Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Amy Hatvany speaks the language of love and has a new book to give away!

**Giveaway is now closed**

A big congrats goes out to Amy Hatvany and her novel "Outside The Lines" (reviewed here) whose pub day is TODAY! Born in Seattle, Amy is the youngest of three children. She graduated with a degree in sociology from Western Washington University in 1994. Her career plans changed when she realized most sociologists are unemployed. In 1998 after pursuing several jobs, including decorating wedding cakes (YUM), she decided to take the plunge and start writing books. Amy's first two books, "The Kind of Love that Saves You," and "The Language of Sisters," under her previous last name "Yurk." Amy's third novel, the fabulous "Best Kept Secret" (reviewed here) was published in 2009. When Amy is not writing you can find her cooking and indulging in some reality shows. Amy lives with her husband Stephan, her three children, Scarlett, Miles and Anna, and her two black lab mutts. Kenda and Dolcé.
Thanks to Atria Books, we have THREE copies to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the US.

To learn more about Amy visit her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Favorite Valentine's Day memory:
I was in third grade with a huge crush on a freckled, red-headed boy named Kelly. I made him a gigantic peanut butter cookie and wrapped it in foil, poking his name and a heart with a toothpick on the top. On Valentine’s Day, it took everything in me to give it to him on the playground, and when I did, he blushed furiously, but then told me he liked me, too! It was my first experience of many where I captured a man’s heart through his stomach.

Tell us how you met your husband:
On a dare from one of my girlfriends, I posted an ad on Craigslist (it was free, which appealed to my limited finances at the time, and this was before it got all weird and dangerous), and he was one of the two dates I went on as a result. We were married two years later, and affectionately refer to our meeting place as “Bargain Basement Match.com!”

Favorite date in a novel:
In Little Earthquakes, by Jennifer Weiner, when her character Becky, cooks dinner for her first date with the man who would eventually become her husband and feeds it to him. So, funny, touching, sweet, and romantic!

Favorite romantic movie:
Wow, that’s a tough one! I’m a total sap - just ask my husband - and love so many! I think a film that didn’t get nearly enough publicity was Definitely Maybe, with Ryan Reynolds. No, not just because of his abs - it was his amazing chemistry with Isla Fischer. The dialogue was smart and funny; I especially liked how the story tracked their friendship as it developed over the years. Their relationship seemed very authentic and these two flawed people eventually found their way to each other. Bonus that his character is a single dad to the sassy and charming Abigail Breslin. So good!!!

Favorite couple from a TV series:
Hands down, no contest, Jamie and Paul, from Mad About You. I miss that show so much - really one of the truest portrayals of what a marriage actually looks like when two people are dear friends above anything else. I swear the theme song plays in the background of our house.

Best movie kiss:
I have to go popular on this one - Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in The Notebook - their kiss in the rain. Swoon!!!

Tell us your dream date:
A trip to Lowe’s with my husband and an unlimited spending allowance! Seriously, I love me a home store, and one of the first things I did with my husband was help him pick out some new light fixtures for his house. It was such a great date - I think we grabbed a hot dog on the way out - wandering the aisles, dreaming of everything I’d buy to put in my dream house. The only thing that would have made it better was actually having the money to get everything I wanted!

Favorite moment from your wedding:
I can’t just pick one, so here are two! When my mother was walking me down the ramp of her deck (we got married in her amazingly lush backyard) and I started crying as I saw my husband waiting for me. She leaned over and, completely out of character, whispered in my ear, “Just think about all the good sex you’ll get to have!” So instead of crying, I bust out laughing.

Another moment - after the reception and most of our guests had gone, my husband and I stood up in front of our nieces, nephew and kids and sang “I’m a Little Teapot,” complete with dance routine. (No, we weren’t drunk - we are just the goofiest people on the planet.) My oldest niece had a camcorder running, so I’m sure it’ll be used against us someday.

Special thanks to Amy for putting a little romance into our day and to Atria Books for sharing "Outside the Lines" with some lucky readers.

How to win "Outside the Lines":
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 favorite couple from a TV series?
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.

