Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Home and Away with Jenny Colgan...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Kathryn Hamilton

Life is sweet with Jenny Colgan

Give a warm CLC welcome to British author Jenny Colgan as she joins us today for a “Home and Away” Q&A. She is celebrating the US release of her novel Meet Me at the Cupcake Café and has a delicious giveaway to boot. (Because who can resist books about cupcakes?!?) You may not know Jenny Colgan, but you should definitely take the time to check her out. Born in Glasgow, Scotland and now residing in London, England, Jenny has already achieved considerable success with several novels under her belt and a nomination for the ICLM Hall of Fame in 2011. Her intriguing characters and wonderful humour have endeared Jenny to her numerous fans. It is no surprise that a delightful sense of humour is a trademark, given her background as a stand-up comedian. One glance at her website and I know this is an author I would get along with well (someone who lists Duran Duran as a favourite is aces in my books). Jenny's website makes her one of the most personable authors I’ve come across, as it promotes her as a person first and author second. Make sure you stop by to check out her yummy recipes and find out what makes her tick.   

Thanks to Sourcebooks, we have THREE copies of Meet Me at the Cupcake Café to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the US and/or Canada.

Visit Jenny at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Home

Tell us one feature that would be a must-have for the house of your dreams?
Oh, the house of my dreams would have a great big terrace leading out to a swimming pool and be really modernist with nothing in it. I do throw a lot of stuff out. My children are always looking suspiciously at the recycling bin and then back at their toy shelves.

Do you do any gardening? If so, what is your favorite flower to plant?
Nope, I have totally brown fingers, I'm a city mouse. Although we used to live in the Netherlands where of course tulips are very cheap and I loved having the house filled with them every day. My husband plants strawberries and tomatoes with the children.

What would you do on a "staycation?"
Ha, all the things I won't let myself do in the daytime (you have to stay focused as a freelance!). So I would eat toast, in front of the television.

Away

Where is the farthest location you've ever traveled to?
My husband is from New Zealand, so we go there quite often, but it's geographically far, not culturally far. The most interesting places I've been are Tokyo and Senegal. I love Miami in the US and Savannah, Georgia is totally stunning.

What is the first thing you like to do when you reach your destination?
As long as I'm staying somewhere safe, I always like to take my running shoes and have a jog. It's a good way to figure out the layout and where things are without looking like an obvious tourist, and it's really great for shaking off jet lag. Jogging round the Sydney Opera House listening to Coldplay tuning up their instruments was a recent highlight.

What is a must-have when you stay at a hotel?
I have to have a bath. More and more hotels are being built with just showers, which I understand, but to me a soak in a lovely foamy bath is an essential part of being in a hotel, and a great de-stresser from the new sights and sounds of travelling!

Special thanks to Jenny for chatting with us and Sourcebooks for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win Meet Me at the Cupcake Café:
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:
1.Please tell us: What is your favorite local restaurant?
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/Canada only. Giveaway ends July 8th at midnight EST.

43 comments:

Nicky Wells said...

Lovely interview ~ Love Jenny! Can't enter the giveaway as I'm on the wrong side of the pond but good luck to everyone who does. Rock on!

TinaB said...

My fave local restaurant is Tupelo Honey!
I follow on fb and pinterest
Brannanflooring@aol.com

Unknown said...

I'm from Indiapolis and my favorite loval restaurant is St. Emlo's. It's devine and only for very special occasions.

I follow blog, facebook, pinterest, and email.

sumsum085@aol.com

Lisamarie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisamarie said...

My favorite local restaurant is FIVE Bistro.

I'm a CLC blog, Facebook, Twitter follower.

Great interview!

tropicalsunlover05(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nova said...

my favorite local restaurant is Stone Hearth Restaurant in Elizabethtown, KY.
I follow CLC blog by email.
I am a fan of CLC on facebook.
I follow CLC on pinterest.
I follow blog by GFC.
sparkle40175@hotmail.com

rhonda said...

Favorite local restaurant is Angel Thai.I follow by email lomazowr@gmail.com&on Twitter@rhondareads rhondareadswill tweet&on Facebook

JJT said...

My favorite local restaurant is Eden Wok in New Rochelle, NY. I follow on FB. jtretin @ aol dot com.

Anonymous said...

My favorite local restaurant is La Fiesta. It's really good Mexican food.

I follow on FB, pinterest and Twitter

me_2_me2@hotmail.com

Fe Roberts

Jennifer L. said...

My favourite local restaurant is called Cornerstore. Great food, nice environment.
I follow on gfc as Jennifer L.
And I follow you on twitter as @jentamar.
jentam777 at gmail dot com

Mary Jo Burke said...

My favorite restaurant closed. I'm still searching for an alternative.

Unknown said...

celena-anne@hotmail.com
subscribed through email :)

bn100 said...

Don't have a fav local restaurant

I follow via email

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Donna E said...

donna(dot)durnell(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Think my favorite 'local' restaurant is Ted's Cafe Escondito. It's a mexican food restaurant in Oklahoma City and Tulsa in state of Oklahoma.
When we lived in Germany (1986 to 1990) my favorite was Mom's in the town near Spangdahlem AFB.

