I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!
New giveaways:
Win "The Ice Chorus" by Sarah Stonich US/Canada only. (Deadline: October 4th at 6 pm EST)
Win "Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. US/Canada only. (Deadline: October 3rd at midnight EST)
More chances to win “Friday Mornings at Nine”:
* From Maria Geraci. (Deadline: Tonight!)
* From Girlfriends Book Club (Deadline: October 2nd)
Luxury Reading has paired with BookSparks PR to bring you a fabulous giveaway with chances to win books and a luxury blanket from Keiko Co. US only. (Deadline: October 22nd)
Win “Good-bye to All That” by Margo Candela from Colloquium. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: September 30th at 11:59 pm PST)
Jane Porter is giving away a special package to a friend or family member you nominate on her blog. (Maybe they’ll even share it with you!) (Deadline: Tonight at midnight PST)
Chick Lit is Not Dead invites you to Play Nooky with Liz and Lisa. (Deadline unknown)
Jillian Cantor is giving away an advanced copy of her novel "The Transformation of Things." See the sidebar of her blog for more details. (Deadline: October 3rd)
Win "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks from Readaholic. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: October 6th)
You can also win an audio copy of "Safe Haven" from I am a Reader, Not a Writer. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: October 18th)
Last chance! Win "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger and other great prizes from Regal Literary.
US only. (Deadline: October 2nd at 12:01 am EST)
Two chances to win "Simply Irresistible" by Jill Shalvis:
* From Bookhounds. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: October 15th)
* From Books with a Cup of Coffee. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: October 4th)
Win "Out of the Shadows" by Joanne Rendell from Julie Buxbaum. (Deadline: October 4th)
Previously posted (still going on):
Win "A Weekend with Mr. Darcy" by Victoria Connelly from Chicklit Club. UK/Ireland only. (Deadline: October 4th)
Win a Kindle from Luxury Reading. (Deadline: October 4th at 11:59 pm EST)
Some opportunities to win "She's Gone Country":
*Also from Romance Author Buzz (Deadline: September 30th)
*Book End Babes also has your chance to win a copy of "She's Gone Country" (Deadline unknown)
Jane Porter is having a photo contest for a chance to win a fabulous prize package! (Deadline: September 30th)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Interview with Sarah Stonich and Book Giveaway
By Melissa Patafio
**Giveaway is now closed**
Sarah Stonich has been an artist-in-residence at numerous programs here in the U.S. and abroad. Her second novel “The Ice Chorus” was started while she was at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. Sarah has been inspired by her Irish contemporaries and credits Irish literature for having a major impact on her and her writing. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband.
Read on to learn more about Sarah, her writing, and what she enjoys doing in her free time! And when you're done, enter for a chance to win one of two copies of "The Ice Chorus."
What is your usual writing routine?
I write in the mornings as soon as I get up, often while still eating breakfast. If I don’t start then before my mind is polluted by the day, it’s tough to get going. By noon I'm written out.
You currently live in Minnesota, do you plan to stay there for good?
I’m actually on my way to British Columbia this very moment, for a long-awaited vacation, during which I hope to seduce my husband into thinking it will be HIS idea to retire there. Living on the ocean is on my bucket list. In a Minnesota January, your nose hairs freeze, so no, I'd rather not stay here for good.
What, if any, challenges did you face while writing your second novel “The Ice Chorus”?
Time, more than anything. Having a deadline and only two years to write a novel, and frankly I'm not that swift. But Minnesotans have reputations for being two things, nice and prompt. I’m prompt.
How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
Hiking, kayaking - I’ll be doing my first big ocean kayaking over the next two weeks, and hiking on the Pacific coast, and in Cathedral Grove - a massive stand of old growth forest. I love to cook, mostly because my husband consumes whatever I make him as if it were a gift. I’ve taken up stone building, of all things. It’s what we have most of in northern Minnesota, stone - and it provides weight bearing exercize, and since I'm getting to the age where I'm supposed to be concerned about bone density and muscle mass it might be more effective than say, scrapbooking...
You started writing in your 30’s and your first novel “These Granite Islands” was extremely successful. What was the journey to publishing like for you?
It was remarkably easy. I had a writer friend who hooked me up with an agent who was relentless. The challenge comes after two books, I’ve discovered. Third and fourth books hold much less interest to editors, and even though my newer books are better, they remain unpublished. I no longer have that first-time-author cachet, which is preferable to publishers than old horses like me. In the realm of nurturing authors' careers over the long haul, the larger publishers have grown increasingly short-sighted. If they had their way, every book would be a first book and every author a first-time author. Like puppy mills. Do I sound bitter?
You have been awarded a number of fellowships from places around the U.S. and abroad, can you tell us a bit about what exactly these fellowships entail?
Mostly they allow for time to write, and can be very validating - knowing someone believes in what you’re doing - so much so that they feed and house you and provide a space - is incredible. And, they are often in beautiful settings and places most writers could never afford to go to. They provide the rare chance to meet other writers. Women on fellowship seem to appreciate them more, I think, for all the reasons any mother can imagine (someone changing your sheets?!) I'm about to apply to one in Iceland. If I apply to ten, I might get one, so I'm usually up to my knees in applications, and it's a gamble, but it's worth it
Do you have any plans to return to Ireland in the future?
Not currently, but Scotland is on my list. I read a wild book from a Scottish writer, Michael Faber, “Under the Skin” and am now on a kick of reading Scottish authors. I'm rereading all of Kate Atrkinson right now. She's amazing.
I read that you always thought you would be a painter, do you still paint?
I gave up painting long before I realized I could engage my imagination better with words. There was always some hitch between my mind and the paint brush so that nothing ever came out exactly as I intended. Words were just better.
Did you celebrate when your first novel was published? Not formally, but I do have a picture taken shortly after my agent called with the news: I’m in my kitchen wearing yellow rubber gloves and my son has just placed a cheap tiara on my head. Quite apt, really: you sell a book and think the work is over, when it’s only just begun. That first journey into publishing was almost a fairy tale, and for a minute I did feel like a princess. Alas, no more tiaras.
What was your inspiration in writing “The Ice Chorus”?
I was in Ireland, and that was enough to make me want to set the book there. And I adored the people and their use of language and the fact that the average taxi driver was better-read by far than most Americans, and more politically astute about OUR politics, was humbling and embarrassing. George Bush had just been elected so everyone wanted to know just what were you people (wankers) thinking? Also, I'd just come out of a marriage much like Liselle’s, so there was that.
Some more pieces of information from Sarah:
*My memoir, "Shelter," will be out in March of 2011 from Borealis Books.
*My new unpublished novels are a departure from The Ice Chorus and These Granite Islands in that they are faster paced, more humorous and the protagonists are definitely less patient. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for those titles, Vacationland, and Fishing With RayAnne. Hopefully, readers will find them on shelves in 2012.
Special thanks to Sarah for doing this interview with me and for sending the books for the giveaway.
How to win "The Ice Chorus":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: Have you ever studied abroad? If so, where?
OR
2. Please tell us: What place (city, state, country, etc.) or culture inspires you the most?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Monday, October 4th, at 6 pm EST.
**Giveaway is now closed**
Sarah Stonich has been an artist-in-residence at numerous programs here in the U.S. and abroad. Her second novel “The Ice Chorus” was started while she was at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. Sarah has been inspired by her Irish contemporaries and credits Irish literature for having a major impact on her and her writing. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband.
Read on to learn more about Sarah, her writing, and what she enjoys doing in her free time! And when you're done, enter for a chance to win one of two copies of "The Ice Chorus."
What is your usual writing routine?
I write in the mornings as soon as I get up, often while still eating breakfast. If I don’t start then before my mind is polluted by the day, it’s tough to get going. By noon I'm written out.
You currently live in Minnesota, do you plan to stay there for good?
I’m actually on my way to British Columbia this very moment, for a long-awaited vacation, during which I hope to seduce my husband into thinking it will be HIS idea to retire there. Living on the ocean is on my bucket list. In a Minnesota January, your nose hairs freeze, so no, I'd rather not stay here for good.
What, if any, challenges did you face while writing your second novel “The Ice Chorus”?
Time, more than anything. Having a deadline and only two years to write a novel, and frankly I'm not that swift. But Minnesotans have reputations for being two things, nice and prompt. I’m prompt.
How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
Hiking, kayaking - I’ll be doing my first big ocean kayaking over the next two weeks, and hiking on the Pacific coast, and in Cathedral Grove - a massive stand of old growth forest. I love to cook, mostly because my husband consumes whatever I make him as if it were a gift. I’ve taken up stone building, of all things. It’s what we have most of in northern Minnesota, stone - and it provides weight bearing exercize, and since I'm getting to the age where I'm supposed to be concerned about bone density and muscle mass it might be more effective than say, scrapbooking...
You started writing in your 30’s and your first novel “These Granite Islands” was extremely successful. What was the journey to publishing like for you?
It was remarkably easy. I had a writer friend who hooked me up with an agent who was relentless. The challenge comes after two books, I’ve discovered. Third and fourth books hold much less interest to editors, and even though my newer books are better, they remain unpublished. I no longer have that first-time-author cachet, which is preferable to publishers than old horses like me. In the realm of nurturing authors' careers over the long haul, the larger publishers have grown increasingly short-sighted. If they had their way, every book would be a first book and every author a first-time author. Like puppy mills. Do I sound bitter?
You have been awarded a number of fellowships from places around the U.S. and abroad, can you tell us a bit about what exactly these fellowships entail?
Mostly they allow for time to write, and can be very validating - knowing someone believes in what you’re doing - so much so that they feed and house you and provide a space - is incredible. And, they are often in beautiful settings and places most writers could never afford to go to. They provide the rare chance to meet other writers. Women on fellowship seem to appreciate them more, I think, for all the reasons any mother can imagine (someone changing your sheets?!) I'm about to apply to one in Iceland. If I apply to ten, I might get one, so I'm usually up to my knees in applications, and it's a gamble, but it's worth it
Do you have any plans to return to Ireland in the future?
Not currently, but Scotland is on my list. I read a wild book from a Scottish writer, Michael Faber, “Under the Skin” and am now on a kick of reading Scottish authors. I'm rereading all of Kate Atrkinson right now. She's amazing.
I read that you always thought you would be a painter, do you still paint?
