Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Jane Porter's latest achievement... plus a giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today is like the first day of school for Jane Porter all over again, as she is celebrating the pub day for her latest novel, "The Good Woman" (reviewed here). We're thrilled to have her back at CLC on this very special day, as she is not only an amazing writer, but also kind and generous to all her fans. She's also had a big year with moving from Seattle to her new home in the greater L.A. area.

Just recently, I shared the link to one of our interviews with her and she said I was "a talented writer." That was such a huge compliment from such a wonderful author and I treasure it. I have a feeling that after reading any of her novels, up to and including "The Good Woman," you will have many compliments for her! She writes women with such heart and candor, making her readers feel like we could become best friends with them. She managed to turn an obnoxious society mother into one of my favorite of all her characters. Now THAT's talent! She mentioned to me about heading to the east coast when her next novel, "The Good Daughter" comes out in February. I hope to finally meet her then! (Of course, I'll probably end up being all starstruck!)

Since September is here, we're doing a back to school theme for the month. Jane is helping us kick it off and I think you'll be able to relate to what she has to say, on some level or another.

In addition to Penguin offering one copy of "The Good Woman" to a lucky reader in the US, Jane also has two surprise gifts to give away to a some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

To learn more about Jane and why I'm such a fan (and I'm not the only one here either), visit her at her website and blog, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Best year of school and why:
Sixth grade at Conyer with Mrs. Kearney. I only went to Conyer Elementary for one year and I was so very nerdy with my big thick glasses, stretchy pants, (my mom didn’t buy us jeans back then) and insatiable appetite for books. But Mrs. Kearney loved my writing and encouraged me which made me want to write even more. She also loved books and had reading contests throughout the year, and I won every single one. I shouldn’t brag, but since I was the last one always picked for PE teams I think its okay to share that I blew away the competition by reading a book a day....filled up the chart and another chart and then another chart with my little gold and red stars. And if that wasn’t enough, Mrs. Kearney even had the 6th grade class perform the play I wrote about the Bicentennial (1776-1976) and the entire school and all the parents came to watch. I got to help direct my own play and then I danced a solo midway, and thought all my dreams had finally come true. Until the cute boy I had the crush on came up to me back stage after my solo and asked me what that smell was. I sniffed myself and realized I smelled terrible. I was horrified. The cutest boy in my school finally noticed me....but only to point out I had BO!

Favorite movie about school:
I’m a product of the 80’s, so I’d have to go with The Breakfast Club.

Something you looked forward to every school year:
First day of school. I loved school. I was a geeky book girl and school made me nervous but I loved that new feeling you got on the first day of school, and laying your new clothes out and being so excited about having a new teacher and maybe a new student in your class.

Favorite sport to watch or play:
Although I swam my whole life, and was on a summer swim team every year, I wasn’t into sports until high school, and that’s when I discovered water polo. Not to play, but to watch. My older brother played and all the upperclassmen I had crushes on played polo and they had amazing bodies. Great back, shoulders and chests and so I became a score keeper for polo, and had lots of chances to check out all those backs, shoulders, and chests...

Favorite required reading book:
Probably something I read in American Lit or British Lit. An Edith Wharton novel, most likely. But then, I loved anything in an English class, just because I knew it was my thing, and I could discuss books forever....probably very annoying to all but those who love discussing books and themes forever.

Proudest achievement during your academic career:
I think I’m most proud of the year I spent as a foreign exchange student in South Africa with AFS. I went in the middle of my junior year of high school and returned in January of my senior year and it was so different from what all my friends were doing, and so hard, too. It was incredibly challenging and lonely and compelling as I started in a girls boarding school in Natal, and then bounced from family to family until I was placed with a young Afrikaaner couple in Krugersdorp, and spending so much time alone allowed me to read everything I could about South Africa and its history and literature, but it was almost too isolating. I don’t know that the year away was ‘good’ for me...but it definitely impacted my life, and changed me forever, so I am proud of that. Proud I stuck it out. Proud I tried to do something different while in high school.

Extracurricular activities you participated in:
I danced in all the high school musicals, and did community theatre, and ballet, and swam and wrote. And wrote. And wrote. Opinion pieces for the local newspaper, articles for the school newspaper, plays for my class to perform, poems for Teen Magazine, and essays for contests. I’ve always thought of myself as a writer, even before I started making money at it.

