Kristyn Kusek Lewis plays favorites...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to have Kristyn Kusek Lewis back at CLC, celebrating the recent release of her sophomore novel, Save Me (reviewed here). She was last here in the summer of 2012 to talk about her debut novel, How Lucky You Are. Since that time, she has moved from North Carolina to the DC area, where her first novel is based. We know Melissa A. is excited to have such a great writer in her neck of the woods. 

Today, Kristyn is kicking off our first theme of 2015...Favorite Things! We've asked all authors visiting this month to make like they're doing a "Favorite Things" show like Oprah, where they could share the items that are special to them with the audience. Of course, to keep the posts a reasonable length, we've only asked for five items. And at the end of this post, we have something to share, as BookSparks has TWO copies of Save Me for readers in the US and/or Canada!

Visit Kristyn at her website, as well as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I was a huuuuuge “Oprah Show” fan. So much so (and this will date me) that a Valentine’s Day gift from my college boyfriend was once a big stack of VHS tapes on which he had taped hours and hours of the show for me. I of course never missed a "Favorite Things” episode, so I’m thrilled to offer five of my own.

1. Le Pens. When I write longhand, which I often do when I’m first starting a project, it’s either with a very, very sharp pencil or, more often, one of these beauties. I never formally learned how to write cursive because we moved to a new state after it had already been taught at my new school, so my handwriting is a distinctive mishmash that can look like a serial killer’s with the wrong pen, but Le Pens can make it actually look elegant, even when I’m writing fast.

2. Dr. Hauschka Lavender Sandalwood Body Moisturizer. For years, the first thing I did when I walked into a Whole Foods was find this on the shelf and put some on my hands out of the tester bottle, but I’d never actually buy it because I’m occasionally cheap and couldn’t justify a $40 bottle of lotion. My best friend and husband started buying them for me for birthdays and now I can’t live without it. The scent is to die for and it’s the perfect consistency—not too greasy, not too light.

3. Maldon Sea Salt Flakes. I’m salt-obsessed. I put this stuff on nearly everything I eat, even apples and pizza. Don’t knock it ’til you try it.

4. Spotify and/or Songza. I always have one of these apps going. For work, it’s usually classical or opera. When I’m running, anything goes—I’ve been listening to a lot of go-go music since moving back to the DC area. At home, we listen to a lot of classic soul music, a lot of southern rock and classic country, and I love Songza’s “Safe For Work” playlists because they’re then generally safe for my little kids, too.

5. iPad keyboard. Now that Word is available on iPad, I’ve stared actually writing with mine and this keyboard is a game-changer. I have the Anker Bluetooth Folio Keyboard Case.

Thanks to Kristyn for sharing her favorite things and to BookSparks for sharing Save Me with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US/Canada. Giveaway ends January 11th at midnight EST.