I gave up painting long before I realized I could engage my imagination better with words. There was always some hitch between my mind and the paint brush so that nothing ever came out exactly as I intended. Words were just better.
Did you celebrate when your first novel was published? Not formally, but I do have a picture taken shortly after my agent called with the news: I’m in my kitchen wearing yellow rubber gloves and my son has just placed a cheap tiara on my head. Quite apt, really: you sell a book and think the work is over, when it’s only just begun. That first journey into publishing was almost a fairy tale, and for a minute I did feel like a princess. Alas, no more tiaras.
What was your inspiration in writing “The Ice Chorus”?
I was in Ireland, and that was enough to make me want to set the book there. And I adored the people and their use of language and the fact that the average taxi driver was better-read by far than most Americans, and more politically astute about OUR politics, was humbling and embarrassing. George Bush had just been elected so everyone wanted to know just what were you people (wankers) thinking? Also, I'd just come out of a marriage much like Liselle’s, so there was that.
Some more pieces of information from Sarah:
*My memoir, "Shelter," will be out in March of 2011 from Borealis Books.
*My new unpublished novels are a departure from The Ice Chorus and These Granite Islands in that they are faster paced, more humorous and the protagonists are definitely less patient. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for those titles, Vacationland, and Fishing With RayAnne. Hopefully, readers will find them on shelves in 2012.
Special thanks to Sarah for doing this interview with me and for sending the books for the giveaway.
How to win "The Ice Chorus":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: Have you ever studied abroad? If so, where?
OR
2. Please tell us: What place (city, state, country, etc.) or culture inspires you the most?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Monday, October 4th, at 6 pm EST.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Book Review: I Heart New York
I do not "heart" New York, having lived by the "Big Apple" for two and a half years. However, I really enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of Angela Clark, a girl who runs away from her home in London after catching her fiancé cheating on her at her best friend's wedding.
Lindsey Kelk takes her readers on Angela's adventures throughout New York City in the first book of what looks to be a fun and entertaining series. After Angela arrives in NYC, heartbroken and unsure of what she wants, she spends a few nights at a hotel and becomes best friends with the concierge, who helps her acclimate to her new environment. She then meets two guys and starts blogging about her dates for a magazine. Meanwhile, she continues to figure out where her place is in life and where she should live in order to be happy.
I enjoyed this story, as it was light, entertaining and very feminine. It was like a night on the town with a new girl friend. I felt it was the perfect escape from work, motherhood and all the other things in life that can be overwhelming at times. It fed some self-indulgent fantasies and I found it ultimately satisfying to live vicariously through Angela. It made me want to tell everyone who has had a bad breakup, or even a bad day, to escape to another city and start over fresh! To top it off, there were some nice "romantic" scenes that left me blushing!
The only criticism I had was that Ms. Kelk's editor did not pay much attention to spelling and grammatical errors before sending this off to be published. (Lindsey, if you need a new editor in the future, please contact me!) Overall, I had fun reading this novel and look forward to reading "I Heart Hollywood" and "I Heart Paris." I just hope one day that Angela will "heart" Washington DC! (I'd be glad to give Ms. Kelk a tour if she needs inspiration!)
Winners of "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis"
In order to pick the winners, I assigned a number to each entry and asked Robyn Harding to pick two numbers at random.
Hello everyone,
Thank you for entering to win a copy of “Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis”. It was so much fun to read your comments about how you met your significant others! I’ve been asked to select 2 random numbers. They are: 21 and 49.
Congratulations to the winners and I hope you enjoy the book! (I hope the rest of you will get a chance to read it, too). And of course, a BIG thank you to Melissa A and Melissa P for the great interview and their great site!
Best Wishes,
Robyn
Congrats to Sarah and Sheila!
*There was a small change of plans because Sarah also received a review copy and realized she didn't need two of the same book. She graciously picked a new winner: #23. So, congrats to Pia!
Thanks again to Robyn for a great interview and for giving away the books and to Melissa P. for all her hard work with this interview.
Don't forget to enter our current giveaway!
"Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. US/Canada only. Ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
Hello everyone,
Thank you for entering to win a copy of “Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis”. It was so much fun to read your comments about how you met your significant others! I’ve been asked to select 2 random numbers. They are: 21 and 49.
Congratulations to the winners and I hope you enjoy the book! (I hope the rest of you will get a chance to read it, too). And of course, a BIG thank you to Melissa A and Melissa P for the great interview and their great site!
Best Wishes,
Robyn
Congrats to Sarah and Sheila!
*There was a small change of plans because Sarah also received a review copy and realized she didn't need two of the same book. She graciously picked a new winner: #23. So, congrats to Pia!
Thanks again to Robyn for a great interview and for giving away the books and to Melissa P. for all her hard work with this interview.
Don't forget to enter our current giveaway!
"Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. US/Canada only. Ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Winners of "Mini Shopaholic"
Thanks for all your participation. We had an amazing turnout for this giveaway. Nice to find so many "Shopaholic" fans!
To find the winners, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 3 and 82.
Congrats to Jonita and Pia!
Thanks again to Sharon and Alexandra from Random House for helping me coordinate this giveaway and providing the copies for the winners!
Don't forget to enter our current giveaways! Both are US/Canada only.
* "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. Ends TONIGHT at 6pm EST.
* "Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. Ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
To find the winners, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 3 and 82.
Congrats to Jonita and Pia!
Thanks again to Sharon and Alexandra from Random House for helping me coordinate this giveaway and providing the copies for the winners!
Don't forget to enter our current giveaways! Both are US/Canada only.
* "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. Ends TONIGHT at 6pm EST.
* "Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. Ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
Interview with Marilyn Brant and book giveaway
**Giveaway is now closed**
Marilyn Brant is a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer and national book reviewer. She is also the author of "According to Jane" and "Friday Mornings at Nine," which is being released tomorrow at book stores. Marilyn has traveled to 45 states and over 30 countries and now lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family. On Sunday, she will be participating in Wine, Wit and Lit along with Susan McBride and seven other authors. I had hoped to meet her in person during my trip to Illinois this past summer, but our schedules didn't connect. I have enjoyed e-mailing with her over the past few months and have had fun getting to know her through this interview. After you're done reading this and still want to learn even more about her, check out her blog, Brant Flakes. Marilyn has also been kind enough to give away one ARC of "Friday Mornings at Nine" to a lucky reader in the US or Canada.
What is the first thing you did the first time you got published?
On release day, we raced over to our neighborhood Borders to look at my debut novel, According to Jane, on the actual bookstore shelves. I took about a dozen photos: Of my husband and son with the book. Of friends (who stopped by to look, too) with the book. Of me with the book. Of the bookstore staff with the book. Of the book on its own... Then, of course, we celebrated with ice cream!
What is the inspiration behind "Friday Mornings at Nine?"
I've talked with a lot of women about their marriages -- and, in some cases, about their affairs. Sometimes these revelations came in the form of random comments thrown out unexpectedly. Other times they were a part of well thought out discussions about whether the women in question should or shouldn't stay married. I met my husband 20 years ago and we've been married for almost 18 of those years. I consider us to be happy, but I don't know anyone who's been married that long who hasn't experienced some ups and downs. I think the fortunate couples are the ones who keep choosing to be together and work on their relationships despite all of those years and the inevitable changes. Of course, it takes both people to do that, and it also takes a lot of time and effort. The individuals involved have to want to get to know these people they married (who may be different creatures than the ones they met a decade or more before), and they need to really pay attention to their own needs and desires, too. Sometimes, in the process of that kind of deep analysis, it turns out there was a profound disconnect somewhere along the line. In some cases, it's possible to reconnect. In others, not so much. So, essentially, I wanted to write a story about three women who have marital disconnects to some degree that makes them wonder what would have happened if they'd chosen differently. Then I wanted them to finally take the time to examine their lives so they could choose mindfully where to head next.
Who is your mentor?
Once I'd already written my first novel and entered the writing community, I was fortunate to meet lots of wonderful authors, many of whom helped and supported me through the business side of the industry and others who were excellent critique partners. I've never had a writing mentor for fiction, though, much as I would’ve loved one. I did have a few very encouraging teachers in high school and college, however -- my university English professor, Dr. Raymond Schoen, being one of them. I'll never forget Dr. Schoen advising me one afternoon with a phrase from Hamlet, “to thine ownself be true.” He also reminded me that “writers write.” He shared with me some of his personal poetry (I didn’t really understand it, but I appreciated his willingness to tell me about it and explain his own struggles over the lines) and, best of all, he possessed this amazing confidence that I would somehow, miraculously, figure out my life, especially once I stopped listening to “that nonsense from other people” -- LOL. As someone who wasn’t even 20 when I first met him, he seemed to require of me near-impossible bravery. But, when I’d pop in to visit him, I always knew I was in the presence of someone not only much older, but also far wiser than I. We kept in touch for many years, but he died in 2007 before I could tell him about my debut novel. I have no doubt he would’ve been pleased. though.
Did you run into any challenges or roadblocks while writing "Friday Mornings...?" How did you overcome them?
There were the usual writing challenges -- especially that pervasive author fear that I'd never finish it or it wouldn't make sense to anyone but me, etc. -- but the only really big hurdle was in trying to tell this story the way I'd wanted it to be told. I've read and enjoyed novels where thoughts of infidelity were contained to one woman's perspective and they were these really intimate, deeply personal portrayals. With "Friday Mornings at Nine," I wanted to feature three individual women but, also, show the group of friends as almost a 4th character. In fact, in my earliest draft, I even wrote the first chapter as "we" and "our" instead of "they" and "them" (i.e., "We met on Friday mornings at nine because that was when..." etc.). In the end, I decided to write those group chapters with more of a traveling 3rd person/omniscent point of view, but I hope it still gets across that, in a way, the group of friends are an entity onto itself.
If "Friday Mornings...." was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?
Hmm... I imagine someone like Kate Winslet for Bridget, Calista Flockhart for Jennifer and Kim Cattrall for Tamara. In any case, it's a cast I'd love to see together!
Is your relationship with your friends similar to or different from the relationship between the women in "Friday Mornings...?"
For the most part, it's different...and thank goodness! While my friends and I often get together for coffee to talk about our lives, just like the women in the book, the friends in Friday Mornings at Nine have a few things to learn, not only about each other but about themselves. (Big time!) I think they make a fair bit of progress during the course of the novel, but I also think it's pretty clear that it's difficult to be a good friend -- or a good spouse, for that matter -- if you're not examining your needs and your motivations with a clear eye. I've certainly been in group situations with other women where there were secrets and hidden agendas. Where the people involved still had so much personal stuff to work out that they couldn't be honest -- even with themselves -- about who they were and what they wanted out of their lives. By contrast, my friends and I, while we're hardly Zen-like creatures of calm and poise (although I can hear one friend saying, "What?! I am too Zen-like!"), we tend to be pretty straightforward with each other. We have varying levels of comfort when it comes to revealing deeply personal information, and our personalities are different, too, but we also know each other well enough by now to trust that we have each others' best interests at heart. That none of us would do anything intentional that might hurt another. That sort of trust allows for a great deal of candidness in our conversations. And while we spend FAR more time talking about baked goods than about any subject someone might consider racy (it's the truth -- talk of hot, muscular guys sadly takes a backseat to discussions about caramel brownies), I'm so grateful to them for being people who know the over-analytical geeky girl that I am and still want to spend so much time with me.
Do you have any future books in the works?
Yes! I just finished my 3rd novel, which will be out next fall. The title is still being debated, but it's kind of a modern "A Room with a View" story. This woman gets a summer trip to Europe as a 30th birthday gift from her eccentric aunt and, so, leaves her comfort zone to travel from Italy to England with the members of her aunt's Sudoku and Mah-jongg club. There, she inevitably meets someone very interesting (mmm!) and eats a lot of gelato and linguini (mmm, again!). And I just want to emphasize right here and now that the inclusion of these food items was *absolutely necessary* to the plot. MAJOR turning points happened as a result of my heroine devouring these things. And the fact that I had to eat them while I was writing these KEY scenes was equally necessary...so I could get, you know, the tastes and textures just right. I'm all about the authenticity. *grin*
What movie do you think everyone should see at least once in their lives?
You mean aside from the Colin Firth-as-Darcy version of Pride and Prejudice?! Hmm. I'd say The Scarlet Pimpernel (Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour version). It's got French Revolutionary history. It's got British guys in those very attractive tight pants, fitted jackets and cravats. It's got Anthony-as-Sir Percy saying things like, "Sink me, my dear. Did you expect me to challenge the Countess to a duel?" Oh!! And then there's the contemporary classic When Harry Met Sally -- a hilarious and brilliant film. Everyone should see all 3 of these.
If you were to take someone on a tour of your town, what would be the must-see places?
Okay, first, the gelato place. Yum. The owner is from Italy and they make homemade gelato there. Yes, really! Every flavor is great (I've conducted a thorough sampling), but the chocolate-peanut butter is beyond amazing. Then the library. (I love libraries anyway, but I'm biased on this one because I used to work there.) There's a martini and wine bar nearby, which is fun to visit. Tasty appetizers. My very favorite coffee place in town is no longer open...sigh. I actually teared up in the middle of the street when they closed it but, fortunately, we've found other good coffee haunts. We have an open protected wilderness area that's lovely, with a walking path all around it. And did I mention there was a gelato shop?
Aside from writing, what is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
I love reading, but that goes hand in hand with writing. So, it would have to be traveling. Something as simple as a family road trip for a weekend is wonderful, although it's been years since I've been in Europe. I'd love to show my son a few sites there. And I know my husband, who's a world history teacher, would enjoy going back, too.
Thanks so much for having me as a guest, Melissa! It was such fun to visit!!
And thank you, Marilyn, for a fun interview and for providing the book for our giveaway!
How to win "Friday Mornings at Nine":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What movie should everyone see at least once in their life?
2. Marilyn Brant is a fan of 70's and 80's music. Please tell us: What is your favorite song from either the 70's or 80's? (Or both?)
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Winners of "After the Party"
To find the winners, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 30 and 47.
Congrats to Heather and Michele!
Thanks again to Lisa Jewell for a great interview and to Louise Campbell for arranging the interview and sending me the books to give away.
Don't forget to enter our other current giveaways (both US/Canada only):
"Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella. Ends tonight at midnight EST!
"Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. Ends tomorrow at 6pm EST.
Congrats to Heather and Michele!
Thanks again to Lisa Jewell for a great interview and to Louise Campbell for arranging the interview and sending me the books to give away.
Don't forget to enter our other current giveaways (both US/Canada only):
"Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella. Ends tonight at midnight EST!
"Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. Ends tomorrow at 6pm EST.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Interview with Robyn Harding and book giveaway
By Melissa Patafio
**Giveaway is now closed**
Robyn Harding grew up in a logging town in northern British Columbia. She started writing at a young age and eventually went on to study English Lit, journalism, and marketing after moving to Vancouver. She worked in advertising for several years and eventually left to raise her two children and work as a freelance copywriter. Robyn’s latest book “Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis” gives us both sides of a marriage that has broken up after sixteen years. I had the good fortune to interview Robyn and find out a little bit more about her and I hope you all enjoy learning more about her too. Additionally, Robyn has two copies of "Chronicles..." to give away to some lucky readers in the US and Canada.
What inspired you to write about a marriage breaking up after 16 years?
A lot of people around me were getting divorced. It struck me that marriages go through phases and my peers and I were entering a new one. Our kids were getting older and more independent. When parenting is less consuming, it allows you to look at your relationship and question if it’s really working. Luckily, my marriage still is – but I thought it would be interesting to write about a couple who realizes it’s not.
Usually Chick Lit stories are strictly from the female point of view, why did you choose to write both sides?
I wanted to challenge myself and try writing in a different voice. I’d just written a screenplay with a male lead, so I was already in that headspace. I also think it’s interesting (and hilarious) how differently men and women can view the same situation. It’s the He Said/She Said scenario. It creates so much drama and comedy.
Did you face any challenges while writing “Chronicles”?
The male voice took some work. To write those chapters, I really had to put myself into a guy’s head. I’d get my husband to reread the chapters to make sure they sounded authentic. He’d give me helpful advice like: “Guys don’t say pee. They say piss.” I was also writing about a sullen, angry teenage girl, while my own kids were much younger. I had to channel my sullen, angry teenage self for that one.
Do you ever come to the United States for book tours?
I wish! I haven’t done a US book tour, but I often visit friends in New York and LA. I also live near the Washington border, so I love going to Seattle and Portland. When I’m there, I visit bookstores and move my book to the front shelves. It’s not quite a tour, but…
Where is your favorite place to vacation with your family?
My husband is from Perth, on the West Coast of Australia. It just might be the furthest geographic point from our home in Vancouver, but it’s such an amazing city. It’s on the Indian Ocean and has beautiful beaches, amazing architecture, fragrant gum trees and interesting wildlife. I also really enjoy visiting my in laws. (Maybe you appreciate your in laws more when they live on the other side of the world?)
How did you celebrate when your first book was published?
I had the best book launch party ever! When I got married, I had a tiny wedding (15 guests), so the book launch party was like the wedding I never had. I invited everyone – relatives, high school friends, new friends, work colleagues… Even my grandma was there. We drank champagne and danced till three in the morning (not my grandma). My brother in law made a huge cake that looked like the cover of “The Journal of Mortifying Moments”. I ate about half of it for breakfast the next day.
How do you like to spend your time when you aren’t writing or taking care of your children?
I jog… but that’s not really what I like to do. That’s more, what I have to do so I can eat a lot of chocolate. I enjoy going out for lunch with friends, reading and watching movies and TV (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and True Blood are favorites). I also live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, so it’s nice to walk along the beach, hike, or ski in the winter. And I volunteer once a week with special needs kids. It is incredibly rewarding.
Any plans for another book? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?
I’ve been very busy developing “Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis” into a television pitch. I’m also working on a romantic comedy screenplay. I will write another novel though. I just have to come up with a fabulous idea…
Did you personally identify with any one specific character in “Chronicles”?
In some ways, I can relate to my main character, Lucy. Like her, I’m a working mom – and I can only imagine how tough it would be if my husband suddenly decided to leave me. But Lucy’s also very driven and concerned with appearances, and that’s not me at all. In a strange way, I can also relate to Annika, the “other woman”. Annika’s a complete whacko, but I can empathize with how difficult it must be to date a man with so much baggage.
How did you meet your husband?
In my early-twenties, I went backpacking through Europe with a friend. We were on a Greek island when I met this very nice Australian guy. We fell for each other right away, and I thought, “This is fun. I’m having a holiday fling!” That was fifteen years and two kids ago. We always say that our relationship is ‘a holiday fling that got out of hand’.
Special thanks to Robyn for this interview and for providing the books to give away.
How to win "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: How did you meet your significant other? (If you don't have a significant other, what would be your ideal way to meet someone?)
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Monday, September 27th, at 6 pm EST.
**Giveaway is now closed**
Robyn Harding grew up in a logging town in northern British Columbia. She started writing at a young age and eventually went on to study English Lit, journalism, and marketing after moving to Vancouver. She worked in advertising for several years and eventually left to raise her two children and work as a freelance copywriter. Robyn’s latest book “Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis” gives us both sides of a marriage that has broken up after sixteen years. I had the good fortune to interview Robyn and find out a little bit more about her and I hope you all enjoy learning more about her too. Additionally, Robyn has two copies of "Chronicles..." to give away to some lucky readers in the US and Canada.
What inspired you to write about a marriage breaking up after 16 years?
A lot of people around me were getting divorced. It struck me that marriages go through phases and my peers and I were entering a new one. Our kids were getting older and more independent. When parenting is less consuming, it allows you to look at your relationship and question if it’s really working. Luckily, my marriage still is – but I thought it would be interesting to write about a couple who realizes it’s not.
Usually Chick Lit stories are strictly from the female point of view, why did you choose to write both sides?
I wanted to challenge myself and try writing in a different voice. I’d just written a screenplay with a male lead, so I was already in that headspace. I also think it’s interesting (and hilarious) how differently men and women can view the same situation. It’s the He Said/She Said scenario. It creates so much drama and comedy.
Did you face any challenges while writing “Chronicles”?
The male voice took some work. To write those chapters, I really had to put myself into a guy’s head. I’d get my husband to reread the chapters to make sure they sounded authentic. He’d give me helpful advice like: “Guys don’t say pee. They say piss.” I was also writing about a sullen, angry teenage girl, while my own kids were much younger. I had to channel my sullen, angry teenage self for that one.
Do you ever come to the United States for book tours?
I wish! I haven’t done a US book tour, but I often visit friends in New York and LA. I also live near the Washington border, so I love going to Seattle and Portland. When I’m there, I visit bookstores and move my book to the front shelves. It’s not quite a tour, but…
Where is your favorite place to vacation with your family?
My husband is from Perth, on the West Coast of Australia. It just might be the furthest geographic point from our home in Vancouver, but it’s such an amazing city. It’s on the Indian Ocean and has beautiful beaches, amazing architecture, fragrant gum trees and interesting wildlife. I also really enjoy visiting my in laws. (Maybe you appreciate your in laws more when they live on the other side of the world?)
How did you celebrate when your first book was published?
I had the best book launch party ever! When I got married, I had a tiny wedding (15 guests), so the book launch party was like the wedding I never had. I invited everyone – relatives, high school friends, new friends, work colleagues… Even my grandma was there. We drank champagne and danced till three in the morning (not my grandma). My brother in law made a huge cake that looked like the cover of “The Journal of Mortifying Moments”. I ate about half of it for breakfast the next day.
How do you like to spend your time when you aren’t writing or taking care of your children?
I jog… but that’s not really what I like to do. That’s more, what I have to do so I can eat a lot of chocolate. I enjoy going out for lunch with friends, reading and watching movies and TV (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and True Blood are favorites). I also live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, so it’s nice to walk along the beach, hike, or ski in the winter. And I volunteer once a week with special needs kids. It is incredibly rewarding.
Any plans for another book? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?
I’ve been very busy developing “Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis” into a television pitch. I’m also working on a romantic comedy screenplay. I will write another novel though. I just have to come up with a fabulous idea…
Did you personally identify with any one specific character in “Chronicles”?
In some ways, I can relate to my main character, Lucy. Like her, I’m a working mom – and I can only imagine how tough it would be if my husband suddenly decided to leave me. But Lucy’s also very driven and concerned with appearances, and that’s not me at all. In a strange way, I can also relate to Annika, the “other woman”. Annika’s a complete whacko, but I can empathize with how difficult it must be to date a man with so much baggage.
How did you meet your husband?
In my early-twenties, I went backpacking through Europe with a friend. We were on a Greek island when I met this very nice Australian guy. We fell for each other right away, and I thought, “This is fun. I’m having a holiday fling!” That was fifteen years and two kids ago. We always say that our relationship is ‘a holiday fling that got out of hand’.
Special thanks to Robyn for this interview and for providing the books to give away.
How to win "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: How did you meet your significant other? (If you don't have a significant other, what would be your ideal way to meet someone?)
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Monday, September 27th, at 6 pm EST.
Winning Wednesday--September 22nd
I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!
New giveaways:
Brand new! Win "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Monday at 6pm EST)
Another new one! Sarah Pekkanen will buy a random winner the book they choose just for commenting on this blog post on Girlfriends Book Club. (Deadline unknown)
Win "After the Party" by Lisa Jewell and "Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Sunday at noon EST for ATP and midnight EST for MS)
Win "The Home for Broken Hearts" by Rowan Coleman from Tethered Mommy. US Only. (Deadline: September 27th at 11:59pm EST.)
Win "A Weekend with Mr. Darcy" by Victoria Connelly from Chicklit Club. UK/Ireland only. (Deadline: October 4th)
Previously posted (still going on):
Luxury Reading has "Secrets to Happiness" by Sarah Dunn to give away. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 25th at midnight EST)
Win "What We Have" by Amy Boesky from Peeking Between the Pages. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 26th)
Simply Stacie has your chance to win "Swallow" by Tonya Plank. (Deadline: September 24th at 11:59 pm EST.)
Win "Out of the Shadows" by Joanne Rendell from Redlady's Reading Room. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 26th)
Win a Kindle from Luxury Reading. (Deadline: October 4th at 11:59 pm EST)
Some opportunities to win "She's Gone Country":
*Also from Romance Author Buzz (Deadline: September 30th)
*Book End Babes also has your chance to win a copy of "She's Gone Country" (Deadline unknown)
Jane Porter is having a photo contest for a chance to win a fabulous prize package! (Deadline: September 30th)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!
New giveaways:
Brand new! Win "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Monday at 6pm EST)
Another new one! Sarah Pekkanen will buy a random winner the book they choose just for commenting on this blog post on Girlfriends Book Club. (Deadline unknown)
Win "After the Party" by Lisa Jewell and "Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Sunday at noon EST for ATP and midnight EST for MS)
Win "The Home for Broken Hearts" by Rowan Coleman from Tethered Mommy. US Only. (Deadline: September 27th at 11:59pm EST.)
Win "A Weekend with Mr. Darcy" by Victoria Connelly from Chicklit Club. UK/Ireland only. (Deadline: October 4th)
Previously posted (still going on):
Luxury Reading has "Secrets to Happiness" by Sarah Dunn to give away. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 25th at midnight EST)
Win "What We Have" by Amy Boesky from Peeking Between the Pages. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 26th)
Simply Stacie has your chance to win "Swallow" by Tonya Plank. (Deadline: September 24th at 11:59 pm EST.)
Win "Out of the Shadows" by Joanne Rendell from Redlady's Reading Room. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 26th)
Win a Kindle from Luxury Reading. (Deadline: October 4th at 11:59 pm EST)
Some opportunities to win "She's Gone Country":
*Also from Romance Author Buzz (Deadline: September 30th)
*Book End Babes also has your chance to win a copy of "She's Gone Country" (Deadline unknown)
Jane Porter is having a photo contest for a chance to win a fabulous prize package! (Deadline: September 30th)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Winners of "Life After Yes"
To find the winners, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 15, 17 and 40.
Congrats to Billiondollarprincesss, Wanda and JHS!
Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway. We enjoyed reading your answers to the bonus questions. Thanks again to Aidan for participating in this interview and for providing the books for the giveaway.
New giveaways!
Win "After the Party" by Lisa Jewell and "Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Sunday at noon EST for ATP and midnight EST for MS)
Congrats to Billiondollarprincesss, Wanda and JHS!
Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway. We enjoyed reading your answers to the bonus questions. Thanks again to Aidan for participating in this interview and for providing the books for the giveaway.
New giveaways!
Win "After the Party" by Lisa Jewell and "Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Sunday at noon EST for ATP and midnight EST for MS)
Book Review and Giveaway: Mini Shopaholic
**Giveaway is now closed**
I have always been a Sophie Kinsella fan, ever since I first read "Confessions of a Shopaholic." When I found out that "Mini Shopaholic" would be heading to bookstores, I couldn't wait to check it out for myself. And thanks to Sharon and Alexandra at Random House, I didn't have to wait too long. And even though the book is available for your purchasing pleasure today, they have also promised two copies to give away to readers (and fellow shopaholics) right here!
"Mini Shopaholic" picks up two years after "Shopaholic and Baby." Becky is now the proud mother of a toddler who takes after her shopaholic tendencies. Since two years have passed, Ms. Kinsella takes the time to fill us in on all the big events during the time between these two books. The story starts out at a department store, where Minnie (a.k.a. Mini Shopaholic) has her clutches on a toy pony. Becky finds a way to justify buying Minnie whatever she wants and that's where all the fun and havoc begins.
There is a lot going on in this book, which explains why it is almost 400 pages. It is full of house-hunting, an economic crisis, a clever marketing scheme, toddler behavior management and a surprise party that becomes overwhelming because Becky is the one planning the highly anticipated event. There are also family issues and (of course) a lot of shopping!
I originally thought that Ms. Kinsella crammed a lot of situations into one novel because this could be where the Shopaholic series ends. However, she surprisingly left open some room for a potential sequel.
Overall, this was a fun novel and I laughed out loud often while reading about Becky's crazy schemes and adventures. She manages to get herself into a few messes in every story but finds a way to sort them out. She usually has good intentions though. She does come off as younger than her 29 years because of her impulsiveness and her child-like view of the way the world works. However, she is just as charming and lovable in "Mini Shopaholic" as she has been in the past five novels. I even find that I am able to relate to her in some ways. While some things felt a bit unrealistic, I just went along with them for the sake of the story. I do want to point out that while there was an economic crisis going on in the story, it seemed a bit short lived compared to how much spending was taking place throughout. I would have liked to see more consistency there, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the novel by any means. I consider this to be a light novel that is easy and enjoyable to read. I had a hard time putting it down! I definitely think "Shopaholic" fans will enjoy this new chapter in Becky's life.
Thanks again to Sharon and Alexandra at Random House for the review copy of "Mini Shopaholic" and for providing two more copies for this giveaway.
How to win "Mini Shopaholic":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What store or item (clothing, books, shoes, etc.) makes you into a shopaholic?
OR
2. Please tell us: What is the biggest way you have ever surprised someone (or have been surprised)?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Sunday, September 26th at midnight EST.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Book Review: Good Enough to Eat
Call me crazy, but I started reading this book on Yom Kippur, which is a fasting holiday. I was immediately confronted with memories of good food from my youth and even thoughts of foods I currently enjoy eating. However, I was also immediately drawn into a story that was comfort food in itself.
"Good Enough to Eat" is about Melanie, a former lawyer who loses half her body weight and opens a healthy comfort food take-out, only to be rudely awakened by her husband leaving her for a woman twice her weight. Through the support of her sister, some close friends and even a new romantic interest, she works on piecing her life together and reclaiming the confidence her ex-husband took when he walked out the door.
I loved everything about this story. It was so honest and emotional and it also gave off a cozy feel. I could have read this novel in one day if I weren't so busy! However, I didn't want it to end and was disappointed when it did. (It ends on an uplifting note, but I would have loved to see it go another 100 pages or so.) It contained everything I enjoy about her books (as well as some of my other favorite books): Jewish references, spicy romantic scenes, interesting characters and a story that stays intriguing throughout. I enjoyed the descriptions of food as something actually comforting, instead of fancy. And Stacey Ballis includes all the recipes from the story, in both decadent and healthy versions. I just hope she doesn't wait three years to produce another delicious novel! In the meantime, I now have to find another novel to read that will live up to the enjoyment I received from this story.