Jane is the one on the left
Did you go to any school dances? If so, which ones stand out the most?
I did not go to many dances. I actually never went to any dances where a guy invites you. I usually had to wait for the Sadie Hawkins dance so I could ask someone to go, and even then, the guys would turn me down. I wasn’t popular and I liked the wrong guys, had a big thing for unrequited love (even asked the same guy two years in a row to the Sadie Hawkins and he said no both times...I’m a very slow learner...) so my senior year of high school, my older brother who was already in college, had his best friend come home from USC and take me to my senior prom so I could go. Thank you, brother Thom, and thank you Chuck Winn!

Special thanks to Jane for a lovely interview and sharing treats with our readers and to Penguin for sharing "The Good Woman" with our readers. Jane is also giving away swag for anyone who buys "The Good Woman" between now and September 18th. Don't miss out!

How to win "The Good Woman":
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.) If you live outside the US, please make note of that, as well.

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What was your favorite year of school and why?
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.



Book-US only. 

Treats-Worldwide
Giveaway ends September 9th at midnight EST.

Stop by Chick Lit is Not Dead to enter to win "The Good Woman," as well. (US/Canada. Ends 9/10.)

47 comments:

leonel said...

Freshmen High school year - that's when I solidified my friendships with people I am still close to this day

FB member, follower,

leonelescota at gmail

Carol N Wong said...

My favorite year of school was not in high school at all. I had moved from the city to a suburban area and most of the people were in cliques. I didn't like how brand conscious they were and how much social status mattered to them. Those were painful years for me.

My favorite year was my first year of extension in Indianapolis at I.U. No cliques and everyone mingled with everyone. The classes were small and the teachers were all Ph'd. One class only had five students. People cared for one another. I loved it.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow Chick Lit Central with GFC.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I tweeted this giveaway:

http://t.co/Kjw4M3w3

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I have already joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Carol Naomi Wong


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Booksnyc said...

My favorite year was probably Junior year of high school - it is when I first remember feeling confident and not so wracked with self-consciousness!

I follow on GFC
I posted this on my Facebook page (Colleen Brennan)
I joined CLC's Facebook group

Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

Christine A. said...

My favorite year was 1995, graduation.

FB (christine arcidiacono)
Chick lit follower (gfc-Christine A.

your1chef at aol dot com

Booksnyc said...

realized I forgot my email - ack!

booksncity (at) gmail (dot) com

Nina said...

What a great school picture!! Haha. :)
My favorite year of school was 11th grade. That was the year I finally started to discover who I was and stop caring about what people thought about me!
nina565(at)aol(dot)com

Jessica said...

1. I think senior year of high school was my favorite year because it was so relaxing and everything was about the seniors.
2. I'm a follower of this blog on GFC.
3. I posted this on twitter.
https://twitter.com/xxpaperhearts/status/243073355085922304
4. I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on facebook.

I love Jane Porter so much!

Thanks so much!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Maureen said...

My favorite year of high school was my senior year since I got my license and then a job where I made my own money.
I follow on GFC
tweet; https://twitter.com/MaureenCE/status/243078278037004290
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

runner10 said...

My senior year was my favorite. I couldn't wait to start college.

Csdsksds at gmail dot com

Mary said...

It was probably my junior year in high school. It was my second year as a cheerleader and I was also the head cheerleader. Good times!

I follow on Facebook, Twitter.

mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com

DD said...

I love Jane! My favorite year in school would have to be my Senior year in high school. I learned a lot about myself.

dawndennis66611 at yahoo dot com

traveler said...

I enjoyed Freshman High school year since that is when I met new friends. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

My senior year of high school because I could hardly wait to graduate and begin college. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Sharon said...

sharn3960 AT comcast DOT net

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):

1. 3rd grade - everything after that was very hard for me.

2. I'm a GFC follower of the blog.

3. I tweeted.

4. I'm a FB friend.

kribss said...

My senior year??? I was on the swim team and broke a school record and came 10th of a second in breaking another one! I was also MV Swimmer that year : )
[kribss@gmail.com]

DarcyO said...

My favorite year was senior year because I had classes I really enjoyed.

valleyreader at gmail dot com

DarcyO said...

I just started following with GFC.

valleyreader at gmail dot com

Lilian said...

1. Please tell us: What was your favorite year of school and why?
Freshman, when I still thought high school was easy...

2. GFC Follower: Lilian Cheng

3. Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/lilboxism/status/243116928850337793

4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook as Lilian Cheng

lilianxchengATgmail.com

DarcyO said...

I tweeted: https://twitter.com/darcy1956/status/243117181536190465

valleyreader at gmail dot com

Preet said...

kaur_chanpreet (at) hotmail (dot) com

I loved college. In college my final year is my best. I traveled quite a bit, met lots of interesting people, and it was the first time I was really away from home and able to be my own person.

