Thursday, May 30, 2013

Beatriz Williams' "Summer Catch"...plus a book giveaway

Photo by Marilyn Roos
Introduction by Gail Allison

**Giveaway is now closed**

We're so excited that Beatriz Williams is taking time out of her schedule to chat with us today. A graduate of Stanford University, with an MBA from Columbia, Ms. Williams spent the first few years of her professional life as a corporate and communications strategy consultant. These days she's taking her stay-at-home mom career to new heights, managing to not only write fantastic books like Overseas and her latest novel, A Hundred Summers, but also get the laundry done, and raise four children and a husband at the same time.

She's here to end ICLM on a high note, as she's sharing her casting choices for A Hundred Summers. And FIVE lucky US readers have a chance to win this novel, thanks to Putnam.

You can find Beatriz at her website, Facebook and Twitter.


A HUNDRED SUMMERS goes to the movies

It’s the question they love to ask you at cocktail parties: Who would you cast in the movie version of your book? And it’s the question that sends me straight to the bar to ask for a champagne cocktail, straight up, because why? Because for one thing, I’d hate to disturb the random workings of that cosmic pixie dust that changes books into movies.

For another thing, I have no idea. I know a lot of writers out there start with a picture in mind, a picture of a certain actor, and the character develops from there. Me, I still don’t really know where my characters come from (Mars? Venus? A galaxy far, far away?) but it’s certainly not the screen, whether small, silver, or eye-watering HD surround-sound. Trying to turn an actor into the character you see so clearly in your mind? Really, really hard.

Nonetheless, I’m told it’s International Chick Lit Month this May, and we’re celebrating with a “goes to the movies” theme, so I’ll take a deep breath, invoke the holy spirit of hot buttered popcorn to ward off any jinxes, and plunder the IMDb for the perfect matches.

Emily Blunt as Lily Dane. She’d have to work on her American accent, of course, but Blunt has Lily’s sweet and winning shyness––and her hidden inner strength––down cold. I also love the way her looks can migrate from mousy to radiant, as she proved in her vibrant turn as the young (and romantic) Queen Victoria.

Alexander SkarsgĂ„rd as Nick Greenwald. At first, this choice seems counter-intuitive: Skarsgard is blond and Swedish, Nick is dark-haired and Jewish. I’d also argue that Skarsgard is a little more sculpted than my mental picture of football-hero Nick. But he’s really tall and radiates intelligence, and of all the actors out there, he’s one of the few who can pull off the retro-cool reserve of the older Nick. Look, as long as I’m allowed to visit the set...

Olivia Wilde as Budgie Byrne. It’s the eyes that got me first, those magnetic icy blues against the dark hair, exactly as I pictured them. Budgie’s sensual and stylish and scheming, and not only is Wilde beautiful enough to own the role, she’s also quite capable of being a naughty, naughty girl.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Graham Pendleton. To be honest, I’ve never been much of a Leo fan, though I did like him in Catch Me If You Can. He always seems like the eternal teenager, without enough heft in his solar plexus to make my heart go gathump. On the other hand, that’s Graham all over: Beautiful, glamorous, modelizer (or the Thirties equivalent of, at any rate). And after seeing him poised on the diving board in The Great Gatsby, hey, I wouldn’t kick him out of the cast for spilling crumbs.

Gwyneth Paltrow as Aunt Julie. Now that Paltrow’s hit the big 4-0, she’s earned dibs on the really interesting parts, and Lily’s beautiful and clever Aunt Julie has all the snappiest lines in the book. I can see Paltrow, who grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and attended an exclusive girls’ school, capturing Aunt Julie’s vintage patrician bossiness to a well-honed T. Bonus: She already knows how to smoke cigarettes.

Well! That wasn’t so hard, after all. And after spending my afternoon Googling images of hunky celebrities and calling it work, I think I’m ready to apply for my CAA card and move to Hollywood.

Happy International Chick Lit Month, everyone!

Thanks to Beatriz for sharing her dream cast with us and to Putnam for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win A Hundred Summers:
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.)

1.Please tell us: What is your favorite summer themed movie (or one that takes place during the summer)?
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. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. 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 June 4th at midnight EST.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fav summer movie - Grease!

I follow this blog.
I follow on FB.
I ffollow on Pinterest.
I follow on Twitter.

melinda.garza15@yahoo.com

zEmfIrKa said...

Love the post! :) & would love a copy of A Hundred Summers! ;)

Favorite summer movie: You can't go wrong with Dirty Dancing, can you? I've seen it a million times, and can do so another million at least.

I just followed via GFC and on Twitter.

Also a RT of the post!

Thanks!

zemfirkablogs AT gmail DOT com

Rebe said...

Oooh, Dirty Dancing for sure! Also One Crazy Summer and Say Anything.

rwschwarz11ATgmailDOTcom
I follow at Twitter (@RebeLovesBooks)

Jeff Reid said...

We've added A Hundred Summers to Storycasting.com, where EVERYONE can post a 'cast'.

pascale said...

The first movie that comes to mind is Grease, but I also thought that About Last Night had some great summer situations going on!

I follow the blog and am a facebook friend.
pascale.poitras@verizon.net

The Reading Frenzy said...

Great Post Gail. I'm not in it for the giveaway I'll in fact be hosting one tomorrow. I'm just here to tell all who'll listen that Beatriz is an amazing storyteller I picked her debut Overseas as my best of 2012-http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-20-best-books-of-2012.html
And I gave A Hundred Summers a Top Pick for RT

so if you haven't had the chance to read her do it!!

Nova said...