US only. Giveaway ends February 13th at midnight EST.
For more chances to win, visit Chick Lit is Not Dead and enter by February 12th. (US/Canada only)

18 comments:

Poof...books! said...

Had the pleasure of listening to and meeting Amy last year at an Atria/Vernon library eventshe certainly touched everyone in that room. Would like to read her latest book.

Poofbooks(at)gmail(.)com

JennyJenD said...

What a great interview! Every time I read something new about Amy, I wish I lived close enough to meet her, because we both have much in common!

Fav Tv couple...hands down Ross and Rachel.

I follow the blog

I shared the contest on FB

I am member on FB.

jmndowing@gmail.com

Kristen said...

This is random, but I love Sheldon and Amy on Big Bang Theory. If those two crazies can find love, anyone can, right? :)

I follow on FB and email.

kly(dot)327(at)gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I can't wait to read this book! I already love following Amy on Facebook and learning about all the wonderful, delicious sounding things she cooks up in her kitchen but now I like her even more because she sounds just as sappy as me :). Thanks for the giveaway!

My favorite TV couple is, and will always be, Ross and Rachel from Friends. That is my all time favorite show!

I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).

I follow on Facebook (Colleen Turner).

Thanks!

candc320@gmail.com

Na said...

I've always like Tim and Jill from Home Improvement. Their banter and chemistry are so entertaining.

I just added this book on my wishlist the other day because the blurb really interested me.

Canada
I'm a GFC follower.
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I love Amy's favorite Valentine's Day story. I'm so glad it worked out for her and boy, did she learn a good lesson about boys and men...their stomachs are the way to their hearts!

Amy is awesome...smart, funny with simple, great taste and wonderful memories. Thank you for this great interview. I definitely want to read Best Kept Secret, it's been on my wishlist since I read about it last year and The Language of Sisters but Outside the Lines is my first choice of Amy's books!

1. Like Amy Jamie and Paul are my favorite TV couple, they're fantastic. I love Mad About You! It was such a great show.
Debra and Ray from Everybody Loves Raymond are pretty great, too.
2. I'm a follower of this blog...GFC and Facebook
3.Posted this contest on my Facebook page, Amy Meyer
4. I joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook - id: Amy Meyer

Thank you for this generous giveaway!
Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Lilian said...

1. Please tell us: Who is your favorite couple from a TV series?
Lily and Marshall from How I met your mother!

2. Already a follower~

3. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/circustoybox/status/166991954687696896

4. Joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook.

lilianxcheng AT gmail.com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win a copy of this book.

My favorite couple goes way back...Rob & Laura Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke show.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

bn100 said...

Great interview! The book sounds very interesting.

Ricky and Lucy

I follow your blog.

Thanks for the giveaway.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jeryl M. said...

This sounds like a good book.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

My favorite couple from a TV series is Alison and Joe from Medium because they seemed very real together.

I am a Facebook follower.

I am a subscriber.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jennifer said...

I'd love to win this book!
jfrazier1214@hotmail.com

rubynreba said...

Lucy and Ricky from the I Love Lucy show!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Follower

Member of Chick Lit Central on facebook

Leela FitzGerald said...

Great interview!
Fav tv couple : Castle and Becket, Derrick Sheppard & Meredith Gray, Mitch & Cam, Will & Alicia, there are so many!!!

I follow the blog
I tweeted

leela_fitzgerald(at)yahoo(com)

Tiffany Drew said...

Favorite couple is Ross and Rachel from Friends :)

GFC follower Tiffany Drew
Facebook member Tiffany Drew
Tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/168472033120878592

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

lkatzfey said...

Absolutely love Amy's books! I already have my ebooks but would love to win a copy:) I've retweeted the contest.

My favorite TV couple is Lorelei and Luke from Gilmore Girls.

@lkatzfey
lkatzfey at gmail.com

Donna J. Shepherd said...

Just started following the blog and on Facebook, and best way to reach me is through facebook. Love reading the interview!

Donna
http://www.facebook.com/donnajshepherd

Krystal said...

Classic, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. Also loved Ross and Rachel from Friends, Jim an Pam from The Office and Sookie & Bill on True Blood. :)

miss_kris_11@yahoo.com