I follow the blog (I get the e-mails daily). I have tweeted about the giveaway. Well I re-tweeted your tweet. Does that count?

Unknown said...

My favorite year was senior year in high school. I was a captain of the pom-pon squad, and we got to go to Dallas to perform at halftime of the Cotton Bowl. We had a blast!

I follow the blog

I'm a member of CLC on Facebook.

bjoneill@hotmail.com

Kristen said...

Junior year high school was awesome! No pressure of getting into college, just fun times. :)

I follow on FB and email.

kly(dot)327(at)gmail.com

Margie said...

Senior year was my best year. The classes were all interesting, and we started thinking about colleges.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

-follow by GFC
-Facebook fan

faithspage said...

Senior, because High School was over.

kyfaithw at aol dot com
follow on: fb, gfc, twitter, smoke signals and morris code.

Nova said...

Favorite year of school was my freshman year! A lot happened that year!
I follow CLC on facebook.
I follow the blog by email.
Sparkle40175@hotmail.com

Linda Kish said...

The eighth grade. I was living in a small town that year after moving out of Los Angeles and a horrible 7th grade experience. In 8th grade I went to a school with 4 room but we only used 3 since we only had 3 teachers. There were all of 72 student. I needed that to decompress from the previous year.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

bn100 said...

Congrats on the book! I'd say senior year because it was the easiest and funnest.

I follow the blog.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Mary Preston said...

My final year was amazing. We were treated like adults.

Follow & FB

INTERNATIONAL

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Eli Yanti said...

It was probably my junior year in high school, so many good friend and good teacher, so enjoy to go to school :)

fb member and gfc follower
shared on fb : http://www.facebook.com/eli.yanti.75/posts/112077158943412

eli_y83@yahoo.com

WW / International

Sheena said...

Senior year was my favorite year. I got to take all the classes I wanted to and gym wasn't one of them!

I follow the blog and am a member on facebook.

Sheena
wapneski@yahoo.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

My grade 8 year was awesome! I just had a great time making new friends and joined a rock band in my school with the hottest guys.

blog follower

tweeted

member of CLC group on fb

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

Shannon said...

Would LOVe to win! :)

Shannon
http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

shannonabc123@gmail.com

Kritters Ramblings said...

My favorite year of school was my freshmen year of college, experiencing all new things and meeting friends who would stand next to me at my wedding.

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

karenk said...

my favourite year in school was 6th grade...i got to ride a bus to school...every other year i was a 'walker'

thanks for the chane to read jane's latest novel

i'm a follower, too

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Marthalynn said...

Aww, my mom didn't buy me jeans in elementary school either! She had a thing for girls in dresses.

My favorite grade was probably 11th or 12th when I developed a sense of identity and self confidence.

I follow :)

marthalynn16 at gmail

Rita Wray said...

I went to school in Australia and my favorite was 6th grade. I had a really nice teacher.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Cyndee said...

My favorite High School year was 11th grade hands down. I was one of the section Editors of our Yearbook and I began as one of the "Library Student Worker" which meant I read new books and magazines that I shelved! I was in heaven..me a book-a-holic!Fun year!
Cyndee Thomas
cyndee.thomas0@gmail.com
Follower:RSS,Goodreads, Facebook CLC Member, Pinterest.

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

My favorite year of high school was probably my junior year. At this time I was able to play more varsity sports and finally felt like an important upper classmen, haha! :)

I'm a FB member, GFC follower and Twitter follower!

missamberljohnson at gmail dot com

Joan Carsten said...

My fav year of high school was senior year. I was on the newspaper staff and loved writing about what all the other seniors were doing.

Lisamarie said...

My senior year... I had a cushy schedule and I as training to be a veterinary technician on school time!

I'm CLC Blog & FB follower

Jeryl M. said...

My favorite year of school was first grade. I was friends with almost everyone in the class, and we still had a lot of time to have fun.

I am a subscriber.

I am a facebook follower.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Twisty J said...

My favorite year was senior year. I think the anticipation of what was to come, as well as just spending the year having fun with friends made it an exciting time.

FB follower and member
GFC Follower
twistingthelens@gmail.com

Linda Mc said...

Love Jane and her books. She is a great writer and so wonderful to her fans. As for me, my favorite year in school was my senior year in high school. I had such a great group of friends and we really lived it up that year and had fun.

csolinda(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

mrsmelissat@gmail.com
6th grade was my favorite because I was in a college production of Sound of Music