Interview with Lisa Jewell and book giveaway
**Giveaway is now closed**
Back in 2002, I obtained a copy of "Ralph's Party" from a friend and really enjoyed the story. I couldn't put it down. All the characters were very interesting and it had some fun twists. That's why I was thrilled to find out that Lisa Jewell had written a sequel called "After the Party." It talks about what happens eleven years later.
Her publisher, Louise Campbell from Random House, gave me two copies of "After the Party" to send to some lucky readers in the US and Canada. She also arranged an interview between Lisa Jewell and myself. I really enjoyed reading her answers. Not only do we have a favorite book in common, but I also found out that our birthdays are right next to each other. (I saw that on her Facebook page though.)
What is the biggest challenge to getting a novel off the ground?
I am not a steady 1000 word a day writer. It usually takes me weeks, if not months, to build up any kind of momentum when I start a book, mainly because I'm not really sure what I'm writing about until about thirty thousand words in. I find these early days of writing a novel quite stressful because I'm paying for childcare and not getting anything done. Even now, ten books down the line, I cannot see this part as a normal stage of the process of writing a book and panic every time that I am never going to complete it and that I am finished as a writer!
What did you do to celebrate when "Ralph's Party" was first published?
Well, when I got the phonecall from my agent to tell me that she'd got me a book deal, I ran to the off-license and bought two bottles of champagne. (And so began a now deeply ingrained champagne habit). On the night of publication, I paid for my own book launch at a small art gallery in town and invited pretty much everyone I'd ever known. My publishers projected the book cover onto a number of buildings around the West End of London and afterwards myself and a dozen or so close friends went for dinner to a cosy French restaurant around the corner and took over a private dining room. And to cap it off, after dinner we all went to an upstairs lounge to watch a review of my book on a BBC arts show. The panel of critics loved it and their commendation sent my little book into the stratosphere and turned it into a phenomenon. It was an amazing night, I can remember every moment of it as though it were yesterday
At the time, did you have any intentions of writing a sequel?
At the time I was dizzy with shock and could not even begin to imagine that ten years later I'd be in a position to write a sequel. I was living very much in the moment. And in fact I'd had no intention of writing a sequel until about six months before I started writing it. I'd just thrown the idea out there, casually, to my agent and a couple of friends and they all reacted so positively that I kind of got swept away with the notion.
How do you keep yourself motivated while writing?
What keeps me motivated is a) the fact that I am paying someone to look after my youngest child while I work and I know I will hate myself if I don’t get at least something done and b) that I have a deadline and I do not like to overstep a deadline if I can help it. There is also, of course the creative motivation of having set a world in motion, of having put a fictional character into a situation that needs to be resolved and feeling an overwhelming need to bring it to a conclusion.
If either "Ralph's Party" or "After the Party" could be made into a movie, which would you choose and who would you cast as the leads?
I think Ralph’s Party would make a great movie, not so sure about After the Party though. As for leads, I’m not entirely sure. I've been asked this question a lot over the years and of course the answers change as actors come and go (and get older!). And it also depends if it was to be Brit Flick, in which case I would think of actors that no one in the States has heard of, or a US production. So maybe I’ll just say that if anyone made any of my books into a movie I would be so overwhelmed with joy that I wouldn't really care who they chose!
I saw that you were in the US for a tour in 2002. Any plans of coming back for another tour? Which was your favourite city to visit?
I've only just signed a US contract, having been unpublished in the States for some time, so I don't really know what my US publishers have in store for me. But I would love to do another publicity tour. It was a weird and wonderful experience and a brilliant opportunity to see a lot of a very big place in a very short space of time! I loved New York, obviously, but I think the best place I stopped off at was Louisville in Kentucky. It was very earthy and lively and we had the best meal of the trip there at a restaurant called Jack’s Place. I did love staying at the Chateau Marmont in LA too, and would love to go back there with kids in tow. I think they’d love it.
What was it like working in the fashion industry?
Oh, you know, I found it very hard to take it all seriously. It was just clothes, not cancer research and people did tend to get very worked up about things that weren't really very important. And it was a really stressful time, generally; there was a recession, people kept being made redundant, I was going through a lot too; a rocky relationship with a guy who kept dumping me and then a doomed marriage to a control freak so my view of the experience is a bit tainted by all that personal stuff. But I love clothes and I love fashion and I did meet some great, amazing fantastic girls. We were all young and living the London life and we had a lot of fun in between the angst.
What was the best party you have ever hosted? Attended?
My wedding was the best party I ever hosted. We took eighty friends and family to the Italian Riviera and partied the whole weekend away. Our wedding reception was held in a stunning Italianate abbey on a cliff overlooking the sea near Portofino and we danced the night away, until three in the morning. It was the best night of my life. The best party I've ever been to is quite a hard call to make, but I would say that every time I go to the Groucho Club in Soho I always have the best, most unpredictable nights, whoever I'm with.
I saw that "She's Come Undone" is one of your favourite books. (We have this in common!) In which ways did you feel you could relate to Dolores?
I could relate to Dolores purely because of the way that Wally Lamb, the author, writes about her. I have never been obese, or been depressed, I have been through very little of what Dolores experiences, but because the author writes so well about her inner life, her thoughts and dreams and feelings, it is almost like you are actually being Dolores and experiencing what she experiences. It was very powerful
What is your favorite holiday?
Oh, Christmas, without a doubt. I love the music, and the lights. I could do without all the gifts though. I find gift-shopping quite stressful, when you're doing it for so many people. But the family aspect of it, the eating, drinking, planning, decorating, I love all that, absolutely love it.
Special thanks to Lisa Jewell for her lovely answers to my questions and to Louise Campbell (Random House) for arranging the interview and providing the books for the giveaway.
How to win "After the Party":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is the best party you've ever hosted or attended?
OR
2. Please tell us: What character(s) from a novel would you like to see a sequel about in ten years from the time the story took place?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Sunday, September 26th at 12 pm EST.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Book Review: She's Gone Country
By Melissa Amster
Considering that I had been waiting almost a year for this book to be released, I was definitely not disappointed once I finally had the opportunity to read it!
"She's Gone Country" follows Shey Darcy to her family's ranch in Texas. Shey is part of the Marta-Tiana-Shey trio that started in "Odd Mom Out" and was followed again in "Easy on the Eyes." It was not only fun to read Shey's story from her own point of view, but also to see what was happening with Marta and Tiana. This time around, Shey is coping with the fact that her husband left her for another man and trying to raise her teenage boys while fending off the opinions of her mother and brothers. She also is confronted by her past when she has several run-ins with a crush from her youth, Dane Kelly. Toss into the mix some struggles over child custody and various school issues and Jane Porter really has quite a story for her readers.
I enjoyed the easygoing nature of this novel. Shey's "voice" was a mix between uncertainty and confidence. She had a lot of inner struggles to deal with while also handling the outside forces working against her. I loved the sexual tension and chemistry between Shey and Dane. It kept me on my toes! I also found her conversations and issues with her sons to be very realistic and even heartbreaking at times. I was even brought to tears at one point!
The one concern I had with this story was that Shey had come up with a brilliant and amazing idea at one point. However, the idea was never explored any further and just showed up momentarily in the epilogue. I wish Ms. Porter had worked with this idea more instead of just coming up with it and leaving me wanting to know more about it. Also, there was another issue that was being worked on within Shey's family but then also got resolved within a chapter and never readdressed. I would have liked to have seen how the school actually went through with handling this issue or Ms. Porter could have talked about that in the epilogue as well. It's a serious issue going on in schools these days and it would have been nice for her to address it earlier on instead of waiting till the story was almost over and trying to tie it up in a short period of time. (In all fairness, she did hint to it throughout the story and Shey seemed oblivious for the most part. It took a while for the issue to finally get through to her.)
Overall, "She's Gone Country" was an enjoyable read. It had great emotional quality and some laughs too. There were even some fun surprises. From what Ms. Porter said in our interview last month, Marta, Shey and Tiana's stories will no longer be revisited. However, I hope she changes her mind or comes up with a story that talks more about all three of these dynamic and interesting women.
Thanks to Melissa from The Hachette Book Group for this review copy.
Considering that I had been waiting almost a year for this book to be released, I was definitely not disappointed once I finally had the opportunity to read it!
"She's Gone Country" follows Shey Darcy to her family's ranch in Texas. Shey is part of the Marta-Tiana-Shey trio that started in "Odd Mom Out" and was followed again in "Easy on the Eyes." It was not only fun to read Shey's story from her own point of view, but also to see what was happening with Marta and Tiana. This time around, Shey is coping with the fact that her husband left her for another man and trying to raise her teenage boys while fending off the opinions of her mother and brothers. She also is confronted by her past when she has several run-ins with a crush from her youth, Dane Kelly. Toss into the mix some struggles over child custody and various school issues and Jane Porter really has quite a story for her readers.
I enjoyed the easygoing nature of this novel. Shey's "voice" was a mix between uncertainty and confidence. She had a lot of inner struggles to deal with while also handling the outside forces working against her. I loved the sexual tension and chemistry between Shey and Dane. It kept me on my toes! I also found her conversations and issues with her sons to be very realistic and even heartbreaking at times. I was even brought to tears at one point!
The one concern I had with this story was that Shey had come up with a brilliant and amazing idea at one point. However, the idea was never explored any further and just showed up momentarily in the epilogue. I wish Ms. Porter had worked with this idea more instead of just coming up with it and leaving me wanting to know more about it. Also, there was another issue that was being worked on within Shey's family but then also got resolved within a chapter and never readdressed. I would have liked to have seen how the school actually went through with handling this issue or Ms. Porter could have talked about that in the epilogue as well. It's a serious issue going on in schools these days and it would have been nice for her to address it earlier on instead of waiting till the story was almost over and trying to tie it up in a short period of time. (In all fairness, she did hint to it throughout the story and Shey seemed oblivious for the most part. It took a while for the issue to finally get through to her.)
Overall, "She's Gone Country" was an enjoyable read. It had great emotional quality and some laughs too. There were even some fun surprises. From what Ms. Porter said in our interview last month, Marta, Shey and Tiana's stories will no longer be revisited. However, I hope she changes her mind or comes up with a story that talks more about all three of these dynamic and interesting women.
Thanks to Melissa from The Hachette Book Group for this review copy.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Winners of "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives"
For this giveaway, I assigned a number to each entry and then asked Josie Brown to pick the winning numbers.
My fave #'s are:
6
15
56
Wow! Had fun at Chick Lit Central! Can I come back and visit? I hope these three winners enjoy my book. If you do, come back here at Chick Lit Central and let M&M know how much fun it was.
Warmest Always,
Josie Brown
Author, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives
(on bookshelves now!)
Congrats to Sarah, Michele, and Catharine!
Thanks again to Josie for doing this interview with Chick Lit Central and for providing the books for the giveaway!
Thanks to Melissa P., who put together a terrific interview!
Don't forget to enter our current giveaway:
"Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelley Rowley
US/Canada only.
Ends Monday at 6 pm EST.
My fave #'s are:
6
15
56
Wow! Had fun at Chick Lit Central! Can I come back and visit? I hope these three winners enjoy my book. If you do, come back here at Chick Lit Central and let M&M know how much fun it was.
Warmest Always,
Josie Brown
Author, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives
(on bookshelves now!)
Congrats to Sarah, Michele, and Catharine!
Thanks again to Josie for doing this interview with Chick Lit Central and for providing the books for the giveaway!
Thanks to Melissa P., who put together a terrific interview!
Don't forget to enter our current giveaway:
"Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelley Rowley
US/Canada only.
Ends Monday at 6 pm EST.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Winner of Stacey Ballis' prize package
Stacey Ballis picked the winner of her recipe contest today.
Congrats to Alicia Wroblewski!
This is her healthy comfort food recipe:
All you do is freeze a banana. I take the peels off and cut a bunch of bananas in half and put them in a ziploc freezer bag. Then, when the mood hits, cut up half a banana (2 halves if you are hungry!) and put it in a mini-chopper or food processor. Mix that bad boy up (it will not look normal at first) and keep going until it resembles a puree. Do not give up before then! There you have it - banana ice cream. If you feel dangerous, you could add a handful of chocolate chips.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest!
Thanks to Stacey for a great interview and for hosting this contest!
Current giveaways:
We have three signed copies of "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives" by Josie Brown to give away! US/Canada only. (Deadline: Tomorrow at midnight EST)
We also have three copies of "Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelley Rowley! US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 20th at 6 pm EST)
Congrats to Alicia Wroblewski!
This is her healthy comfort food recipe:
All you do is freeze a banana. I take the peels off and cut a bunch of bananas in half and put them in a ziploc freezer bag. Then, when the mood hits, cut up half a banana (2 halves if you are hungry!) and put it in a mini-chopper or food processor. Mix that bad boy up (it will not look normal at first) and keep going until it resembles a puree. Do not give up before then! There you have it - banana ice cream. If you feel dangerous, you could add a handful of chocolate chips.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest!
Thanks to Stacey for a great interview and for hosting this contest!
Current giveaways:
We have three signed copies of "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives" by Josie Brown to give away! US/Canada only. (Deadline: Tomorrow at midnight EST)
We also have three copies of "Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelley Rowley! US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 20th at 6 pm EST)
Winning Wednesday--September 15th
I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!
New giveaways:
We have three signed copies of "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives" by Josie Brown to give away! US/Canada only. (Deadline: Tomorrow at midnight EST)
We also have three copies of "Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelley Rowley! US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 20th at 6 pm EST)
Brand new! Many opportunities to win chick lit novels from Luxury Reading's Blogmania Giveaway! US only. (Deadline: September 16th at 11:59 pm EST)
Win "Chocolate Wishes" by Trisha Ashley from The Secret Writer. (Deadline: Friday)
Chick Lit Plus has your chance to win "Falling Home" by Karen White. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Saturday)
Chick Lit is Not Dead is giving away five copies of "Second Time Around" by Beth Kendrick. (Deadline: Thursday night)
Win "Nanny Returns" by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus from Booking Mama. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 20th at 11:59 pm EST)
Luxury Reading has "Secrets to Happiness" by Sarah Dunn to give away. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 25th at midnight EST)
Win "What We Have" by Amy Boesky from Peeking Between the Pages. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 26th)
Simply Stacie has your chance to win "Swallow" by Tonya Plank. (Deadline: September 24th at 11:59 pm EST.)
Jillian Cantor is giving away her novel "The Transformation of Things." See the sidebar of her blog for more details. (Deadline: Sunday)
Win "Out of the Shadows" by Joanne Rendell from Redlady's Reading Room. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 26th)
Win "The Stuff That Never Happened" by Maddie Dawson from Everyday I Write the Book. US only. (Deadline: Friday)
Literary Sluts has your chance to win "The Next Best Thing" by Kristan Higgins. (Deadline: Saturday)
Previously posted (still going on):
Win "Simply from Scratch" by Alicia Bessette from Franklin, Ink. (Deadline: September 20th)
Win a Kindle from Luxury Reading. (Deadline: October 4th at 11:59 pm EST)
Lots of opportunities to win "She's Gone Country":
*A Bookworm's World: 3 copies to give away. US/Canada only, no PO boxes. (Deadline: September 18th at 6 pm EST)
*Also from Romance Author Buzz (Deadline: September 30th)
*Book End Babes also has your chance to win a copy of "She's Gone Country" (Deadline unknown)
*You can also win "She's Gone Country" from Books and Needlepoint. US/Canada only, no PO Boxes. (Deadline: September 21st)
Win "Hometown Girl" by Michele Ashman Bell from Linda Weaver Clarke. (Deadline unknown)
Jane Porter is having a photo contest for a chance to win a fabulous prize package! (Deadline: September 30th)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!
New giveaways:
We have three signed copies of "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives" by Josie Brown to give away! US/Canada only. (Deadline: Tomorrow at midnight EST)
We also have three copies of "Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelley Rowley! US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 20th at 6 pm EST)
Brand new! Many opportunities to win chick lit novels from Luxury Reading's Blogmania Giveaway! US only. (Deadline: September 16th at 11:59 pm EST)
Win "Chocolate Wishes" by Trisha Ashley from The Secret Writer. (Deadline: Friday)
Chick Lit Plus has your chance to win "Falling Home" by Karen White. US/Canada only. (Deadline: Saturday)
Chick Lit is Not Dead is giving away five copies of "Second Time Around" by Beth Kendrick. (Deadline: Thursday night)
Win "Nanny Returns" by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus from Booking Mama. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 20th at 11:59 pm EST)
Luxury Reading has "Secrets to Happiness" by Sarah Dunn to give away. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 25th at midnight EST)
Win "What We Have" by Amy Boesky from Peeking Between the Pages. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 26th)
Simply Stacie has your chance to win "Swallow" by Tonya Plank. (Deadline: September 24th at 11:59 pm EST.)
Jillian Cantor is giving away her novel "The Transformation of Things." See the sidebar of her blog for more details. (Deadline: Sunday)
Win "Out of the Shadows" by Joanne Rendell from Redlady's Reading Room. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 26th)
Win "The Stuff That Never Happened" by Maddie Dawson from Everyday I Write the Book. US only. (Deadline: Friday)
Literary Sluts has your chance to win "The Next Best Thing" by Kristan Higgins. (Deadline: Saturday)
Previously posted (still going on):
Win "Simply from Scratch" by Alicia Bessette from Franklin, Ink. (Deadline: September 20th)
Win a Kindle from Luxury Reading. (Deadline: October 4th at 11:59 pm EST)
Lots of opportunities to win "She's Gone Country":
*A Bookworm's World: 3 copies to give away. US/Canada only, no PO boxes. (Deadline: September 18th at 6 pm EST)
*Also from Romance Author Buzz (Deadline: September 30th)
*Book End Babes also has your chance to win a copy of "She's Gone Country" (Deadline unknown)
*You can also win "She's Gone Country" from Books and Needlepoint. US/Canada only, no PO Boxes. (Deadline: September 21st)
Win "Hometown Girl" by Michele Ashman Bell from Linda Weaver Clarke. (Deadline unknown)
Jane Porter is having a photo contest for a chance to win a fabulous prize package! (Deadline: September 30th)
Interview with Aidan Donnelley Rowley and book giveaway
**Giveaway is now closed**
Aidan Donnelley Rowley is the mother of two girls and a previous lawyer who was born, raised and still lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She has a blog called Ivy League Insecurities, in which she talks about herself and the writing process, amongst other things. Her debut novel, "Life After Yes", was written about the after effects of 9/11 and how it affects the course of one woman's life. It can be purchased here. However, along with a very interesting and informative interview, Aidan gave me three copies to give away to some lucky readers in the US and Canada.
1. What was the inspiration behind "Life After Yes?"
"Life After Yes" was inspired by my admittedly short stint as a litigation associate at a big Manhattan law firm and by my experience as a young New Yorker in the aftermath of 9/11. Contrary to conventional wisdom, life as a BigLaw attorney was (for me) not miserable. But it wasn’t happy either. I realized, and quickly, that I was far more interested in the life around me, the stories of colleagues and clients, than I was in the formal practice of law at a corporate firm. I would steal moments here and there and scribble essays. I would spend long stretches of time at my desk staring out the skyscraper window at the stunning views of the city in which I was born and raised. The Friday afternoon after returning from my honeymoon, I looked out that window and decided to jump. To take my very first risk. In that moment, I chose life over law.
2. How did you get your start with writing?
I have always loved writing. Per my little sister (I do not remember this!), I used to write short stories in the backseat of our family station wagon. In high school, I loved my writing assignments. In college, I studied philosophy and wrote countless papers on metaphysics and ethics. It wasn’t until I was immersed in the practice of law though, a life that I found to be decidedly uncreative, that I got the hankering to write fiction.
3. What has been your biggest challenge in working on "Life After Yes?" Biggest reward?
Truth be told, there have been so many challenges and rewards. I would say the most monumental challenge has been bringing the book to life while raising two young daughters. On the one hand, I felt a profound surge of creativity and ambition once I became a mother. On the other hand, I surrendered so much of my free time once I had my girls. Balancing my life as mother and as writer continues to be a daily struggle for me. The biggest reward in publishing Life After Yes has been hearing from so many readers who have picked up my book, read Quinn’s story, and loved it. That I have struck something in people, that I have made them think about their lives and their choices, has meant the world to me.
