I’ve been a Tamora Pierce fan ever since I found the Wild Magic series.  Went from those to the Magic Circle books then to the Keladry, Protector of the Small quartet.  Later, read the first books written by Tamora about Alanna and was surprised to see how much her writing had grown.  (It also gave me hope for my own writing!)  Next I read the Trickster stories.  But her latest, Beka Cooper, Terrier, is now my absolute favorite. 

Beka Cooper’s a “puppy,” a rookie, with the Provost’s Guard and has been assigned to work the Lower City with famed veterans.  Beka has a problem though.  She can hardly look at anyone when she speaks.  How is she going to do her reports to her “Dogs” when she can’t even look at them?

Beka’s story is set 100s of years before the other Tortall stories in a very real world.  It has a slang and figures of speech all its own that are yet very understandable.  As I warned my husband, don’t start unless you have a lot of time to read it!  But, like myself, he didn’t heed the warning and ended up staying up way too late to finish the book.

Two things I’m definitely looking forward to:

• the next book in the series, which doesn't come out until October '08   

and

• hearing Tamora Pierce speak at the LA SCBWI Conference this coming August!

Read about the author at:  http://www.tamora-pierce.com/