Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Splashing in the waves with Erika Marks...plus a book giveaway

Let’s give a warm welcome to Erika Marks. Her latest novel, It Comes in Waves, came out on July 1st. The first book of hers I read was The Guest House, which came out last year. I absolutely loved it. After that I ran to my library and took out her other two, The Mermaid Collector, and her debut, Little Gale Gumbo. Erika grew up in Maine and then went to New Orleans to study architectural preservation. She met and fell in love with her now husband, Ian, when they were walking their dogs on the levee in the rain. They now live in North Carolina with their two children. Before turning to writing Erika was an illustrator, an art director and a cake decorator.

Thanks to Penguin, we have one copy of It Comes in Waves for any US reader.

Visit Erika at her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Favorite thing about summer: 
No school schedule. My husband is a teacher so our summer routine means NO routine which is such a gift. Later nights, lazier mornings. I know how lucky we have it, believe me. But most of all, I treasure the time we have to be together as a family.

Annual summertime tradition: 
A road trip! Some summers we head north to see family and friends in Maine; other summers (like this one) we head west to visit my brother in Colorado. Usually we camp along the way and it’s always an adventure. I am a car nut—I love driving and I love the experiences that come with car trips and the open road. Our girls are still young and it’s important to my husband and I that we make the most of this time to explore the landscape together and show them that there are always new places to see and experience.

Favorite summertime food: 
My husband grows a wicked garden so my favorite summertime food would have to be the fresh salsa he makes from his tomatoes and peppers. Un. Real. I have been caught eating it by the spoonful. And honestly, I will put it on anything. Seriously. Name a food and I could almost guarantee I have covered it with his salsa.

Favorite summertime beverage:
Sangria, no contest. To me there is nothing more seasonal or festive than a pitcher of sangria and scooping out that wine-soaked fruit from the bottom of the glass. Blueberries, raspberries, chunks of nectarines, watermelon. Whatever’s in the fruit basket goes in.

When I go to the beach, I MUST bring these three things: 
Sunglasses, a good straw hat, and something to store shells in after an afternoon of beachcombing. I love to read at the beach, but with two little mermaids, there’s not a whole lot of time for books when the sand and surf are calling!

Favorite amusement park:
Growing up in Maine, we always went to Funtown in Saco. I haven’t been back for years but I have very fond memories of the rides, the loud music, the photo booths, and the sticky smell of cotton candy and fried dough.

Thanks to Erika for celebrating summer with us and Penguin for sharing her book with our readers.

~Introduction by Amy Bromberg

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


US only. Giveaway ends August 3rd at midnight EST.

20 comments:

Janine said...

We really don't have a summer tradition unless you consider me hiding in the house most of the day because it's too hot outside to do anything. Summer is the busiest time of year for my husband at job. So, there is no time for vacations or weekend getaways. I usually just wants to rest on his day off.

TinaB said...

We don't have any traditions. Just going to the pool, sleeping late, and hopefully a vacation.

Margie said...

We always have a family picnic at the lake. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Suzanne said...

My kids go to summer camp in Northern GA, that's our tradition!! Best gift we give our kids.

Erika Marks said...

Thank you all so much for letting me visit and answer these fabulous questions! I hope everyone's summer has treated them well and I love getting to read about all of YOUR summer getaways!

Mrs Mommy Booknerd said...

We do to door county Wisconsin every year for the week of 4th of July!!!

lbryant said...

We do the local library's summer reading program.

Linda G. said...

How about ice cream? Have you tried the salsa on that? ;)

traveler said...

a beachside retreat. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great read. Have you heard of ice cream bread?
Becky Prazak
rjprazak6@gmail.com

Melanie Backus said...

Our summertime tradition is a trip of some kind but this year it will be on hold until the fall. One of the things on my bucket list is to see the fifty states..... I lack four!!!!

mauback55 at gmail dot com

Bonnie K. said...

When the girls were little, we used to take trips to camp, sight-see and visit with family. My husband and I need to get back to taking road trips.

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

At this point in life, we don't ave any tradition. My on and his wife work and I take care of the dogs all day every day.

Britney Adams said...

We love to head to the lake in the summer!

Patricia said...

Building stuff in the sand.

pascale said...

we go to idaho every summer to visit my parents. My kids play in the stream, visit Jackson, horseback ride and relax. It is great

Anita Yancey said...

We don't really have any summer traditions. My husband works all the time and I spend a lot of time reading inside where it is cool. Thanks for having the giveaway.

jodi marinich said...

we always go to point pleasant with the kids for the rides

bn100 said...

going to the beach

Hailey Fish said...

Can't really think of one except just having huge get-togethers