4. Do you have any novels planned for the future?
Yes! I have several story ideas simmering now, but I am currently at work on one novel about which I am very excited. While I have no doubt this novel will appeal to fans of "Life After Yes," it is also a very different kind of story, one that explores markedly different themes and existential terrain. It’s my sincere hope that you and others will be able to read my sophomore effort in the not-too-distant future!
5. If "Life After Yes," were made into a movie, who would you want to play the lead roles?
I was blindsided with this question at my Borders reading here in Manhattan back in May and I still have not come up with an answer! Truth be told, though I think Life After Yes would make for a compelling movie, I wrote this book as a book, and really never got as far as daydreaming about its cinematic adaptation. I think Quinn would best be played by an actress who is very likeable, but also not perfect and perky. Someone with layers, a personality, some edge. We would need some handsome creatures to play both Sage and Phelps, someone a bit more rebellious and dark for the latter. Ideas? Let me know in the comment box!
6. Since you based your book around 9/11, what were you doing when you heard the news that morning?
I had breakfast with my mother on the morning of September 11th, 2001. I was a second year law student at Columbia at the time and after breakfast, I was running late for class, so I hopped in a taxi to make it to school on time. In the taxi, I heard about the attacks on the cabdriver’s radio. Honestly, it was very surreal and I was quite confused. I arrived at school and no one had heard anything yet. I told a few people that I heard something about the towers being attacked and they thought I was crazy. Needless to say, I did not attend class that day.
7. I read on your blog that, just like you, your daughters have boy names. Have there ever been instances where people confused either them or yourself for boys when they didn't meet you in person first?
Ah, yes. In law school, particularly at the beginning of the semester when the professors were not yet familiar with their students, I would often be called on as “Mr. Donnelley.” When I raised my hand, and explained that I was in fact Ms. Donnelley, there would inevitably be a chorus of chuckles. When my husband and I sold our home recently, the buyers were convinced that we were a gay couple because of my name! And when I was applying my eldest daughter to preschool, one school called and apologized profusely because there were no more spots open for boys in the upcoming class. “That’s okay,” I said, “because she’s a girl!”
8. What are you looking forward to most about autumn?
Fall is my very favorite season. I love the crispness, the hints of chill. I love that I can wear a sweater, but don’t have to bundle up. I love the colorful leaves and the pumpkins in windows. I love the resumed busyness of people; the kids shuttling between school, the reinvigoration of this city that is often abandoned during summer. My birthday is in October too, so maybe that’s why I’m such a fan.
9. I also read that you like Starbucks a lot. What do you usually order there?
I do love Starbucks...as much for the atmosphere, the patchwork of people, the snapshot of humanity, as for the endless coffee and food options. I am not very exotic in my ordering. I usually stick to Pike Place Roast (with skim and Splenda) or if I am indulging, a skim latte. Caffeine is a critical component of my busy days!
10. What is one thing about you that most people would find surprising?
That’s a tough question. Historically, people have been surprised to learn that I was such a tomboy growing up. These days, I am far from high maintenance and leagues from being a girly-girl, but I do have an appreciation for clothes and shoes and other aesthetic pleasures. Guess this doesn’t jibe very well with images of me in a Larry Bird jersey! Also, people tend to assume that I am a city creature through and through and are often thrown off to learn that I though I was born and raised in the big city, I also grew up spending a lot of time in nature, away from it all.
Special thanks to Aidan for answering my questions and allowing us all to learn more about her. I also want to thank her for the contribution of books for the giveaway.
How to win "Life After Yes":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What national or worldwide event of the last ten years has had the most impact the way you view life?
OR
2. Please tell us: What is your favorite thing to order at Starbucks (or any other beverage café chain)?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Monday, September 20th at 6 pm EST.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Winners of "Moonlight in Odessa"
To pick the winners, I assigned a number to each entry and asked Janet Skeslien Charles to pick two random numbers in the specified range I presented to her. She chose 3 and 39.
Hello and many thanks for reading the interview and for signing up for the giveaway. I really enjoyed reading your comments about your favorite jobs and places to live. Un grand merci to both Melissas for organizing the book giveaway! I really appreciate all that they do for writers and for readers.
Best wishes,
Janet Skeslien Charles
Congrats to Rhapsodyinbooks and Dreamworld Book Reviews!
Thanks again to Janet for the lovely interview and for offering the books to give away. (And also for writing an amazing novel!)
Thanks always to Melissa P. for her help with this and many other interviews.
For another chance to win a book, check out Melissa P.'s interview with Josie Brown and enter for a chance to win "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives." US/Canada only. Ends Thursday at midnight EST.
Hello and many thanks for reading the interview and for signing up for the giveaway. I really enjoyed reading your comments about your favorite jobs and places to live. Un grand merci to both Melissas for organizing the book giveaway! I really appreciate all that they do for writers and for readers.
Best wishes,
Janet Skeslien Charles
Congrats to Rhapsodyinbooks and Dreamworld Book Reviews!
Thanks again to Janet for the lovely interview and for offering the books to give away. (And also for writing an amazing novel!)
Thanks always to Melissa P. for her help with this and many other interviews.
For another chance to win a book, check out Melissa P.'s interview with Josie Brown and enter for a chance to win "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives." US/Canada only. Ends Thursday at midnight EST.
Interview with Josie Brown and book giveaway
By Melissa Patafio
**Giveaway is now closed**
Josie Brown, author of “Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives” dishes up a heaping portion of sex, secrets, and scandals in her third novel. Not only is she the author of three successful novels, she also interviews celebrities and writes relationship articles which have appeared in Redbook and Complete Woman magazines as well as a number of websites.
Josie, a self-proclaimed lover of foreign films and linguini and clams in white sauce, graciously took the time to answer some of my questions. She is witty, warm, and generous and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her better. I am sure all of you will too! She is even giving away three signed copies of her book to some lucky readers in the US and Canada.
What is your usual writing routine?
I'm the ultimate plotter. Besides knowing a basic premise for my story, and figure out a middle and an end for it, Ithen plot out the core turning points that get me from the beginning to the end. Some of the middle is always the fuzziest, since characters have a way of taking things into their own hands (LOL!) but channeling their voices always keeps the plot churning...and that's the joy of writing novels.
If your book were being made into a movie, who would you like to see cast as the main characters?
Ideally, for Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, Julia Roberts would be Lyssa. An imperfect Ted would be Robert Downey Jr. Clive Owen would make a great Harry. And I could see Gwyneth Paltrow as DeeDee.
Do you ever suffer from writers block? If so, what are your personal remedies?
Ha! No, I have the opposite issue: too many plots, so little time! I'm always running into great book premises when I'm out and about, or when I read a juicy news item. And then it's a matter of thinking through the "what if's". You know, "What if this character did/said this? What if then the plot twists this way?" And always:" Is the ending satisfying?
Most of the mail I get from readers says "I didn't want your book to end..." That makes my day.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I'm hiking. In fact, when I'm walking, I'm usually plotting out my next chapter, or my next book. We live in a county that has the most national forest land near a metropolis (Marin, in California). The trails here are spectacular. There are several points where you can stand and see the city (San Francisco) and the bay, and the Pacific Ocean in a panoramic vista before you. Makes it hard to go on vacation when you feel you live somewhere so pretty.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
I started writing fiction the day I brought my first born, my son, home from the hospital. I was in the advertising industry (much later than Mad Men, but many of those stories ring SO TRUE), and I felt that now that I was someone's wife and someone's mom, I also wanted to be someone who let her creative side be her prime identity..
But with a new baby and all, that book was put in a drawer. It took several years (and a switch from advertising to freelance feature writing ) for me to get up the guts again to write a novel--but only after I'd written two non-fiction books (MARRIAGE CONFIDENTIAL: 102 HONEST ANSWERS EVERY WIFE WANTS TO KNOW, AND EVERY HUSBAND IS AFRAID TO ASK; and LAST NIGHT I DREAMT OF COSMOPOLITANS: A MODERN GIRL'S DREAM DICTIONARY). Then I asked my agent, "Would you look at some fiction I'm writing?" He said yes, and that book (TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES--a story that came to me while I was interviewing celebrities and writing feature profiles) had three editors bidding on it. It was pitched on the first 50 pages (to demonstrate my fiction writing voice) and a 10-page synopsis.
How did you celebrate when your first book was published?
We went to my favorite sushi restaurant (Sushi Ran) with friends. I wanted to go to Paris, but hey, if you have to settle for less, at least the food was sublime.In fact, I'm going to London and Paris in October--three novels later! I'm finally making the time between my books. I've just turned in the next one (THE BABY PLANNER, out April 5, 2011), and I start another the minute I get back.
I read that aside from writing, you interview celebrities. Who has been your favorite celebrity to interview so far? Why?
I loved interviewing Kenneth Branagh. He was hella lotta fun! It was for a movie he both directed and starred in (HAMLET) and I wanted to ask him stuff no one else had thought of. Some questions centered on his directing process. Another was about the look he had cultivated for the movie. He had pumped up for the movie (the Danish prince did more than mope around Elsinore Castle) so I asked him if he'd be doing any Hollywood hardbody movies. That actually made him laugh. His answer: "If I get to wear a white leather breastplate all the time, I'd be happy....I do get asked to do action pictures--usually as the director, not to be the sweaty pectoral boy." That's may favorite soundbite of all time.
Where is your favorite place to vacation?
I love both the beach and the mountains. And I love warmth. Hana, Hawaii is a great combination of all three. For that matter, so is most of Hawaii. But ask me again in an month. Once I hit Paris and the French countryside, my opinion may be different...
Are you originally from California? If not, what brought you there?
I'm from Atlanta Georgia. I grew up in Decatur (they have a great book festival, fyi) and Kennesaw (where it's now the law that you have to carry a gun. Go figure. Well, at least the mountain is gorgeous!) My husband brought me out to San Francisco right before our honeymoon, and gave me my engagement ring on the Sausalito Ferry. We loved the area so much that it became our get-away place, whenever we could go. Then finally before our children were old enough for elementary school, we decided if ever we were to move, the timing couldn't be better. And we've never looked back.
How was the story of “Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives” inspired?
I thought of the premise a year or so prior to the recent recession, which happened to have downsized many "masters of the universe" business-type alpha guys. I wondered would would happen if in fact one such guy had made the decision to be a work-at-home dad, if only to hold onto his family and his home after his wife walked out on him. The idea was to have his story narrated through a female neighbor--and of course, she gets caught up in the story as well. Lots of sex, scandal, gossip, and adults behaving badly. In other words, a fun read!
