Jane Porter's latest achievement... plus a giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today is like the first day of school for Jane Porter all over again, as she is celebrating the pub day for her latest novel, "The Good Woman" (reviewed here). We're thrilled to have her back at CLC on this very special day, as she is not only an amazing writer, but also kind and generous to all her fans. She's also had a big year with moving from Seattle to her new home in the greater L.A. area.

Just recently, I shared the link to one of our interviews with her and she said I was "a talented writer." That was such a huge compliment from such a wonderful author and I treasure it. I have a feeling that after reading any of her novels, up to and including "The Good Woman," you will have many compliments for her! She writes women with such heart and candor, making her readers feel like we could become best friends with them. She managed to turn an obnoxious society mother into one of my favorite of all her characters. Now THAT's talent! She mentioned to me about heading to the east coast when her next novel, "The Good Daughter" comes out in February. I hope to finally meet her then! (Of course, I'll probably end up being all starstruck!)

Since September is here, we're doing a back to school theme for the month. Jane is helping us kick it off and I think you'll be able to relate to what she has to say, on some level or another.

In addition to Penguin offering one copy of "The Good Woman" to a lucky reader in the US, Jane also has two surprise gifts to give away to a some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

To learn more about Jane and why I'm such a fan (and I'm not the only one here either), visit her at her website and blog, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Best year of school and why:
Sixth grade at Conyer with Mrs. Kearney. I only went to Conyer Elementary for one year and I was so very nerdy with my big thick glasses, stretchy pants, (my mom didn’t buy us jeans back then) and insatiable appetite for books. But Mrs. Kearney loved my writing and encouraged me which made me want to write even more. She also loved books and had reading contests throughout the year, and I won every single one. I shouldn’t brag, but since I was the last one always picked for PE teams I think its okay to share that I blew away the competition by reading a book a day....filled up the chart and another chart and then another chart with my little gold and red stars. And if that wasn’t enough, Mrs. Kearney even had the 6th grade class perform the play I wrote about the Bicentennial (1776-1976) and the entire school and all the parents came to watch. I got to help direct my own play and then I danced a solo midway, and thought all my dreams had finally come true. Until the cute boy I had the crush on came up to me back stage after my solo and asked me what that smell was. I sniffed myself and realized I smelled terrible. I was horrified. The cutest boy in my school finally noticed me....but only to point out I had BO!

Favorite movie about school:
I’m a product of the 80’s, so I’d have to go with The Breakfast Club.

Something you looked forward to every school year:
First day of school. I loved school. I was a geeky book girl and school made me nervous but I loved that new feeling you got on the first day of school, and laying your new clothes out and being so excited about having a new teacher and maybe a new student in your class.

Favorite sport to watch or play:
Although I swam my whole life, and was on a summer swim team every year, I wasn’t into sports until high school, and that’s when I discovered water polo. Not to play, but to watch. My older brother played and all the upperclassmen I had crushes on played polo and they had amazing bodies. Great back, shoulders and chests and so I became a score keeper for polo, and had lots of chances to check out all those backs, shoulders, and chests...

Favorite required reading book:
Probably something I read in American Lit or British Lit. An Edith Wharton novel, most likely. But then, I loved anything in an English class, just because I knew it was my thing, and I could discuss books forever....probably very annoying to all but those who love discussing books and themes forever.

Proudest achievement during your academic career:
I think I’m most proud of the year I spent as a foreign exchange student in South Africa with AFS. I went in the middle of my junior year of high school and returned in January of my senior year and it was so different from what all my friends were doing, and so hard, too. It was incredibly challenging and lonely and compelling as I started in a girls boarding school in Natal, and then bounced from family to family until I was placed with a young Afrikaaner couple in Krugersdorp, and spending so much time alone allowed me to read everything I could about South Africa and its history and literature, but it was almost too isolating. I don’t know that the year away was ‘good’ for me...but it definitely impacted my life, and changed me forever, so I am proud of that. Proud I stuck it out. Proud I tried to do something different while in high school.

Extracurricular activities you participated in:
I danced in all the high school musicals, and did community theatre, and ballet, and swam and wrote. And wrote. And wrote. Opinion pieces for the local newspaper, articles for the school newspaper, plays for my class to perform, poems for Teen Magazine, and essays for contests. I’ve always thought of myself as a writer, even before I started making money at it.

Jane is the one on the left

Did you go to any school dances? If so, which ones stand out the most?
I did not go to many dances. I actually never went to any dances where a guy invites you. I usually had to wait for the Sadie Hawkins dance so I could ask someone to go, and even then, the guys would turn me down. I wasn’t popular and I liked the wrong guys, had a big thing for unrequited love (even asked the same guy two years in a row to the Sadie Hawkins and he said no both times...I’m a very slow learner...) so my senior year of high school, my older brother who was already in college, had his best friend come home from USC and take me to my senior prom so I could go. Thank you, brother Thom, and thank you Chuck Winn!

Special thanks to Jane for a lovely interview and sharing treats with our readers and to Penguin for sharing "The Good Woman" with our readers. Jane is also giving away swag for anyone who buys "The Good Woman" between now and September 18th. Don't miss out!

How to win "The Good Woman":
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) If you live outside the US, please make note of that, as well.

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What was your favorite year of school and why?
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. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.


Book-US only. 
Treats-Worldwide
Giveaway ends September 9th at midnight EST.

Stop by Chick Lit is Not Dead to enter to win "The Good Woman," as well. (US/Canada. Ends 9/10.)