About Jeanette Baker

Jeanette Baker is the award-winning author of fifteen novels, published by Pocket, Kensington and Mira Books, many of them set in the lush countryside of historical and contemporary Ireland where she lives and writes during the summer months. Her ancestors, the O’Flahertys, hail from Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands located off the coast of Galway. She takes great pride in the prayer posted by the English over the ancient city gates, ‘From the wrath of the O’Flahertys, may the good Lord deliver us.’

Lauded as an author who has created a niche in the world of the time-travel paranormal, Jeanette’s previous stories have all taken place in Scotland and Ireland. Convinced that America has its own mystical elements, she set WITCH WOMAN in Salem, Massachusetts.

Jeanette graduated from the University of California at Irvine and holds a Masters Degree in Education. For the remainder of the year, she teaches in Southern California, reads constantly, attempts to navigate the confusing world of Facebook and, more recently e-publishing, concocts creations from interesting cook books and enjoys the company of friends and her grown children. She is the RITA award-winning author of the paranormal NELL.

You can visit Jeanette’s website at jeanettebaker.com

I DON’T READ eBOOKS – Gulp

Jeanette Baker

I’m always sad when people tell me in no uncertain terms, “I do not read e-books!” I understand the passion and can even sympathize with those who love the smell, the look, the colorful covers, the generous margins that call for marginalia and my greatest loss, page numbers, all the familiars that come with print books.

 I also empathize with those speedy readers whose thumbs wear out pressing the side buttons to advance to another page. Then there’s the annoying factor of recharging or connection loss. Once, my Kindle wouldn’t allow me to browse. On another occasion my “click to buy” option took three days to appear on my Home page.

Still, e-books are here and, despite glitches, are incredibly convenient while book stores are closing as we speak. First we experienced the demise of independent book stores followed by Borders in the U.S. and Waterstones in Europe. Barnes and Nobles still exists where I live, but their print sales are disappointing while their e-book sales have made more than a few authors gasp before cheering.

When people tell me they refuse to read e-books, I’m reminded of the movie that won Best Picture for 2012, “The Artist.” The poor man is stuck in the role of silent film star while the world moves on to “talkies.” Our hero loses his wife, his home, his reputation and nearly his life until a woman who embraced the inevitable steps in to help him out. I wonder if radio enthusiasts lambasted television, or vinyl record fans refused to purchase cds.

Personally, I loved my flip phone, but I recognized that it had to go in favor of a device that combines a computer, the Internet and both video and movie cameras. The contract expense is prohibitive. However, life is fraught with change and I don’t want to fall too far behind for fear I’ll never catch up.  

I’m no stranger to technology. Computers are used in my classroom and in the computer lab. Thanks to the Saddleback Valley Unified School District’s commitment to technology, I have a Smart Board and an Ipad. My 35 students were also recently outfitted with Ipods. They, I might add, are learning the ropes much more quickly than I. I’m still confused about apps, free and not so free, and wondering how moving from step one to two and so on seems to come so naturally to people under the age of 22 while I continue to struggle. I persevere because I remember the early computer days, how difficult they were and how simple managing a laptop is today.

E-readers are without exception the easiest form of technology available and maybe the cheapest. Using an e-reader does not exclude anyone from purchasing print books… while they last. I believe, with a few exceptions, they won’t last long. Book stores will eventually be obsolete. Libraries, in an effort to curb the incredible expense of maintaining print books will eventually offer only e-books and it will happen overnight, as quickly as video stores disappeared from our lives, as easily as people turned from newspapers to online reports. Without an e-reader, readers will be limited to those writers who occupy the top 8 slots in grocery stores and in airports.

Yes, I’m sad. I love books, real books. But I’m a reader and on a cold, rainy night, I still want to turn on my reading lamp, curl up by the fire and read. Even if it isn’t a real book, the words and the story are the same and isn’t that what it’s really about?

That said, TUESDAY’S CHILD and THE RECKONING are out in eBook format while NELL is out in both.

Visit me at Jeanettebaker.com

About Tuesday’s Child

Possessed of a luminous beauty and a delicate grace that belied her spirit and fierce intelligence, Tess Bradford left Maryland for London on a mission of greatest importance. Her husband, a devout patriot, had been seized by the British navy, and only one man could help her secure his release. He was James Devereaux, Duke of Langley, and former aide to Wellington. But Tess wasn’t prepared for the passion that burned beneath Devereaux’s implacable demeanor.

Wealthy and powerful, Devereaux could choose any woman he wanted to provide him with an heir. But Tess sparked in him a raging duel of loyalties. She was an American—and someone else’s wife. Yet she aroused a desire that could destroy his reason…or ignite a love as strong as the winds of battle that raged around them—a love too powerful to resist.