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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Jane Green feels like a long lost friend...plus a book giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Does Jane Green really need an introduction? Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 11 years or so, there's no way you could miss her and her fabulous novels! (And if you really have been living under a rock, go out and get one of them today. We recommend starting with "Jemima J.") She was last here in July of 2010 to promote "Promises to Keep" (a real tearjerker and amazing tribute to her friend). Now she has come out with a wonderful new novel (reviewed here) called "Another Piece of My Heart" (or "The Patchwork Marriage" in the UK). It centers around a stepmother and stepdaughter relationship and how far they can push their limits with each other.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press we have THREE copies of "Another Piece of My Heart" to giveaway to some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

Vist Jane Green at her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Favorite movie about friendship:
Beaches. I watched it recently with my daughter, having not seen it for years, and both of us were in tears.

Favorite best friend of a chick lit novel main character:
I always loved the friendship Cath and Si had in one of my early books, "Bookends."

Favorite book about friendship:
Years ago I read a book called "Bilgewater" by Jane Gardam. The protagonist, who is something of an ugly duckling, finds herself mesmerized by the new girl in school, lighting up when she bestows her friendship upon her. It brought back the sweetness and pain of teenage friendships.

How did you meet your best friend? 
I don't have one best friend, but a handful of "sisters", and a couple of "brothers". Two in London, who I have known since childhood, and perhaps two or three here.

Three words to describe your best friend:
My friends all seem to share the same qualities: wise, calm, comfortable in their skin, and loyal. I have had many very close friends through the different stages of my life, but know that my core friends now will never change, even if new ones are introduced.

Did you ever have those best friend necklaces that split in the middle?
No.

Favorite inside joke with a friend:
One of my best friends growing up was a girl called Anna. We both have some bizarre memory of attempting to play a ridiculous game called "Are You There, Moriarty?", which entailed hitting each other over the head with a rolled-up newspaper. Neither of us had any idea why, eventually collapsing in giggles. 

The nicest thing your best friend has ever done for you:
When my twins had their tonsils out, it was followed by 10 sleepless nights, after which I was about to collapse. My husband called two of my closest, and I came downstairs to find them in my kitchen, banishing me from the house to go get a massage while they babysat. It was exactly what I needed.

Favorite destination for a girls weekend/trip:
I would go somewhere quiet and luxurious, with great spa treatments. I'd much rather curl up and talk than go out to party.

Was there ever a time where you thought you knew a friend but it turned out you didn't know them at all?
Living in Connecticut, I got back in touch with another very close childhood friend, now living in Manhattan. We had some lovely get-togethers, reminiscing, and I considered her, if no longer my closest, certainly a good friend. She accidentally cc'd me on an email, in which she was describing me to a colleague, and I remember standing in my kitchen and gasping, shaking as I read. I wrote back, letting her know I had received this, clearly by mistake, and found it ugly, tasteless, and illuminating. I wished her nothing but the best with her life. To her credit, she wrote back and owned it. Which sadly didn't change what had happened. 

Special thanks to Jane for her lovely answers to our questions. (And we're just hearing them in our head with her beautiful voice and liking them even more that way.) Thanks again to St. Martin's Press for sharing "Another Piece of My Heart" with our readers.

How to win "Another Piece of My Heart":
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: The nicest thing your best friend has ever done for you.
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 March 19th at midnight EST.


For more chances to win "Another Piece of My Heart," visit Chick Lit is Not Dead. (US/Canada only. Ends 3/18.)

44 comments:

  1. the nicest thing my bff has done for me (he is a guy im in love with haha) was to show on webcam a cute stuffed toy.. it made me smile that night because i was feelin really bad because i failed a subject :|

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. im already a blog follower
    GFC: Jel

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/jelaiii_x/status/179552327462682624

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. i have joined the group on FB as Jel Jell

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nicest thing a friend ever did? Probably lend me books!

    I follow here.

    I'm also on the FB page.

    elissadotbullard@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love Jane Green and would love the chance to win this book!

    jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

    -Friends have done so many kind things for me over the years, but my one friend brought me a basket filled with food when times were tough financially in my family- and I had only known her for a couple of days at that point! It's no surprise that she is one of my "besties" today!

    -I follow through GFC.

    -I am a member over at CLC on FB

    -This is posted on the sidebar of my blog over at http://book-chic.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1. I had minor day surgery on my shoulder and my friend took a couple days off work to hang out with me/take care of me while I was off. Was prettttty cool of her!

    2. I follow the CLC blog

    3. I posted to FB

    4. I belong to CLC on FB

    kewalker1972@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. The nicest thing my boyfriend has ever done was propose to me!! He proposed to me 2 days before Christmas Day, which is also my birthday nearly 6 years ago xx

    SAMANTHACLARKE45@YAHOO.CO.UK

    I already follow Chicklit Central.

    I am already a blog follower.

    ReplyDelete
  9. SAMANTHACLARKE45@YAHOO.CO.UK

    ReplyDelete
  10. The nicest thing my best friend has done for me was drive all day to come visit me for a few hours when I needed her.

