Home and Away with Jenny Colgan...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Kathryn Hamilton

Life is sweet with Jenny Colgan

Give a warm CLC welcome to British author Jenny Colgan as she joins us today for a “Home and Away” Q&A. She is celebrating the US release of her novel Meet Me at the Cupcake Café and has a delicious giveaway to boot. (Because who can resist books about cupcakes?!?) You may not know Jenny Colgan, but you should definitely take the time to check her out. Born in Glasgow, Scotland and now residing in London, England, Jenny has already achieved considerable success with several novels under her belt and a nomination for the ICLM Hall of Fame in 2011. Her intriguing characters and wonderful humour have endeared Jenny to her numerous fans. It is no surprise that a delightful sense of humour is a trademark, given her background as a stand-up comedian. One glance at her website and I know this is an author I would get along with well (someone who lists Duran Duran as a favourite is aces in my books). Jenny's website makes her one of the most personable authors I’ve come across, as it promotes her as a person first and author second. Make sure you stop by to check out her yummy recipes and find out what makes her tick.   

Thanks to Sourcebooks, we have THREE copies of Meet Me at the Cupcake Café to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the US and/or Canada.

Visit Jenny at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Home

Tell us one feature that would be a must-have for the house of your dreams?
Oh, the house of my dreams would have a great big terrace leading out to a swimming pool and be really modernist with nothing in it. I do throw a lot of stuff out. My children are always looking suspiciously at the recycling bin and then back at their toy shelves.

Do you do any gardening? If so, what is your favorite flower to plant?
Nope, I have totally brown fingers, I'm a city mouse. Although we used to live in the Netherlands where of course tulips are very cheap and I loved having the house filled with them every day. My husband plants strawberries and tomatoes with the children.

What would you do on a "staycation?"
Ha, all the things I won't let myself do in the daytime (you have to stay focused as a freelance!). So I would eat toast, in front of the television.

Away

Where is the farthest location you've ever traveled to?
My husband is from New Zealand, so we go there quite often, but it's geographically far, not culturally far. The most interesting places I've been are Tokyo and Senegal. I love Miami in the US and Savannah, Georgia is totally stunning.

What is the first thing you like to do when you reach your destination?
As long as I'm staying somewhere safe, I always like to take my running shoes and have a jog. It's a good way to figure out the layout and where things are without looking like an obvious tourist, and it's really great for shaking off jet lag. Jogging round the Sydney Opera House listening to Coldplay tuning up their instruments was a recent highlight.

What is a must-have when you stay at a hotel?
I have to have a bath. More and more hotels are being built with just showers, which I understand, but to me a soak in a lovely foamy bath is an essential part of being in a hotel, and a great de-stresser from the new sights and sounds of travelling!

Special thanks to Jenny for chatting with us and Sourcebooks for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win Meet Me at the Cupcake Café:
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.)

Bonus entries:
1.Please tell us: What is your favorite local restaurant?
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. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends July 8th at midnight EST.