Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Interview with Sarah Jio and book giveaway

By Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

Sarah Jio is a debut author for 2011, featured on The Debutante Ball blog (where Sarah Pekkanen was featured last year). She has an amazing new novel that just got published a few weeks ago, called "The Violets of March" (reviewed here). She is also a health and fitness blogger for Glamour magazine and a mother of three (she and I had our new babies in the same month, but she probably lost all the baby weight faster than I ever will). Her next novel, "The Bungalow" will be released in the spring of 2012. We hope she'll come back to visit us then, as I have enjoyed our conversations!

She's here today to talk about "The Violets of March" and other fun topics and she has a copy of this novel to give to one lucky reader in the US or Canada.

If you want to know more about Sarah Jio, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, or at her blog.

Watch the trailer for "The Violets of March," which totally captures the feel of the novel:



What inspired you to write "Violets of March?"
I was both inspired by my love of Bainbridge Island (I grew up a few miles from the island)--it is truly a beautiful and unique place—and also a song called “The Waters of March,” which was actually the early title for the book. The song, sung by the late Susannah McCorkle, was so gorgeous that I decided I had to imagine a story that would be fitting for it, and so ... The Violets of March was born!


How did you find time to write with two young boys to chase after?
Good question! I wrote in bits and pieces, which wasn’t easy! I would get a few pages written when they watched Sesame Street in the morning and more done during the nap out. I also limited my TV watching to just about zero. It’s amazing how much writing you can get done at night if you limit TV time and really discipline yourself. Fortunately, I happen to love writing, so it felt a little like playing. I should also add that I have a very supportive husband who is a child-wrangling pro! (You should see this man! He can juggle the 2 year old, 4 year old, and baby all by himself—and everyone is happy!)


What was your journey to publishing like?
I started off in magazines, so this helped me exercise my creative muscles daily. I write for a long list of women’s magazines, including Glamour, Real Simple, Redbook, Health and others. It was a natural progression to move to novels. I’ve been a reader forever and have always had stories brewing in my head. I finally just sat down and started writing them!


Any advice for aspiring novelists?
My favorite advice to give is to only write what you’re passionate about. If you are not 100 percent smitten with your novel idea, if it doesn’t keep you up at night and haunt you during the day, then readers won’t be captivated with it either.

If "Violets..." was made into a movie, who would play the lead roles?
Ooooh, such a fun thing to daydream about. I haven’t given much thought to all the characters, but I’d really love for Rachel McAdams to play Emily!


Who is your celebrity doppelganger?
This is a toughie, but I have been told that I resemble Charlize Theron, and yes, it totally made my day!


How did you celebrate Mother's Day this year?
I got to sleep in, which was lovely. And, I made vanilla bean cupcakes with my boys and then we went out for dinner as a family. They made me feel like a queen all day!


What's one thing that made you laugh out loud recently?
Oh, probably something that my 2 year old, Russell, said. He’s a born comedian. He makes up silly words and whispers them in my ears all the time to make me giggle. I just love the boy.

Special thanks to Sarah for this interview and for providing a book for the giveaway.

How to win "The Violets of March":
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 (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: Who is your celebrity doppelganger?
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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.)
Be sure to remind them about editing their settings. :)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends May 24th at midnight EST.

38 comments:

Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice said...

So glad to see Sarah Jio here (I follow the Deb's Ball as well). I'm excited to hear she has another book in the works. Congrats!

http://vinobaby.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vinobabys-Voice/161003207282858

I've been told my celebrity doppelgangers are Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, and Nicole Kidman. It's only because of the hair, but I LOVE all those people who said that anyway.

I am a follower of your blog and your facebook page.

Cheers!

Lindsay said...

Just started a book club and I chose this book to start with! Would love to win a copy.

lindsayDOTcastnerATgmailDOTcom

Lindsay said...

I am a follower of this blog

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I haven't found my celebrity doppelgänger yet

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow the blog via gfc

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow via facebook

Unknown said...

I have read some wonderful reviews of this book and love Sarah's story about what inspired her to write the Violets of March book!

