
Have a great all!
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P.S. I didn’t realize that today was your bday too…Happy BDay…I am glad you are sharing it with us…seems like today should be one big party…drinks and eats coming up….lol…
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROL and STEPHANIE!!!” Let’s get this party started…wish there was dance music emoticon…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Stacy asked:
So, Stephanie (and everyone else), what are you reading these days?
For a Blaze novel I’m working on about a group of women an an erotic book club (SEDUCTION BY THE BOOK), I’m re-reading LADY CHATTERLY’S LOVER by D.H. Lawrence.
Ardie asked:
Stephanie, do you have a favorite bookmark?
I have a couple–a bookmark that a bookseller made for me with my name spelled out in beads, it’s adorable. And an angel bookmark that my mom gave me made out of folded, flattened cornhusk. But over the years it’s crumbled a little, so I have to be careful with it.
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I think the most unusual thing I’ve used as a bookmark is either a ziploc bag or a leaf. I’ve used both at one time or another when I’ve somehow lost the bookmark I was using or forgot to take one with me when I started a new book.
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Hi again Stephanie, just wanted you to know how much I loved the Sex for Beginners books Harlequin Blaze…that was such a novel idea…I wish that there was a class like that when I was in undergrad…who knows what would be going on now…lol…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I think I’m most impressed with the crime lab glove so far. My licorice twizzler and piece of dental floss can’t beat that.
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Welcome to the jungle, Stephanie! It’s great to have you here!
I’m like Carly — I have so many of my own bookmarks that if I need one, I grab one of those. If I’m out somewhere and I don’t have a regular bookmark on me, then I fold down the corner of the page.
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Added birthday wishes to you, Stephanie!
is calorie free so enjoy! What am I reading these days? Besides my own stuff in revisions…? 
Jennifer Lyon’s BLOOD MAGIC. It was awesome and already back on the TBR pile for a re-read. Maureen Child’s BEDEVILED. I laughed out loud. A lot. My current book-marked read is Carrie Lofty’s WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS.
Lady Chatterly! Wow, I haven’t read any D.H. Lawrence in ages. I may have to go on a “classics” binge one of these days.
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I just read that it’s your birthday today, too, Steph! Happy Brithday!
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Thanks Carol and Elisa (and Julie) for the nice words about the Body Movers books–glad you’re enjoying them.
And thanks to Paula for mentioning the Sex for Beginners Blaze trilogy from last fall–that was so fun to write!
BUT…it was a ROUGH writing year, with 8 back to back projects. By mid-February when I turned in the last project, my editor and I were both exhausted!
But I do enjoy going back and forth between the Blazes and the Body Movers books–one is a nice change and a break from the other.
Re: LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER–I’m skimming…a LOT! But there are some really good parts. It’s the wordiness that was the style of the time that bogs me down a little.
Thanks, everyone, for the birthday wishes. My husband is feeling under the weather, but is promising to rally enough to make me dinner!
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Stephanie,
Happy Bithday! Thanks for stopping by. I loved loved loved your sex for beginners series. I wishe there was really a class like that. Even for us old married gals. :)
The erotice book club–wow. I say lets start a Jungle Fever blog.
I admit I used to turn down the corners of pagers. My 70+ year old uncle taught me to do that when we would read together in grade school. But my daughter cured me of that now, I usually just lay the books upside down. Though, like everyone else I do tend to use anything handy, despite buying many bookmarks. Boarding passes, money, business cards, post-its, etc…
Hope everyone has a wonderful day! BTW–jsut found our our school district will be doing a reduction in force and my 4+ years just might not be enough to keep me as office manager, at the kids’ school. If I am lucky all that will happen is that I will be demoted, I could be laid off.
The waiting for the next two or three months to know for sure is what is killing me.
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bdaycakefun:
Happy Birthday Carol!!!!!
I guess the strangest thing I’ve ever used as a bookmark is toilet paper.
Have a great day.
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Strangest bookmarks – My Book Thong collection
Currently reading – Kim Harrison’s White Witch, Black Curse, which I must finish before Tuesday because the lovely Madeleine at my local bookstore will be holding Body Movers 4 for me.
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Stephanie,
Thanks so much for blogging with us today! Sorry I didn’t stop by earlier, but I hope you had a great birthday in the jungle and a spectacular dinner somewhere in Hotlanta!
I, too, use anything handy for a bookmark. Yesterday, as I was waiting for my daughter to get an X-ray of her sinuses, I decided to start the Loretta Chase book I had in my car forever. (Kindle was out of juice.) I had no bookmark and I used a paper towel. I NEVER bend pages!
Nail files (emery boards) are another favorite. I like when authors give them away because you can use it as a bookmark or to file your nails!
I also use my own bookmarks just because I have so many!
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Thanks so much for having me, ladies! I’m getting ready for bed, just leaned over to pull a bookmark out of a book on my nightstand and it’s a ticket to the Kentucky Oaks horse race from last year. I forgot to mention that movie and event tickets are also fave bookmarks! Thanks for ALL the great ideas and stories about the way YOU mark the places in the books you read.
Happy reading!
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great to have u here love yoru books i think i used my hair once for a bookmark lol
:eastereggs:
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@Silver: A rubber glove. What a shock.