Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Milly Johnson lightens things up and has a fun package to give away

Introduction by Gail Allison

**Giveaway is now closed**

Milly Johnson has been writing her whole life, whether it’s greeting card copy, poems and jokes, or the (almost) library of novels that she now has under her belt. She’s not afraid to be completely honest and candid with pretty much everyone, and takes life with a giggle as well as with a grain of salt. She lives with her two sons, one dog, and a whole herd of cats in the middle of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She still writes the occasional greeting card, and uses her excellent command of the language to pen an engaging blog, as well as write new novels, and keep up with her fans and friends on twitter. Also, she has really cool hair.

We’re so excited to have Milly here with us today to talk about her new novel "An Autumn Crush," a story about how complicated relationships can really be. Juliet Miller is recently divorced and half-heartedly advertising for a roommate when she meet Floz, a copywriter who is also still raw from a hard breakup. When Guy (Juliet’s twin brother) meets Floz, he’s immediately smitten, while we also learn that Guy’s best friend Steve is harbouring a massive crush on Juliet. Anything this complicated can’t end well for everyone...or can it?

Pick up your copy of “An Autumn Crush” today, or better yet...enter to win below! Not only are there TWO books up for grabs, but also a lovely bag and some bookmarks for each winner. And best of all, the giveaway is open worldwide!

Visit Milly at her website and blog, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

The recipe is a lovely Delia Smith one which I found ages ago and it's a lovely light cake after all that richness - note it contains raw eggs!

110g of softened unsalted butter
175g golden caster sugar
4 large eggs, separated
grated zest and juice of 2 large lemons
8 trifle sponges
275 ml double cream
3 tablespoons of lemon curd
1.2 litre souffle dish or pudding basin

1 - lightly oil the basin or dish
2 - beat the sugar and butter together until pale and fluffy
3 - beat the yolks of the eggs and add them them to the butter mixture, a little at a time inbetween more beating
4 - add the grated zest of the lemons plus all but a teaspoonful of the juice and blend
5 - whisk the egg whites until they are stiff peaks then fold into the creamed mixture

To assemble the cake
1 - split the sponges in half lengthways, then place a layer of them in the bowl followed by a layer of the mixture. Repeat finishing with a layer of sponge.
2 - Finally, cover the dish with foil, place a small plate on top to weight the cake down and leave in the fridge all night.

To serve
1- whisk the cream until thick and fold in 2 tablespoons of the lemon curd.
2 - loosen the cake round the edges with a palette knife, turn it out onto a serving plate and cover it all wih the cream.
3 - Gently heat the lemon curd in a small saucepan along with the reserved teaspoon of lemon juice and drizzle it over the cake just before serving
4 - scoff and enjoy!

Special thanks to Milly for sharing her recipe with us and her gift package with our winners!

How to win this "An Autumn Crush" prize package:
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: What is the craziest crush you've ever had on someone?
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. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

Giveaway ends December 26th at midnight EST.

41 comments:

Rachael Johns said...

That recipe looks DIVINE! My craziest crush was SEVEN years on the one guy - I only ended up going out with him for five months!!

I've followed the blog, am already a member on FB, have Tweeted and added the gorgeous Rebecca Sampson to the group :)

Jordan said...

I don't think I've had a crazy crush - just a million normal ones ;)

I follow the blog and I'm a FB fan.

jordanweber at live dot com

The Book Chick said...

I would love to win this- looks like fun!

jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

I had this crush on a guy in grades 7 and 8. I was borderline obsessed with him! I used to write our names all entwined, etc. Oh, young love, LOL!

I am a follower.

I am a Facebook member as well.

Marthalynn said...

This book sounds so good! Love all the twists that are in store. And that cake - wow. Looks very light and delicious.

I have had some massive crushes in the past that I would nurse for years. The craziest part is that they would eventually come to fruition in passionate turn of events. Very good memories!

I am a happy follower :)
marthalynn16 (aT) gmail (d0t) com

Literary Chanteuse said...

As I know I've mentioned a few times that I was trying to pursue a musical career some years back I have a crazy crush story that relates to that era. I was at a club which showcased local talent (rock bands to be precise) and there was this guy at the club who was gorgeous. I couldn't stop looking at him and my friend tried to coax me into approaching him and start conversation. I was too chicken. Anyway I was going for an interview for a new job the following day at a cool record store. (yes back in the record not cd days)Well guess who was the super visor that interviewed me. Yes the hottie! I was so glad I didn't try to pick him up as per my friends advice. I'm sure I was beet red through the interview but I did get the job and as it turns out he was a musician and we became good friends. I am a follower.

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Book and cake look fab. X yum

Sheena said...

I just finished reading A Spring Affair and loved it so I can't wait to read more of Milly Johnson:) Thank you also for the yummy recipe:)

I follow the blog and also am a member on facebook

Na said...

Crazy crush? In high school I had a crush on a senior and sort of followed him around everywhere lol. I even had my friends keep an eye out for him. I crushed for a year until he graduated. Those were the days...

GFC: Na
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ananda said...

OMG guys..seriously you have THE BEST giveaways AND THIS IS THE BEST BLOG!So so mean this:)
Ok,my craziest crush..when I was a kid I had a crush on my brother's friend..12 years older than me!lol Well I was just a kid,and he payed the guitar!!!OMG,why are you making me think all over about this?? lol

Tweeted about the giveaway
https://twitter.com/#!/BookstoRemember/status/149236386648694785

Don't have a facebook at the moment,but when I have one,you'll be THE FIRST I WILL FOLLOW:)

My e-mail address
love2slim(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Love ya lots and keep up the great work:) x x

StereoQueenBee said...

