The weather here in Chi-town has been unusually chilly this summer. Since I prefer cooler temps for running, this hasn't been a problem for me. However, not everyone shares my love of summertime highs in the high 60s/low 70s.Though the US, along with other countries around the globe, is currently experiencing summertime, today's CLC guest is in the middle of a rather cold winter. That's right, author Liane Moriarty lives in Australia, but that's not stopping her from celebrating the summertime season with us.
Liane hasn't always been a full-time writer. She's had a variety of careers including a stint in marketing and advertising. Liane is now a full-time author. In addition to writing a children's series, she has written six novels. One of those novels is the soon to be released, Big Little Lies. Thanks to Putnam (Penguin), we have FIVE copies for some lucky US readers!
So please join me in giving Liane a warm CLC welcome!
What makes summertime in Australia unique and special?
(First let me say I forgive you for making me think about summer when it’s FREEZING here in Sydney.) I decided to outsource this question, as I think only an outsider can say what’s unique about Australian summers, so I asked some expat friends from the UK. They rhapsodized for ten minutes straight about the beauty and wonder of our long Australian summers. “You Australians do everything outdoors in summer,” they said. “It’s such an outdoor lifestyle!” I felt proud as if I was personally responsible for our outdoor lifestyle (even though my husband has been known to say, “Put down that book and come outside!”). Then my friends began to chuckle at the elaborateness of our BBQs and picnics: the food, the equipment, the tablecloths, and I still felt proud but kind of embarrassed about the tablecloths.
Which book do you feel best embodies summertime?
The first book that came to mind was an Australian classic I read as a child called Ash Road by Ivan Southall. It was written in 1966, the year I was born, and it’s about a group of children who accidentally start a bushfire. I don’t remember much about the story except that it was completely gripping and terrifying and just thinking of it makes me smell summer in Australia.
The one thing I do during the summertime that I don’t do any other time of the year is:
Allow my morning-person husband to drag me and the children out of our beds early on a Sunday morning for a trip to the beach. “You’ll thank me!” he says, chirpily, annoyingly, but he’s right, it’s always worth it.
The second almond croissant for breakfast on the beach. (I don’t feel guilty about the first one. I had to get up so early for it!)
I know it’s summertime when:
I can’t touch the steering wheel in my car because it’s so hot.
Favorite summertime food:
Mangoes
Thanks to Liane for visiting with us and to Putnam for sharing her book with our readers.
~Introduction and interview by Tracey Meyers.
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Fresh Caramel Popcorn from Johnson's in Ocean City, NJ
ReplyDeleteI know this is boring and very predictable. But, my summertime guilty please is ice cream. I love ice cream and it's a great way to cool down on hot summer days.
ReplyDeleteToes in the ocean, wind in my hair.
ReplyDeletebonlyn55atyahoodotcom
Salt water taffy
ReplyDeleterjprazak6@gmail.com
Becky Prazak
Sitting outside and enjoying a cocktail or beer on tap.
ReplyDeleteGrilling in our backyard with my family. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWatermelon and sweet tea. Also, iced chai lattes from Starbucks.
ReplyDeleteEnjoying a summer shandy and reading as many books as I can.
ReplyDeleteIce cream!!
ReplyDeletepbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Lots of summer books!l
ReplyDeleteI live it southern california, so it seems that it is always summer... I do miss the change of season from the east coast.
ReplyDeleteSo, that being said, I love the summer book lists and all the new books of favorite authors that come out in the summer. LOVE THAT!
pascale.poitras@verizon.net
The sun on my face, sand between my toes, and a summer beach read in my hand
ReplyDeleteIn So Cal it's usually summer so there are few times of guilty pleasure centered around summer. I do love summer fruits and seem to make my diet consist of mostly them in the summertime.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
I love ice cream in the summer!
ReplyDeleteIce cream!!!!
ReplyDeleteFrozen margaritas
ReplyDeleteHuelsebusch@earthlink.net
Taking the day off work and going to an afternoon Cardinal game and drinking a few beers with a friend.
ReplyDeleteSitting in the sun
ReplyDeleteDon't laugh but I LOVE cold watermelon. It's so hydrating when you're hot and tastes just delicious.
ReplyDeleteCold grapes.
ReplyDeleteGoing to the beach and eating piping hot conch fritters with hot sauce and washing it all down with a frosty alcoholic beverage :). There is just something wonderful about the salt of the fritters and the sweet of the drink that gets me every time!
ReplyDeleteWell, it isn't really a guilty pleasure, but when I can, I love going to the ocean. Just thought of something, my guilty pleasure could be a nice glass of organic Eel River beer--I rarely drink beer.
ReplyDeletebluedawn95864 at gmail dot com
Watermelon, corn on the cob and steaks on the grill!
ReplyDeleteReading on the beach!
ReplyDeleteI love grilling with the family then we go down to our pond and go fishing. I'll take my book and read on the dock while they fish!
ReplyDeletereading when i should be cleaning..lol
ReplyDeleteIt's not guilty at all, it's ice cream. Mocha almond fudge to be exact. Delish!
ReplyDeleteFor me it is ice cream and sweet ice tea. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
Slacking off on the cleaning a little.
ReplyDeleteReading
ReplyDeleteReading on my patio.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Soft serve ice cream cones
ReplyDeleteWatermelon or an ice cold watermelon margarita!
ReplyDeletefishiegirl22@yahoo.com
Enjoying cocktails or wine outside and reading in the hammock
ReplyDeleteBarbecues and homemade ice cream !
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Ice cream!
ReplyDeleteReading on the beach, ice cream, grilling.
ReplyDeleteReading a paperback while sitting outside!
ReplyDeletesumsum085@aol.com
Iced coffee, book in hand! :)
ReplyDeleteBeth
Ice cream! Lots of ice cream :)
ReplyDeleteice cream
ReplyDeleteStaying in the air conditioning, sitting on the sofa or lying in bed, reading and sipping a cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteSitting outside anywhere (front porch, deck, beach, park, etc.) reading a good book.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite summertime guilty pleasure is a soft serve chocolate ice cream cone with rainbow sprinkles.
ReplyDeleteLazy mornings and donuts for breakfast!
ReplyDeleteSlurpees would be my guilty summertime pleasure! We have a 7-11 right down the street and any warm day gives me the perfect excuse to get one !
ReplyDeleteiced coffee!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGo to Colorado to escape the heat of Miami and enjoy intense family time. YEAH!
ReplyDeleteMy summertime guilty pleasure is binge watching a season of a fun show that I didn't watch when it originally aired ... not to mention binge reading (whether a series, an author's body of work, or a genre).
ReplyDeleteSitting outside with a big glass of lemonade, reading a book!
ReplyDelete