Kristina McMorris breaks box office records...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to have Kristina McMorris back at CLC today to celebrate the publication of her latest novel, Sold on a Monday. We've enjoyed her previous novels and are excited to read this one soon. Kristina is here to talk about movies today and she has one copy of Sold on a Monday to share with a lucky reader!

Since her debut, Letters From Home, released in 2011, Kristina McMorris' published works have expanded to include the novels Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, The Pieces We Keep, and The Edge of Lost, in addition to her novellas in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central. Her forthcoming historical novel, Sold on Monday, will be released September 2018. Rights to her books have also been sold to numerous foreign publishers, Readers Digest, Doubleday, the Literary Guild, and more.

A frequent guest speaker and workshop presenter, McMorris holds a B.S. in International Marketing from Pepperdine University. For her diverse achievements, she has been named one of Portland's "Forty Under 40" by The Business Journal. She lives with her husband and two sons in Oregon, where she is still sleep deprived but eagerly working on her next novel. (Bio adapted from Kristina's website.)

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Synopsis:
2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931, but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices.

For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined.

At the paper, Lillian Palmer is haunted by her role in all that happened. She is far too familiar with the heartbreak of children deemed unwanted. As the bonds of motherhood are tested, she and Ellis must decide how much they are willing to risk to mend a fractured family.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and the unexpected paths that bring us home. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Check out the book trailer, giving more info about the heartbreaking newspaper photo that inspired the book.

My top five favorite movies from my childhood:

Goonies: I mean, really. Who doesn't remember the Truffle Shuffle, One-Eyed Willy's cool ship, Data's gadgets, the skeleton pipe organ, or Sloth's obsession with Baby Ruth? The fact that it was filmed on the beautiful Oregon coast, just a few hours from my childhood home, made it all the better.

The Dark Crystal: From emaciated, murdering birds and gigantic cockroach-like soldiers to enslaved pod creatures who get their liquid "essence" sucked out, the elements of this Jim Henson film wasn't exactly made for the Muppet Show crowd. But the movie was visually stunning and wholly captivating. I absolutely loved it.

E.T. the Extra Terrestrial: Admittedly, after seeing this one as a kid, I started making Reese's Pieces trails through the house and even tried to rig my Speak & Spell to contact cute, squatty aliens in space. But then, who didn't?? Seriously, though. The first time I saw Elliott on his bicycle while soaring past that enormous, glowing moon, with that perfect score playing in the background, I was spellbound.

The Sound of Music: Every Thanksgiving weekend for years and years, I remember this sweet, corny, wonderful musical playing on TV. (With commercial breaks back then, it must have taken a hundred hours to watch.) To this day, part of me still wants to dance the Laendler with Captain VonTrapp, leap through the gazebo like Liesl, and pull strings in the Lonely Goatherd puppet show. In fact, a few years ago I even won the costume contest at a Sound of Music sing-a-long movie night. My fabulous character? The "Girl in the Pale Pink Coat" puppet, thankyouverymuch.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: I really, really wanted that golden ticket, folks. And to drink magical, floaty bubbles. And to watch Violet turn violet. But most of all, I just wanted to dance with the Oompa Loompas.

My top five favorite stupid movies:

Blades of Glory: This truly is the epitome of a great stupid movie. The "Fire and Ice" figure-skating routine alone is virtually impossible to watch without smiling and giggling, even as you're steadily losing IQ points.

Better Off Dead: Quotes from this classic have become staples in our house. Lines like: "Franch toast and franch fries." "Gee, I'm real sorry your mom blew up, Ricky." And our absolute fave: "I want my two dollars!"

Step Brothers: Yep, another Will Farrell movie, because ohmygoodness is that man funny. No matter how many times I see the collapsing bunk-bed scene, I burst into laughter, sometimes to the point of tears.

This is 40: Watching this right around forty years old, I found so many scenes utterly hilarious given the truth in them. I convinced my youngest sister and her husband to watch it too. At just thirty and with their first baby on the way, they declared it a horror flick capable of inducing severe depression and have apparently been cautious of my recommendations ever since.

Galaxy Quest: Here's yet another one that is just so silly, but how can anyone not laugh throughout it? Plus, the cast was phenomenal, Alan Rickman most of all.

Thanks to Kristina for visiting with us and sharing her book 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. 

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Giveaway ends September 3rd at midnight EST.