Home and Away with Lori Nelson Spielman...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

When I met Lori Nelson Spielman a while ago on Facebook and checked out the premise of her debut novel, The Life List (reviewed here), I just knew I had to feature her on CLC. Not only is she friendly with a sparkling personality (doesn't her smile say it all?!?), but her book is fabulous! Today she is here to celebrate her pub day with us and kick off our theme for July, which is "Home and Away." Join all of us at CLC in wishing her lots of success with her novel. To get you started, she has one copy for a lucky US reader.

Lori lives in East Lansing, Michigan. A former speech pathologist and guidance counselor, she currently works as a homebound teacher for inner-city students. Lori enjoys fitness running, traveling, and reading, though writing is her true passion. She and her husband spend their winters cursing the awful weather up north, and their summers sailing the glorious shores of Lake Michigan. You can find her at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you so much for hosting me today on Chick Lit Central. I'm thrilled to be your guest.

Home:

Favorite room in your house?
We have a sunroom that’s used only when the temperatures rise above 60 degrees, which in Michigan, means less than half the year. Perhaps this limited access is precisely why the room feels so special to me…or maybe it’s the pale pink walls or the flowered cushions or the many windows. For whatever reason, each spring I can hardly wait to dust it off, throw open the windows, and curl up with a good book and a glass of wine.

Favorite local restaurant?
Our favorite go-to restaurant is DeLuca’s. It’s a cozy Italian place locally owned by the DeLuca brothers, featuring delicious but inexpensive traditional pastas—as well as a great Chianti. We’re on a first name basis with most the staff, which makes it wonderfully warm and welcoming—almost like being with family!

What would you do on a "staycation?"
Ah, what a great question. First thing I’d do is create an auto-reply saying I’m away from Internet for the week. Each morning I’d wake without an alarm and linger over coffee and some sweet pastry. I’d read books and go to movies, take hikes and go kayaking. And if I happened to get bored, I’d take a day trip to the west coast (that would be the west coast of Michigan). Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven…all are charming beach towns on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Away:

What place is on your travel "bucket list?"
Italy--the Amalfi Coast in particular. I’m in love with the pictures I see of pastel painted villas clinging to a mountainside that dips to the sea. I imagine sitting at an outdoor ristorante with red-checkered tablecloths, eating something decadent and drinking their local vino. (Hmm…three of these four questions involve drinking wine. Someone’s going to get the wrong impression!)

How do you prefer to travel: plane, train or automobile?
I’m a huge fan of road trips, but if time were no issue, I’d probably opt for the train. It’s less stressful than driving or flying, and it allows the freedom to move around and drink wine club soda. 

Where is the farthest location you've ever traveled to?
I cheated on this one and consulted www.distancetofrom.net. The winner is Switzerland, at 4,276 miles.

Thanks to Lori for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers.


How to win The Life List:
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 place is on your travel "bucket list?"
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 only. Giveaway ends July 7th at midnight EST.