Favorite summer movie is:Stand by Me.

sparkle40175AThotmailDOTcom

I follow this blog by email.
I follow CLC by GFC.
I follow CLC on pinterest.
I am a fan of CLC on facebook.

rubynreba said...

A very old movie - A Summer Place
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I am a follower on GFC
Follow on facebook
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

TinaB said...

I love Stand By Me & Dirty Dancing!!
I follow u on fb and pinterest
Brannanflooring@aol.com

Unknown said...

My favorite Summer Movie is the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants. I follow this blog and am I member of the Facebook group. I follow on Pinterest and Twitter.

sumsum085@aol.com

Connie said...

I’m a big sucker for humor which is another reason I ADORE Chick Lit. Therefore without a doubt, my favorite summer movie has to be National Lampoon’s Vacation. I chuckle just thinking about it!

I follow this blog
I follow on Facebook
I follow on Twitter
Will post on Facebook
Will share on Facebook with my friend, Leah Weller

Connie Fischer
conniecape(at)aol(dot)com

Connie said...

I’m a big sucker for humor which is another reason I ADORE Chick Lit. Therefore without a doubt, my favorite summer movie has to be National Lampoon’s Vacation. I chuckle just thinking about it!

I follow this blog
I follow on Facebook
I follow on Twitter
Will post on Facebook
Will share on Facebook with my friend, Leah Weller

Connie Fischer
conniecape(at)aol(dot)com

Mary said...

My favorite summer movie is an oldie but a goodie, Gidget with Sandra Dee and James Darren. Who doesn't love Moondoggie?!

I follow by GFC, email, Twitter and Facebook.

mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com

Book Mama said...

My favorite summer movie would be Grease.

I follow this blog
I posted the contest on FB
I'm a member of CLC on FB
I follow on Pinterest and Twitter

mengel2@nycap.rr.com

rhonda said...

Dirty dancing LOVED LOVED LOVED it.email follower lomazowr@gmail.com Twitter follower@rhondareads will tweet.fb follower.

Bonnie K. said...

The Standlot is a good summer themed movie for kids. It may be stereotypical but awe---the summer break from school. :)

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

I follow the blog.

Shared on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnie.karoly/activity/10151440359245233 and twitter: https://twitter.com/grobiemum/status/340228966583521281

I'm a member of Chick Lit Central.

I follow on twitter: @grobiemum

Rita Wray said...

I love all the old beach movies with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon like Beach Blanket Bingo.
I follow by email, Facebook

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Preet said...

1.Roman Holiday is my favorite summer movie. I love Beatriz Williams's casting choices. It'll be interesting after reading the book to see if I can picture the same people in those roles.

2.I love this blog and follow it.

3.I tweeted about this contest.
https://twitter.com/chanpreetsingh/status/340237018254688256

4.I'm a member of the facebook group.

5.I follow Chick Lit Central on twitter.

I loved the post and will be keeping my fingers crossed! Thanks ladies!

kaur_chanpreet(at)hotmail(dot)com

karenk said...

'grease' w/ Olivia newton john & john Travolta

i'm a follower

thanks for the chance to read this novel.

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Mary Jo Burke said...

A Room with a View. I love the fact you are raising your husband too.

Mrs Mommy Booknerd said...

Where to start? There are so many good ones....

Say Anything, One Crazy Summer

Follow here, Pinterest, FB
Mrsmommybooknerdsbookreviews at gmail.com

bn100 said...

Sisterhood of the traveling pants

I follow the blog

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I have to go with Dirty Dancing, too.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Favorite summer movie: Dirty Dancing
I follow this blog.
CLC member
Follow on twitter.

EFC Chrissy said...

My favorite summer themed movie - WOW!! So many to choose from but the first one that pops into my mind is Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

I follow the blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Email. I just can't get enough!! :)

everyfreechance@gmail.com

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

Gotta go with Dirty Dancing here! I am a child of the 80s...

I follow through GFC, FB, and Twitter!

missamberljohnson at gmail dot com

Tiffany Drew said...

How about Sweet Home Alabama? I love that movie!

GFC: Tiffany Drew
FB: Tiffany Drew
Twitter: @enterthedrew
Pinterest: Tiffany Drew
Tweet: https://twitter.com/enterthedrew/status/340609627672690688

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I love "500 Days of Summer" and "Before Sunrise." Such a great films!

I am a follower of the blog
I follow CLC on Facebook
I follow on Twitter

suzyq4pr at aol dot com

Erica said...

Summer of 42.

I follow this blog by email.
I follow on FB.
I follow on Pinterest.
I follow on Twitter.

Also tweeted the contest!

wordywon at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I'd have to say Grease is my fave summer movie.

I follow the blog
I'm a member of CLC on Facebook
I follow on twitter

bjoneill@hotmail.com

faithspage said...

Dirty Dancing
Safe Haven
Message In A Bottle
I follow on fb, gfc, and twitter

kyfaithw at aol dot com

Jeryl M. said...

My favorite summer themed movie is Dirty Dancing.


I am a subscriber.

I am a facebook follower.

I am a Twitter follower.

I am a pinterest follower.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Melissa said...

Thanks to everyone for participating and talking about your favorite movies with a summer theme. I think if this were a contest, Dirty Dancing would take the prize. Who can resist Johnny not putting Baby in a corner?!?

Thanks to Beatriz for her visit and to Putnam for sharing her book with our winners.

Random.org chose FIVE winners from all entries with contact info.

Congrats to:
9-zEmfIrKa
104-Chrissy TheEveryFreeChanceReader
110-Amber @ A Little Pink...
130-Erica (wordywon)
135-Bridget O'Neill

Connie said...

Congratulations to the winners! Enjoy! :-)

zEmfIrKa said...

Thank you! :)