Special thanks to Josie for this interview and for offering the books to give away.
How to win "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Click here to read one of the many reviews for "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives." Leave a comment on this blog regarding the one you like the best.
2. Please tell us: If you could choose a celebrity to interview, who would you pick and what's one question you would ask them?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Thursday, September 16th at midnight EST.
**Giveaway is now closed**
Josie Brown, author of “Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives” dishes up a heaping portion of sex, secrets, and scandals in her third novel. Not only is she the author of three successful novels, she also interviews celebrities and writes relationship articles which have appeared in Redbook and Complete Woman magazines as well as a number of websites.
Josie, a self-proclaimed lover of foreign films and linguini and clams in white sauce, graciously took the time to answer some of my questions. She is witty, warm, and generous and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her better. I am sure all of you will too! She is even giving away three signed copies of her book to some lucky readers in the US and Canada.
What is your usual writing routine?
I'm the ultimate plotter. Besides knowing a basic premise for my story, and figure out a middle and an end for it, Ithen plot out the core turning points that get me from the beginning to the end. Some of the middle is always the fuzziest, since characters have a way of taking things into their own hands (LOL!) but channeling their voices always keeps the plot churning...and that's the joy of writing novels.
If your book were being made into a movie, who would you like to see cast as the main characters?
Ideally, for Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, Julia Roberts would be Lyssa. An imperfect Ted would be Robert Downey Jr. Clive Owen would make a great Harry. And I could see Gwyneth Paltrow as DeeDee.
Do you ever suffer from writers block? If so, what are your personal remedies?
Ha! No, I have the opposite issue: too many plots, so little time! I'm always running into great book premises when I'm out and about, or when I read a juicy news item. And then it's a matter of thinking through the "what if's". You know, "What if this character did/said this? What if then the plot twists this way?" And always:" Is the ending satisfying?
Most of the mail I get from readers says "I didn't want your book to end..." That makes my day.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I'm hiking. In fact, when I'm walking, I'm usually plotting out my next chapter, or my next book. We live in a county that has the most national forest land near a metropolis (Marin, in California). The trails here are spectacular. There are several points where you can stand and see the city (San Francisco) and the bay, and the Pacific Ocean in a panoramic vista before you. Makes it hard to go on vacation when you feel you live somewhere so pretty.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
I started writing fiction the day I brought my first born, my son, home from the hospital. I was in the advertising industry (much later than Mad Men, but many of those stories ring SO TRUE), and I felt that now that I was someone's wife and someone's mom, I also wanted to be someone who let her creative side be her prime identity..
But with a new baby and all, that book was put in a drawer. It took several years (and a switch from advertising to freelance feature writing ) for me to get up the guts again to write a novel--but only after I'd written two non-fiction books (MARRIAGE CONFIDENTIAL: 102 HONEST ANSWERS EVERY WIFE WANTS TO KNOW, AND EVERY HUSBAND IS AFRAID TO ASK; and LAST NIGHT I DREAMT OF COSMOPOLITANS: A MODERN GIRL'S DREAM DICTIONARY). Then I asked my agent, "Would you look at some fiction I'm writing?" He said yes, and that book (TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES--a story that came to me while I was interviewing celebrities and writing feature profiles) had three editors bidding on it. It was pitched on the first 50 pages (to demonstrate my fiction writing voice) and a 10-page synopsis.
How did you celebrate when your first book was published?
We went to my favorite sushi restaurant (Sushi Ran) with friends. I wanted to go to Paris, but hey, if you have to settle for less, at least the food was sublime.In fact, I'm going to London and Paris in October--three novels later! I'm finally making the time between my books. I've just turned in the next one (THE BABY PLANNER, out April 5, 2011), and I start another the minute I get back.
I read that aside from writing, you interview celebrities. Who has been your favorite celebrity to interview so far? Why?
I loved interviewing Kenneth Branagh. He was hella lotta fun! It was for a movie he both directed and starred in (HAMLET) and I wanted to ask him stuff no one else had thought of. Some questions centered on his directing process. Another was about the look he had cultivated for the movie. He had pumped up for the movie (the Danish prince did more than mope around Elsinore Castle) so I asked him if he'd be doing any Hollywood hardbody movies. That actually made him laugh. His answer: "If I get to wear a white leather breastplate all the time, I'd be happy....I do get asked to do action pictures--usually as the director, not to be the sweaty pectoral boy." That's may favorite soundbite of all time.
Where is your favorite place to vacation?
I love both the beach and the mountains. And I love warmth. Hana, Hawaii is a great combination of all three. For that matter, so is most of Hawaii. But ask me again in an month. Once I hit Paris and the French countryside, my opinion may be different...
Are you originally from California? If not, what brought you there?
I'm from Atlanta Georgia. I grew up in Decatur (they have a great book festival, fyi) and Kennesaw (where it's now the law that you have to carry a gun. Go figure. Well, at least the mountain is gorgeous!) My husband brought me out to San Francisco right before our honeymoon, and gave me my engagement ring on the Sausalito Ferry. We loved the area so much that it became our get-away place, whenever we could go. Then finally before our children were old enough for elementary school, we decided if ever we were to move, the timing couldn't be better. And we've never looked back.
How was the story of “Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives” inspired?
I thought of the premise a year or so prior to the recent recession, which happened to have downsized many "masters of the universe" business-type alpha guys. I wondered would would happen if in fact one such guy had made the decision to be a work-at-home dad, if only to hold onto his family and his home after his wife walked out on him. The idea was to have his story narrated through a female neighbor--and of course, she gets caught up in the story as well. Lots of sex, scandal, gossip, and adults behaving badly. In other words, a fun read!
Special thanks to Josie for this interview and for offering the books to give away.
How to win "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Click here to read one of the many reviews for "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives." Leave a comment on this blog regarding the one you like the best.
2. Please tell us: If you could choose a celebrity to interview, who would you pick and what's one question you would ask them?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Thursday, September 16th at midnight EST.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Winning Wednesday--September 8th
I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!
New giveaways:
Send a recipe to Stacey Ballis and win a fabulous prize package! US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 13th at 5pm CST.)
Win "Moonlight in Odessa" by Janet Skeslien Charles. (Deadline: September 13th at 6pm EST)
Win "Out of the Shadows" by Joanne Rendell from Chick Lit is Not Dead. (Deadline: Tomorrow)
Win "Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant from The Seekers. (Deadline: Friday)
Win "Simply from Scratch" by Alicia Bessette from Franklin, Ink. (Deadline: September 20th)
Brittany Roshelle has an autographed copy of "Husband and Wife" by Leah Stewart to give away. US only. (Deadline: September 12th)
Win a Kindle from Luxury Reading. (Deadline: October 4th at 11:59 pm EST)
Previously posted (still going on):
Luxury Reading has three copies of "Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelly Rowley to give away. US Only. (Deadline: September 10th at midnight EST)
Suko's Notebook is giving away "Free to a Good Home" by Eve Marie Mont. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 13th at 5 pm PST.)
Lots of opportunities to win "She's Gone Country":
The Book Chick has a copy of "She's Gone Country" to give away. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 15th)
*A Bookworm's World: 3 copies to give away. US/Canada only, no PO boxes. (Deadline: September 18th at 6 pm EST)
*Also from Romance Author Buzz (Deadline: September 30th)
*Book End Babes also has your chance to win a copy of "She's Gone Country" (Deadline unknown)
*You can also win "She's Gone Country" from Books and Needlepoint. US/Canada only, no PO Boxes. (Deadline: September 21st)
Win "A Desirable Residence" by Madeleine Wickham from Chick Lit Reviews. (Deadline: September 4th)
Win "Hometown Girl" by Michele Ashman Bell from Linda Weaver Clarke. (Deadline unknown)
Win a copy of "Georgia's Kitchen" from The Book Chick. US/Canada only. (Deadline: TONIGHT at midnight EST)
A Bookworm's World has your chance to win Fragile by Lisa Unger. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 5th at 6 pm EST)
Jane Porter is having a photo contest for a chance to win a fabulous prize package! (Deadline: September 30th)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!
New giveaways:
Send a recipe to Stacey Ballis and win a fabulous prize package! US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 13th at 5pm CST.)
Win "Moonlight in Odessa" by Janet Skeslien Charles. (Deadline: September 13th at 6pm EST)
Win "Out of the Shadows" by Joanne Rendell from Chick Lit is Not Dead. (Deadline: Tomorrow)
Win "Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant from The Seekers. (Deadline: Friday)
Win "Simply from Scratch" by Alicia Bessette from Franklin, Ink. (Deadline: September 20th)
Brittany Roshelle has an autographed copy of "Husband and Wife" by Leah Stewart to give away. US only. (Deadline: September 12th)
Win a Kindle from Luxury Reading. (Deadline: October 4th at 11:59 pm EST)
Previously posted (still going on):
Luxury Reading has three copies of "Life After Yes" by Aidan Donnelly Rowley to give away. US Only. (Deadline: September 10th at midnight EST)
Suko's Notebook is giving away "Free to a Good Home" by Eve Marie Mont. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 13th at 5 pm PST.)
Lots of opportunities to win "She's Gone Country":
The Book Chick has a copy of "She's Gone Country" to give away. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 15th)
*A Bookworm's World: 3 copies to give away. US/Canada only, no PO boxes. (Deadline: September 18th at 6 pm EST)
*Also from Romance Author Buzz (Deadline: September 30th)
*Book End Babes also has your chance to win a copy of "She's Gone Country" (Deadline unknown)
*You can also win "She's Gone Country" from Books and Needlepoint. US/Canada only, no PO Boxes. (Deadline: September 21st)
Win "A Desirable Residence" by Madeleine Wickham from Chick Lit Reviews. (Deadline: September 4th)
Win "Hometown Girl" by Michele Ashman Bell from Linda Weaver Clarke. (Deadline unknown)
Win a copy of "Georgia's Kitchen" from The Book Chick. US/Canada only. (Deadline: TONIGHT at midnight EST)
A Bookworm's World has your chance to win Fragile by Lisa Unger. US/Canada only. (Deadline: September 5th at 6 pm EST)
Jane Porter is having a photo contest for a chance to win a fabulous prize package! (Deadline: September 30th)