Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Home and Away with Lori Nelson Spielman...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

When I met Lori Nelson Spielman a while ago on Facebook and checked out the premise of her debut novel, The Life List (reviewed here), I just knew I had to feature her on CLC. Not only is she friendly with a sparkling personality (doesn't her smile say it all?!?), but her book is fabulous! Today she is here to celebrate her pub day with us and kick off our theme for July, which is "Home and Away." Join all of us at CLC in wishing her lots of success with her novel. To get you started, she has one copy for a lucky US reader.

Lori lives in East Lansing, Michigan. A former speech pathologist and guidance counselor, she currently works as a homebound teacher for inner-city students. Lori enjoys fitness running, traveling, and reading, though writing is her true passion. She and her husband spend their winters cursing the awful weather up north, and their summers sailing the glorious shores of Lake Michigan. You can find her at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you so much for hosting me today on Chick Lit Central. I'm thrilled to be your guest.

Home:

Favorite room in your house?
We have a sunroom that’s used only when the temperatures rise above 60 degrees, which in Michigan, means less than half the year. Perhaps this limited access is precisely why the room feels so special to me…or maybe it’s the pale pink walls or the flowered cushions or the many windows. For whatever reason, each spring I can hardly wait to dust it off, throw open the windows, and curl up with a good book and a glass of wine.

Favorite local restaurant?
Our favorite go-to restaurant is DeLuca’s. It’s a cozy Italian place locally owned by the DeLuca brothers, featuring delicious but inexpensive traditional pastas—as well as a great Chianti. We’re on a first name basis with most the staff, which makes it wonderfully warm and welcoming—almost like being with family!

What would you do on a "staycation?"
Ah, what a great question. First thing I’d do is create an auto-reply saying I’m away from Internet for the week. Each morning I’d wake without an alarm and linger over coffee and some sweet pastry. I’d read books and go to movies, take hikes and go kayaking. And if I happened to get bored, I’d take a day trip to the west coast (that would be the west coast of Michigan). Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven…all are charming beach towns on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Away:

What place is on your travel "bucket list?"
Italy--the Amalfi Coast in particular. I’m in love with the pictures I see of pastel painted villas clinging to a mountainside that dips to the sea. I imagine sitting at an outdoor ristorante with red-checkered tablecloths, eating something decadent and drinking their local vino. (Hmm…three of these four questions involve drinking wine. Someone’s going to get the wrong impression!)

How do you prefer to travel: plane, train or automobile?
I’m a huge fan of road trips, but if time were no issue, I’d probably opt for the train. It’s less stressful than driving or flying, and it allows the freedom to move around and drink wine club soda. 

Where is the farthest location you've ever traveled to?
I cheated on this one and consulted www.distancetofrom.net. The winner is Switzerland, at 4,276 miles.

Thanks to Lori for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers.


How to win The Life List:
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 place is on your travel "bucket list?"
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 July 7th at midnight EST.



32 comments:

Tiffany Drew said...

I know it sounds kind of lame, but I'm dying to go to the Arkansas Diamond Park. Who doesn't want to go dig for diamonds?

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Unknown said...

I would love to travel to New Zeland!

What a beautiful cover!

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I follow the blog, facebook, pinterest, twitter.

pascale said...

Ithink my bucket list is france and italy, even though I have already visited both. I would like to visit with my kids.

pascale.poitras@verizon.net

I follow the blog
I am a friend on facebook

Nova said...

Las Vegas is on my bucket list! i just want to go one time and see the lights, hear the sounds, and pull that arm on the slot machine!
I follow the blog by GFC.
I follow the blog by email.
I am a fan of CLC on facebook.
I follow CLC on pinterest.
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Anonymous said...

Pamelalevis at Verizon dot net
Follow blog
Follow Pinterest
Follow twitter
FB friend
Posted on FB
Tweeted Giveaway

Jessica said...

1. Italy!
2. I follow this blog through GFC.
3. I tweeted this https://twitter.com/xxpaperhearts/status/352127053983789057
4. I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on facebook.
5. I follow through twitter and pinterest.

Thanks!
-Jessica M
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Lori Nelson said...

