Thursday, October 15, 2015

Elin Hilderbrand's winter wonderland...plus a book giveaway

Today I am thrilled to introduce our latest author interview, Elin Hilderbrand. Not only is she a full time mom, author, and member of her community, but she is also (thankfully) a Breast Cancer Survivor. What better way to celebrate her than in October, during Breast Cancer Awareness month. I have read every single book that Elin has written and I'm proud to call myself one of her biggest fans. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask Elin some personal questions and get to know a little more about her and what makes her so amazing. Melissa A and I were pleased to find out that she is a fan of Billy Joel, a musician we both love! Her latest novel, Winter Stroll, was published earlier this week. It is the sequel to Winter Street, which was published last year and is now on paperback. To celebrate, Little, Brown has THREE sets of both Winter Street and Winter Stroll to give away to some lucky US readers!

Thanks for joining us here at Chick Lit Central, Elin. We are so honored to have you! #mamastrong

Visit Elin at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

To which of all of your main characters have you felt the most connected? 
Of any of my main characters, I think I feel the most connected to Margaret Quinn in the WINTER STREET series. That's a current answer. I've been writing novels since before my kids were born so I personally have done a lot of growing and changing since my first novel was published; I've not only raised my kids into teenagers, I've gotten divorced, fought breast cancer and I'm in the midst of buying a big, beautiful house now. Margaret is a very busy, very high profile woman who sacrificed a lot of mommy time in order to focus on her career (she's the anchor of the CBS Evening News). I have my own guilt about being a working mother and so I made Margaret into a working mother hero as a guide to myself.

Do you have any writing rituals or superstitions when working on a new project?
Rituals: I write longhand, I work outside when the weather permits, if I'm inside and it's raining or gloomy I light candles in my Ted Muehling candlesticks which are very precious to me.

Do you listen to a specific playlist or band/artist when writing? 
I listen only to classical music when I'm writing. I was the same way in high school -- classical only during homework, otherwise I got distracted.

Do you have any hidden or odd talents? 
I know all the state capitals. And all of the presidents, in order.

Who has been the biggest inspiration to you in your life and why? 
I have a few heroes and all of them are self-made women, women who have done amazing things in their careers on their own: Diane von Fursternberg is a great example. Love her. She's gorgeous, strong, independent, successful, a mother and a grandmother, but most of all, she is herself. Her autobiography says it all: The Woman I Wanted to Be. I fell like I get closer to being the woman I always wanted to be very day -- still a few things yet to accomplish...

If you could time travel, what year(s) would you go to and why? 
As a 50th birthday present to myself, I'm planning on writing a novel called SUMMER '69 which will come out in summer 2019. I would love to be able to come back to Nantucket in 1969 and see how things were then. Luckily, I have friends in their 70s who still have sharp memories and who kept good photo albums...

Thanks to Elin for chatting with us and to Little, Brown for sharing her books with our readers.

~Introduction and interview by Melissa Patafio.

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 only. Giveaway ends October 20th at midnight EST.

35 comments:

Granny Loves to Read said...

The holidays!

Kristi said...

The thing I most look forward to in the winter is snowy weekends when I don't have to go out. Staying in my craft room with a dog at my feet, soup bubbling on the stove and nothing to do but read, craft and nap. Aaahhhh!

Janine said...

Warm fuzzy sweaters and thick socks always make me feel comfy and happy.

Unknown said...

Seeing just one beautiful snow, completely covering the trees and the ground with no tracks in the snow yet. Such a beautiful picture. No heavy snow on the wires to take the electric out, though. Oh, and give me a mug of hot coffee and a fluffy bathrobe and slippers with that.

Suburban prep said...

I love being able to "relax" moment and knit. I love seeing the beauty that is the snow after it has just fallen. I love ice skating.

Unknown said...

I ADORE Elin Hilderbrand. I loved Winter Street and can't wait to catch up with the Quinn family. I'm a native New Englander (Cape Cod), and relate to so many of her characters. I'm also the same age as Elin - and I'm super excited to hear about her 1969 book! Can I pre-order now???

In winter, I look forward to slowing down. I don't care for the cold weather and I pretty much say no to all invitations (except for Christmas parties), so I can hibernate!

Bonnie K. said...

What I love about winter is the cooler temperature ( we're still getting temps. in the 90s). It's a break from keeping the garden watered ( more so with the drought). I love the seasonal festivities of the holidays.
bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Staying in by the fire watching movies and reading books!

Anonymous said...

I love Winter with the light falling snow, making a snowman with my Grandsons. I also like reading a good book like yours in front of a roaring fire. Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. Linda May

Linda Kish said...

That's the one time of year I get to wear sweaters and jackets. (Except last year. I only had two weeks to wear them). And rain.

Holly said...

Getting to wear my cool boots.

traveler said...

Lovely scarves and reading inside a warm cozy home.

Milena M said...

Mulled vine, cosy fire and snow

Jen said...

My cozy blanket, dogs curled up next to me, a good book and watching the snow fly!

Margie said...

I like the holidays when the whole family is together. We like to take walks in the snow. Thanks for the giveaway.

Rita Wray said...

I look forward to Christmas and spending time with family.

jennifer.essad said...

our daughter's November wedding is what I'm looking forward to the most, it's going to be a quiet Christmas as she's moving to London

Carol Fragale Brill said...

Quiet afternoons with my hubby, reading while he watches sports, and a fire in the fireplace

Jennifer said...

I love snow! It's an event to have snow here, so I love it when the world stops (because everything closes), watching the pretty white stuff fall. :)

skkorman said...

I'm looking forward to the cooler weather and being able to turn off the AC and open the windows—South Florida, so it never gets really cold here.

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Wall-to-wall books said...

Hmm I don't really look forward to much in the winter actually! LOL
I am not a winter person.

But... In the month of Dec. I do all Christmas reading and post all Christmas book reviews on my blog and this is something I really look forward to every year!

westmetromommy said...

I love the long nights...perfect for reading!

bn100 said...

holidays

Anita Yancey said...

I look forward to getting ready for the holidays, and all of the decorating.

holdenj said...

Well, it gets a little old by March, but early in the season, I love those quiet mornings after a snowfall, before the plows come crashing thru the neighborhood.
Thanks!

SaucheyR said...

My absolute favorite thing in the winter is the quiet of a snowy morning. The best is when it occurs on a day off from work, where I can start a fire early and spend the day nesting.

susieqlaw said...

I love to listen to holiday music and to read.

Hailsbells said...

The first snow fall and Christmas because I get together with my family!

Martha Reynolds said...

As much as I don't like the shorter days, I use the 'hibernating ' time to write, read, cook.

Kimberly V said...

I look forward to all of the holiday treats.

Grandma Cootie said...

Even though we are preparing for all the holidays, it's a different pace than in the summer and a wonderful sense of anticipation.

Terri. said...

I love the snow and the holidays.

Kathylama said...

I love EVERYTHING about winter, especially the cooler weather!

Suzanne said...

Using our fireplace, and the holidays!!

Jeryl M. said...

I look forward to staying home and having a pajama day when its too cold to go anywhere.