Monday, June 8, 2015

Laura Dave has nothing to "wine" about....plus a book giveaway

While Amy was working on these interview questions for Laura Dave (most likely while on her way to NYC), I was texting her that I was sitting next to Laura and drinking wine at that very moment. Laura definitely made a great impression on me during our first in-person meeting. She was so warm, welcoming, and always had a genuine smile on her face. She was happy just to sit with a group of bloggers (including myself) and dish about all the books that are out there. She was even asking for recommendations from us! I learned that she (like Amy and myself) is Jewish and got to hear about her experience "auditioning" for the Jewish Book Council. She also told us about her trip to Sonoma to do research for her latest novel, Eight Hundred Grapes, which was published last week with a gorgeous cover. (It will especially appeal to fans of the color purple.) We're pleased to welcome Laura to CLC today and to thank her in advance for the TWO copies of Eight Hundred Grapes that she's sharing with our readers in the US and/or Canada (courtesy of Simon and Schuster)!

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

Synopsis of Eight Hundred Grapes:

There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide…

Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.

But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.

Georgia does what she’s always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiancé is not the only one who’s been keeping secrets…
(Courtesy of Amazon.)


How did you come up with the title Eight Hundred Grapes?
We played with a lot of titles before settling on Eight Hundred Grapes! I kept going back to the effort that winemaking takes. I wanted to honor that, and I thought that a great way to to do was to actually say how many grapes - how much care - goes into every bottle.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably when I published my first short story. I was in graduate school and I remember getting the acceptance letter from The Gettsyburg Review. It was more like a: fix the ending and maybe we'll publish it letter. It was a great day.

What's your favorite love story? (Movie or book.)
So many! I love a love story. I also love a love story with humor infused into it. A great short love story that I adore is The Children Stay by Alice Munro. And I adore The Lost Legends of New Jersey by Frederick Reiken.

Do you have any writing rituals?
I listen to music while I write -- often I listen to the same song while I write on repeat.

If you could be a pair of jeans, what style would you be? Why?
Great question. I would want to be a pair of stilleto skinny jeans. So I would look good on everyone.

How do you feel about e-books vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?
You know, the nice thing about being an author today is that there are so many ways to publish and connect with readers. As long as people are reading and talking about books, I'm happy however they'd like to do it.

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

~Introduction by Melissa Amster
~Interview by Amy Bromberg

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




US/Canada only. Giveaway ends June 14th at midnight EST.

31 comments:

Janine said...

My favorite wine is a cab by Silverado.

Unknown said...

So many love stories, but 50 First Dates is my movie version. Probably book is Walking on Trampolines because there are so many kinds of love in that one. All with a nice chilled glass of white zinfandel. Ahhh.

Rosemary said...

Gamay Rouge by V Sattui is my favorite wine

cpr040304 said...

Labor Day. I loved the scene when he made the peach pie.

Suzanne said...

My favorite wine?? A great Freestone Pinot by Joseph Phelps! But then there is also anything from Truchard Winery and Buehler Wines too! Too many!!!

traveler said...

My favorite movie is Brief Encounter. saubleb(at)gmail(dot0com

Nova said...

my favorite movie is Serendipity and my favorite wine is French Lick white wine!

Linda Kish said...

I have always liked Love Story by Erich Segal.

Letty Blanchard said...

The Princess Bride is one of my favorite love stories. My favorite wine is MezzaCorona Pinot Grigio.

Anonymous said...

My favorite love story movie is Love Actually. Absolutely the best!!
Suzy
SuzyQ4PR(at)aol(dot)com

Holly said...

Casablanca.

Unknown said...

Okay, The First Husband is one of my favorite books!!! But I don't want to seem like a suck up by claiming Annie and Griffin's love story as my favorite:). SO I will go with Tommy and Jenna from I Love the 80's. And for a more current reference - Nick and Bex from the Royal We. And I love La Crema Chardonnay!

Unknown said...

My favorite wine is Electra moscato.

Bonnie K. said...

My favorite kind of wine are the reds--merlot and cabernet.

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

Carol Fragale Brill said...

I'm a fan of Frederick Reiken's writing, too. Loved The Odd Sea.
My favorite love story. . . That's a hard one, maybe Prince of Tides, or The Dive From Clausen's Pier,

Carl Scott said...

One of my favorite love stories, although it's not the only story in the book, is the romance between Doc and Suzy in John Steinbeck's Sweet Thursday, a continuation of the tales of Cannery Row. It's awkward and often uncomfortable, just like real romance but a lot funnier. Thanks

Viv V. said...

Wuthering Heights

Patricia said...

This one's so easy: Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Glenda said...

My favorite wine brand is Water 2 Wine -- they make it on site and don't add a lot of sulfides. I can drink it without getting a migraine!! If I had the money, I'd open my own location. :-D

bn100 said...

the notebook

Susan T. said...

My favorite wine is any bold Chilean red. I like my wine to have lots of character!

Suburban prep said...

I like Gewürztraminer wine

Cher B said...

I am completely under the spell of Outlander right now, but typically I'd say both the book by E.M. Forster and Merchant Ivory film "A Room with a View", absolutely stunning acting, costumes, sets and scenery on top of glorious story and prose. As for wine, I love Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut, though I am more often found trying something in the $15 range!

I really enjoyed Laura Dave's "The First Husband" and "The Divorce Party", so I am definitely looking forward to "Eight Hundred Grapes." Thanks for the chance to win!

Unknown said...

Favorite flavors: moscato, pink moscato, cherry 😁

Book Blogging Mom said...

The notebook

rubynreba said...

I like The Bridges of Madison County.

Anne said...

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Shelby N. said...

I love moscato! Lately I've discovered I like Reisling too.

Unknown said...

I love a nice glass of Zinfandel!

Kimberly V said...

I don't have a favorite for either, but I really enjoy friends-to-lovers and second-chance love stories.

BeckyMarie619 said...

My favorite love story from a book is from A Different Blue by Amy Harmon. Blue & Darcy!