Love all the bucket list places, from Arkansas to Italy!

rhonda said...

Would love to go to Australia.lomazowr@gmail.com Twitter follower @rhondareads will tweet.

susieqlaw said...

Australia with long layovers in Hawaii!

sendsusanmail at gmail dot com

I follow CLC blog, Facebook, twitter, and Pinterest.

I tweeted this #giveaway at susieqlaw

Janine said...

There are many places on my travel bucket list. My dream is to travel the world. Gotta keep playing the lottery for that one to comes true. But, if I had to choose only one place, I believe I would choose Hungary. I would love to see where my family originated from. I have an online friend who lives there and posts some of the most beautiful pictures that make me want to go even more.

I enjoy following your blog and all social media sites that you're on.

Janine Rowe
kinini01@hotmail.com

JJT said...

Hawaii is on my bucket list. I follow on Facebook, Twitter and e-mail. jtretin at aol dot com

Connie said...

I have visited the UK a couple of times but have never been inland to Cornwell or to Scotland or Ireland. I would love to see those places.

I follow the blog via GFC, facebook and twitter.

conniecape(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

I love ancient history, so going to Greece is on my bucket list!

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

bjoneill@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

The coast of Italy is my bucket list.

I follow this blog.

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Kelly RS said...

I want to see the Dallas Cowboys play in Texas Stadium!

krshowalterATyahoo.com

EFC Chrissy said...

I want to go to Ireland.

I follow the blog, facebook, twitter, pinterest, email

everyfreechance@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to go to the Cayman Islands, as I recently learned their turtles are even more magical than the ones I saw in Hawaii :D

Follow on blog, fb, twitter, pinterest, and email.

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Hailey Fish said...

I have a few different places I want to travel on my bucket list: New Zealand, Italy, Ireland, France, Scotland and Germany. I'd like to take six weeks off and just sightsee, try new foods and meet incredible people.

I follow on Twitter/Pinterest

I'm a member of CLC on FB

fishiegirl22@yahoo.com

Mary Jo Burke said...

Paris.

maryjo(at)maryjoburke(dot)com

Kerry said...

Lately, the answer seems to be Paris, Paris, and Paris. But Nashville, too!

kerryingon [at] me [dot] com

thanks!

bn100 said...

Tahiti

I follow via email

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TinaB said...

Paris!!
I follow u on fb and pinterest
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Lisamarie said...

This book has been on my TBRlist for awhile (think I ran across a review in a magazine or blog)
The place on the top of my list to travel is Italy. It was the only place my parents wouldn't let me go to when I was in Europe.
Stateside it would have to Grand Canyons.
I am a CLC Blog, Facebook,Twitter & Pinterest Follower

tropicalsunlover05(at)yahoo(dot)com

faithspage said...

Italy!
follow on gfc, twitter, and fb
kyfaithw at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

I want to go to Barcelona, Spain.

I follow the blog
I follow on Facebook
I follow on Twitter

SuzyQ4PR(at)aol(dot)com

rubynreba said...

My ancestors came from Norway and Sweden and I would love to go there.

I follow on GFC.

Like you on facebook.

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karenk said...

Charleston, SC

i'm a follower!

thanks for the chance to read this novel.

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would like to go to Greece.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Lori Nelson said...

All these fabulous places make me want to pack my suitcase...and win the lottery!

Krystal Lynn said...

My travel bucket list is huge. I want to see NYC, Paris. Italy, Greece, Macchu Pichu, Seattle, San Fran and I really want to live in London. I love British music, British chick lit and the accents. I'd love it there.

miss_kris_11(at)yahoo(dot)com

I follow on twitter, facebook and the blog.

Melissa said...

Thanks to everyone for participating and telling us the locations on your travel bucket list! Hawaii is on my bucket list!

Thanks to Lori for visiting us and sharing her book with our winner.

Random.org chose one winner from all entries with contact info.

Congrats to Krystal Lynn!

Lori Nelson said...

Thanks everyone, for reading the post and leaving your great replies. I'm itching to travel now! I sincerely hope all of your dreams come true.

Congratulations, Krystal Lynn. You'll receive a signed copy.