1. Please tell us: What is the craziest crush you've ever had on someone?

Now that I've really found love, all of my previous interests seem like crazy crushes!

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

Already follow this blog.

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

Facebook - Sabrina-Kate Eryou
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. Please read our posting guidelines, as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Am already a member.

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

Jeryl M. said...

I would like to read this book.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I had a crush on this guy I hardly knew and he went to a different college all through college.

I am a Facebook fan.

I am a subscriber.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Mary Preston said...

I had a crush on a teacher. Nothing bizarre or gross. Just a school girl crush.

I follow.

FB: Mary Preston

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

would love to win
grahams.mum@hotmail.co.uk

my crazy crush is ongoing , Barry Gibb !

Nina said...

Now that's a good looking cake! Haha. The crazier crush I've ever had...would probably be Eric Stoltz. It's a lonely world out there for those few Eric Stoltz fans! ;)
nina565(at)aol(dot)com

Anjana said...

Heya!

Anjana Vasan

vasan.anjana@gmail.com

Already a follower!

Tweeted about it : https://twitter.com/#!/anjanavasan/status/149517668326703104

Facebooked about it too : https://www.facebook.com/anjana.vasan

Already joined you on FB!

Anjana said...

Oh & forgot to add, I've never had a crazy crush. Maybe the one I had on my older brother's hot best friend counts though :P

Jel said...

id love to win the book :)

punkme15 at gmail dot com

Jel said...

craziest crush was during elementary.
haha i would always do anything just so i could catch a glimpse of him lol

punkme15 at gmail dot com

Jel said...

im already a blog follower :)
GFC: Jel

punkme15 at gmail dot com

Jel said...

im already a group member on FB :)
FB Name: Maggy Diaz Oro

punkme15 at gmail dot com

Jel said...

shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/jelaiii_x/status/149811966393860096

punkme15 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

I don't think I ever had a crazy crush.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Carol N Wong said...

I can only remember one crush. It was for a boy who rode my school bus. Once I went to a different school, I forgot about him. Not too crazy!!

I am a follwer.

I posted this giveaway on my Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1802916392

I am already in the Facebook Group.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Kristen said...

Craziest crush? Jordan Knight. New Kids on the Block. Was obsessed at age 8. :)

I follow on email and FB!

kly(dot)327(at)gmail.com

mep said...

Would love to win -- mep AT nottobrag DOT net

I had a crazy crush on my high school religion teacher who is now a priest (I know student-on-teacher crushes are typical, but this one was crazy insofar as I really though we might end up together despite no reciprocal feelings from him -- the now priest).

I follow Chick Lit Central on Twitter (I'm @nottobrag)

Shannon said...

I would love to win a copy of An Autumn Crush!

I guess the craziest crush I had was on a lifeguard that was SEVERAL years older than me! Still think he's kinda cute!

Shannon
http://extremereadingandwriting.wordpress.com/
shannonabc123@gmail.com

Shannon said...

I follow your blog AND I posted about it on twitter!

Shannon
http://extremereadingandwriting.wordpress.com/
@shannonclark7

Silvy said...

Great giveaway!
My craziest crush was and still is with my husband we are in marriage
6 years and we are together 12 years.
Have a nice Holidays
My mail:
silvana(dot)veli(at)gmail(dot)com
Post on FB:http://www.facebook.com/vsilvana
Tweet:https://twitter.com/?iid=am-212786989413247663625453565&nid=22+dm_reply&screen_name=YummyRead&uid=417172847&utm_content=action#!/booksaremy

Vicky @ A Backpack Full of Adventures said...

Oh my, I'm in love with that tote bag! And the cake looks delicious, I'll make sure to try it =) Thank you for sharing!

Email: booksbiscuitsandtea(at)hotmail(dot)com but you can find me on Twitter or Facebook as well

+1: I don't think I've had a crazy crush unless being in love with someone who already had a girlfriend counts as one? =)
+1: I'm a GFC follower with this name and account
+1: I joined your group on Facebook
+1: I shared the giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/alouetteuette/status/151300398639087616

Melissas Eclectic Bookshelf said...

First entry: I'd love to be entered!
melissaseclecticbookshelf at gmail dot com

+1 My craziest crush was almost 7 years..we went out once and then met again 7 years later but only went out three times and it was caput!! lol

+1 I am a GFC follower! Melissa/Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

+1 I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/myeclecticbooks/status/151309270846148608

Krystal Lynn said...

miss_kris_11@yahoo.com

I had a really strange crush type thing on one of my professors last year. The bad part is, I dropped that class, need to take it again and he's the only one who teaches it there.

Blog follower
Reposting on twitter krystaldorkface
Group member on fb

=)

faithspage said...

Had the biggest crush on Donny Osmond (yep, i'm 40)
follow on gfc and fb

kyfaithw at aol dot com

Krystal Lynn said...

Oh, also brought Jaz Villegs to fb group!

ADR527 said...

My craziest crush lasted 16 years and it didn't end well.

I follow the blog, twitter and facebook.

adr52775 at aol dot com

Nancye said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

The craziest crush I ever had was during high school and I had a HUGE crush on a substitute in my school. He was SO cute!!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I like you on Facebook

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I Tweeted!
@NancyeDavis

https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/151521848608305152

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Facebook Post
FB ID: Nancye Epperson Davis

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/nancyecdavis/posts/133309543451020

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net