Thank you for this great interview and a chance to win Sarah's book!

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'm a follower of this blog through GFC.

I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on Facebook (Amy Meyer)

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Kat said...

I don't really think any celebrities look like me, but perhaps the closest is Tina Majorino.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

I follow the blog.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

Posted on FB.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

I am a member of CLC on FB.

ladykathryn@rogers.com

PoCoKat said...

I really can't say that I have a celebrity doppelgänger.

littleone AT shaw DoT ca

PoCoKat said...

Belong to Chick Lit Central on FB

littleone AT shaw DOt ca

PoCoKat said...

Posted contest to my FB page.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

RivkaBelle said...

I've heard so many wonderful things about this, it's definitely on my To Read list!

quarterback.girl[at]gmail[dot]com

Extra entries:
+1 Celebrity twin is Anne Hathaway, esp when I cut my hair the same way she has hers :o)

+1 I'm a follower!

+1 Member of Chick Lit Central on fb (as RebeccaMFleming)

+1 Added friend to Chick Lit Central on fb (KristinaMichelleHardy)

Jeryl M. said...

Sounds like a good book.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Nina said...

I've heard a lot about this book! I like to pretend my celebrity doppleganger is Victoria Beckham but it's all lies! ;)
nina565(at)aol(dot)com

Jeryl M. said...

I don't think I have a celebrity doppleganger.

I am follower of this blog.

I am a facebbook fan.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Qandthebooks said...

Ooh, thanks for the giveaway!

Uhm, celebrity doppelganger, uh I don't think I have one either.

Oh and following via GFC!

blissfulrains(at)yahoo(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

When I was much younger, Jaclyn Smith.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

karenk said...

thanks for the opportunity to read this fabulous book


karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

i'm a follower :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Jennifer said...

Ive been reading some great things about Sarah's book and would love to win a copy.

jmndowning@gmail.com

i am a follwer on fb and twitter.
I've been told (many times) that I resemble Tina Fey. And I take that as a total compliment, because I think shes beautiful.

Anonymous said...

I don't have a celebrity doppleganger. :(
I would love to read this book though!
musicalfrog at comcast dot net

Shannon said...

Thank you for including me.

I'm a follower. =)
tiredwkids at live dot com

JHS said...

1. My celebrity doppelganger is Darth Vader.
2. GFC follower
3. FB member.

JHS
Colloquium

jhsmail at comcast dot net

Colleen Turner said...

I cannot wait to read this book! I will be getting it no matter what but winning a copy is always good :)! So cute that her son makes up words and whispers them to make her giggle...my son does that with jokes. They make absolutely no sense but that is what makes them so funny :).

candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I have had a number of people tell me I look like the main singer from the Dixie Chicks....it is the stunted little nose :). I wish I looked like Cherlize Theron!

candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).

candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a Facebook follower (Colleen Turner).

candc320@gmail.com

a real librarian said...

Thanks for the chance to win!! I was told once that I reminded someone of Demi Moore...now, that was YEARS ago!!
I also follow!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

Literary Chanteuse said...

This book is on my wishlist! Thanks for the giveaway!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

My celebrity doppelganger is kelly Martin. I have always thought we shared similar attributes. I am a follower on fb and the blog.

My e-mail is jenceyg@msn.com
I will post to both fb and my blog.

Gwendolyn B. said...

+1 I only wish I had a celebrity doppleganger! (And the celebrities are glad that I don't!)

+1 GFC Follower

Thanks for the chance(s) to win VIOLETS OF MARCH - I'm looking forward to reading it one way or another.

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

Absolutely have to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway.

I am not aware that I have a celebrity doppelganger. That would be kind of fun, actually.

I am a follower.

I joined your FB group.

http://susan-thebookbag.blogspot.com/
suzebomb(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks!!

StereoQueenBee said...

1. Please tell us: Who is your celebrity doppelganger?
Drew Barrymore

2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
Already follow!

3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

On FB and on Twitter (stereoqueenbee)

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. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
Already part of the group.

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com