I've signed up to follow with email.
I found you on fb and joined the group.
I do not do Google Friend Connect, nor do I twitter/tweet or pinterest. And I'm not a blogger myself.
I did not find any other way to follow your blog (ie: Bloglovin or NetworkedBlogs)

my facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaMouse

loved the interview. we also lived in The Netherlands, 1979 to 1983, in Stein, down in the south near Maastricht.

Donna E said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I'm in SoCal and love this mexican restaurant called SuperMex.
I follow the blog
I follow on Facebook
I follow on Twitter

SuzyQ4PR(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

Great interview, I would love to visit New Zealand one day.

Favorite local restaurant is Carmella's, a little Italian bistro that always has a special gourmet cupcake available for dessert.

I follow by email.
CLC FB member.
I follow on twitter.
kumquat8 at hotmail dot com

EFC Chrissy said...

I have three favorite local restaurants...Echo (fine dining/bistro that serves local meats, cheese, produce, etc), Siba (they have the best spicy shrimp, spinach, mushroom bruschetta), and Springfield Grille (I love their house salad)

I follow email, blog, facebook, twitter, pinterest...All the way!!!

everyfreechance@gmail.com

rubynreba said...

My favorite local restaurant is Taylors in Marshalltown, IA.

GFC Follower

Like you on facebook.

pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

karenk said...

"speer street grill"

i'm a follower!

thanks for the chance to read this novel.

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Charlotte said...

Any Mexican restaurant.
I am a follower.
CABWNANA1@bellsouth.net

Linda Kish said...

My favorite local restaurant is Gyros & Kabobs

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Kelly RS said...

El Charro - they have the best Texas Margarita's! Love to hang out with my ex-co-workers - talking "work" or just fun stuff!

Kelly RS said...

"blond at work" forgot my e-mail

krshowalterATyahoo.com

pascale said...

My favorite local restaurant is Mama Teranos. My family is SICK of it, as I want to go every night, and also for lunch whenever I can. Really good, satisfying italian food.

This book sounds good: love cupcakes!

I follow facebook, the blog (on both the RSS that comes right into my inbox AND on Bloglovin, my newest discovery.

pascale.poitras@verizon.net

Happy 4th of july weekend!

Tiffany Drew said...

My favorite local restaurant is Yangtze, yum!!!

GFC: Tiffany Drew
Twitter: @enterthedrew
FB: Tiffany Drew
Pinterest: Tiffany Drew
Tweet: https://twitter.com/enterthedrew/status/353167067526074369

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Erica said...

My favorite local restaurant is Thai Nakorn. Great Thai food in Davis CA.

I follow the blog by and CLC by email, FB, twitter pinterest, GFC.

wordywon at gmail.com

DD said...

My favorite local restaurant is called Pepe and Chela's. DELICIOUS Mexican food!

dawndennis66611 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Osaka, a hibachi restaurant. Love it!

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

Bjoneill@hotmail.com

Krystal Lynn said...

Mama Lee's sould food in San Antonio. They're the best.

miss_kris_11 (at)yahoo(dot) com

I follow on twitter, facebook and the blog. :)

PoCoKat said...

Dinakis Medit Grill

Follower

FB

Pinterest

littleone AT shaw DOT cA

Kelly said...

moore79 at gmail dot com
fav restaurant is Strega in the North End, Boston

I follow on FB

Kritters Ramblings said...

Near our new house there is a mexican place - El Paso that I am loving right now.

kdurham2@gmail.com
i am a fan on facebook
i follow the blog and twitter - kdurham2

Unknown said...

Fav local eatery would have to be Augie's....they have the best tuna croissant and pasta salad!!

I follow on FB and twitter (@rozipozi)

rozimarsh@gmail.com

susieqlaw said...

My favorite local restaurant is Food and Friends.

I follow the CLC blog, facebook, twitter, and pinterest.

sendsusanmail at gmail dot com

live in USA

rhapsodyinbooks said...

My favorite local restaurant is called Corner Bakery.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Kerry said...

my email is kerryingon (at) me (dot) com

I follow via GFC!

Kerry said...

ooh and my favorite local restaurant is blossom (and blossom du jour) in NYC!

kerryingon (at) me (dot) com

Kerry said...

I follow via Twitter, as well.

kerryingon (at) me (dot) com

Anonymous said...

My fav rest is Herbert's. They have the best MX food.

I follow this blog.
I follow on FB, twitter, and pinterest.

melinda.garza15@yahoo.com

Melissa said...

Thanks for participating and telling us about your favorite local restaurant. Lots of Mexican restaurants amongst the responses.

Thanks to Jenny for visiting with us and Sourcebooks for sharing her book with our winners.

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

Congrats to:
45-bn100
74-Charlotte
86-Tiffany Drew

For more ways to win this book, visit Booking Mama and see the list on her post.

Connie said...

Congratulations to the winners! Enjoy!

Angela - Bookaunt said...

One of my favorite local restaurants is a place called Shells it is a nice seafood place.

I am a new follower via gfc, facebook and twitter

I posted the contest on twitter: https://twitter.com/griperang/status/358024835022077952

Thank you for the chance to win.

griperang at embarqmail dot com