    I'm a follower!

    cat123hen(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. My best friend drove up to Charlotte from Atlanta when I was going through a very difficult time without any hesitation and stayed for a long weekend.

    kdurham2@gmail.com
    i am a fan on facebook
    i follow via gfc

    ReplyDelete
  12. One of my friends would consistently visit me while I was going through chemotherapy after her work-shift. She would give my mom a break (who was always with me) and offer to take me home, get me whatever food craving I was having at the moment, and just talked me through the treatment everyday...it doesn't get better then that!
    nina565(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Follow on gfc, fb, and twitter
    kyfaithw at aol dot com
    Love Jane Green
    A good friend brought my grand mother a gift after she had colon cancer surgery, and the same friend came to my uncles funeral.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The nicest thingy best friend has done was in high school. You could buy singing valentines but she ended up finding me at lunch and singing one of her own to me since she forgot to buy me one.

    I'm a follower.

    abrown546@gmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm a follower :)

    mrspaulafranco@gmail.com

    The nicest thing my friends have done for me was get us VIP & meet and greets to a Gavin Degraw concert. We had so much fun that day :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I was without a car for two months and my friend chauffeured me around with no complaints.

    follower

    tweeted

    member of CLC on fb

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. When I had my first child, my husband was so tired, and was starting to lose it in the delivery room. My girlfriend steped in, and took his place, forever cementing a place in both my and my daughters heart.

    jmndowning@gmail.com

    I follow the blog on FB
    posted the contest on FB
    and
    tweeted about the contest

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love Jane's outlook on friendship. The nicest thing a best friend ever did for me was when I was having a minor breakdown because I didn't have anything to wear to a special event, she went out a bought me an outfit and surprised me with it. It was so unexpected and generous.

    i'm a follower :)

    marthalynn16 at gmail

    ReplyDelete
  19. After I had my baby my best friend made my family dinner then organized my other friends to help. I didn't have to cook for a week!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. The nicest thing is probably the surprise birthday party that she threw for me!
    Ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm a follower!
    Ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm a member of CLC!
    Ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nice giveaway! The nicest thing my BF has ever done would probably be the fact that she's just always there for me, which is amazing.

    readinginwinter(AT)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. thanks for the chance to read jane's latest novel.

    my bff is always there for me :)

    i'm a follower, too

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. sunnydaysrule AT hotmail DOT com

    The nicest thing I remember a friend doing for me is buying me a set of the first three Harry Potter books. Totally unexpected and so sweet.

    I am a follower of the blog, will post the contest on Twitter (@greenurlifenow), and am a member of CLC on Facebook.



    Bonnie

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am a follower of the blog and on twitter

    wordywon at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I would like to read this book.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. The nicest thing my best friend ever did for me was she indirectly introduced me to my husband.

    I am a Facebook follower.

    I am a subscriber.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. She helped me out taking care of my son after I had back surgery.

    I am a GFC follower

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. The book sounds very good

    My best friend packed up all my stuff and shipped it for me across the country.

    I follow the blog.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. My best friend has done a million nice things for me, we have been friends for over twenty years. But one of the nicest things she has ever done for me was go with me to my grandfather's wake and then take me out for ice cream after to help cheer me up.

    GFC follower Tiffany Drew

    Facebook member Tiffany Drew

    Tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/180049018502651904

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  32. 1. Please tell us: The nicest thing your best friend has ever done for you.

    Helped me move when a last minute emergency came up.

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

    A long time follower!

    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.)

    Already a member.

    queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

    I REALLY WANT TO READ THIS BOOK!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I've heard a lot of good things aboutg this book. THanks for the giveaway.
    -blog follower
    -follower on Facebook
    -my friend always sends me email and keeps me updated on her life
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  34. The nicest thing any of my friends have done for me is help with chores around the house when my mother has been ill.

    I am a follower on GFC, FB, and Twitter.

    jenceyg at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. My friend drove hours to take me across the canadian border so i could mail my stuff cheaply!!

    wordywon at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love, love, love Jane Green!

    Bonus:

    1. My BFF bought me coffee the other night on our weekly coffee date. Love her!

    2. Blog follower!

    3. Requested to join your group (Michelle German Garza)

    Thank you SO much!!

    leoandchelle at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. The nicest thing my friend did for me was to not only take care of me after a medical procedure where I had to remain flat on my back, but to take my cat to the vet to be put to sleep during that time, and help me get through all of it!

    I'm a blog FB, etc. stalker.

    jcsites2002 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I would so love to read this book
    thkanks
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. nicest thing was surprising me with a limo and fancy night out for my 30th birthday.

    I am already a follower.

    Vlopes@plymouthrock.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Would love to read Jane Green!

    I have a very good friend who was full of encouragement and advice at a bad time in my life during a very serious breakup.

    mcellen2006atgmaildotcom

    I follow on Twitter.

    ReplyDelete
  41. My best friend is amazing! We have been best friends for over 30 years. She is there for me for everything (& vice-versa)! The most recent nicest thing she did was to voluntarily come to the hospital when my husband was having surgery. The surgery was an emergency surgery that took place at about 8pm on a week night when she had to be up early for work. She sat with me the WHOLE time until the surgery was over and my husband was in recovery which was well after 10pm. I am so blessed to have the best friend in the world!

    GFC Follower

    I Tweeted
    @NancyeDavis
    https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/181925041791967232

    FB Post
    FB ID: Nancye Epperson Davis
    http://www.facebook.com/nancyecdavis/posts/3274428711475

    I like you on FB

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete