I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!
New giveaways:
Win "The Ice Chorus" by Sarah Stonich US/Canada only. (Deadline: October 4th at 6 pm EST)
Win "Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. US/Canada only. (Deadline: October 3rd at midnight EST)
More chances to win “Friday Mornings at Nine”:
* From Maria Geraci. (Deadline: Tonight!)
* From Girlfriends Book Club (Deadline: October 2nd)
Luxury Reading has paired with BookSparks PR to bring you a fabulous giveaway with chances to win books and a luxury blanket from Keiko Co. US only. (Deadline: October 22nd)
Win “Good-bye to All That” by Margo Candela from Colloquium. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: September 30th at 11:59 pm PST)
Jane Porter is giving away a special package to a friend or family member you nominate on her blog. (Maybe they’ll even share it with you!) (Deadline: Tonight at midnight PST)
Chick Lit is Not Dead invites you to Play Nooky with Liz and Lisa. (Deadline unknown)
Jillian Cantor is giving away an advanced copy of her novel "The Transformation of Things." See the sidebar of her blog for more details. (Deadline: October 3rd)
Win "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks from Readaholic. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: October 6th)
You can also win an audio copy of "Safe Haven" from I am a Reader, Not a Writer. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: October 18th)
Last chance! Win "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger and other great prizes from Regal Literary.
US only. (Deadline: October 2nd at 12:01 am EST)
Two chances to win "Simply Irresistible" by Jill Shalvis:
* From Bookhounds. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: October 15th)
* From Books with a Cup of Coffee. US/Canada only. No PO Boxes. (Deadline: October 4th)
Win "Out of the Shadows" by Joanne Rendell from Julie Buxbaum. (Deadline: October 4th)
Previously posted (still going on):
Win "A Weekend with Mr. Darcy" by Victoria Connelly from Chicklit Club. UK/Ireland only. (Deadline: October 4th)
Win a Kindle from Luxury Reading. (Deadline: October 4th at 11:59 pm EST)
Some opportunities to win "She's Gone Country":
*Also from Romance Author Buzz (Deadline: September 30th)
*Book End Babes also has your chance to win a copy of "She's Gone Country" (Deadline unknown)
Jane Porter is having a photo contest for a chance to win a fabulous prize package! (Deadline: September 30th)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Interview with Sarah Stonich and Book Giveaway
By Melissa Patafio
**Giveaway is now closed**
Sarah Stonich has been an artist-in-residence at numerous programs here in the U.S. and abroad. Her second novel “The Ice Chorus” was started while she was at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. Sarah has been inspired by her Irish contemporaries and credits Irish literature for having a major impact on her and her writing. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband.
Read on to learn more about Sarah, her writing, and what she enjoys doing in her free time! And when you're done, enter for a chance to win one of two copies of "The Ice Chorus."
What is your usual writing routine?
I write in the mornings as soon as I get up, often while still eating breakfast. If I don’t start then before my mind is polluted by the day, it’s tough to get going. By noon I'm written out.
You currently live in Minnesota, do you plan to stay there for good?
I’m actually on my way to British Columbia this very moment, for a long-awaited vacation, during which I hope to seduce my husband into thinking it will be HIS idea to retire there. Living on the ocean is on my bucket list. In a Minnesota January, your nose hairs freeze, so no, I'd rather not stay here for good.
What, if any, challenges did you face while writing your second novel “The Ice Chorus”?
Time, more than anything. Having a deadline and only two years to write a novel, and frankly I'm not that swift. But Minnesotans have reputations for being two things, nice and prompt. I’m prompt.
How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
Hiking, kayaking - I’ll be doing my first big ocean kayaking over the next two weeks, and hiking on the Pacific coast, and in Cathedral Grove - a massive stand of old growth forest. I love to cook, mostly because my husband consumes whatever I make him as if it were a gift. I’ve taken up stone building, of all things. It’s what we have most of in northern Minnesota, stone - and it provides weight bearing exercize, and since I'm getting to the age where I'm supposed to be concerned about bone density and muscle mass it might be more effective than say, scrapbooking...
You started writing in your 30’s and your first novel “These Granite Islands” was extremely successful. What was the journey to publishing like for you?
It was remarkably easy. I had a writer friend who hooked me up with an agent who was relentless. The challenge comes after two books, I’ve discovered. Third and fourth books hold much less interest to editors, and even though my newer books are better, they remain unpublished. I no longer have that first-time-author cachet, which is preferable to publishers than old horses like me. In the realm of nurturing authors' careers over the long haul, the larger publishers have grown increasingly short-sighted. If they had their way, every book would be a first book and every author a first-time author. Like puppy mills. Do I sound bitter?
You have been awarded a number of fellowships from places around the U.S. and abroad, can you tell us a bit about what exactly these fellowships entail?
Mostly they allow for time to write, and can be very validating - knowing someone believes in what you’re doing - so much so that they feed and house you and provide a space - is incredible. And, they are often in beautiful settings and places most writers could never afford to go to. They provide the rare chance to meet other writers. Women on fellowship seem to appreciate them more, I think, for all the reasons any mother can imagine (someone changing your sheets?!) I'm about to apply to one in Iceland. If I apply to ten, I might get one, so I'm usually up to my knees in applications, and it's a gamble, but it's worth it
Do you have any plans to return to Ireland in the future?
Not currently, but Scotland is on my list. I read a wild book from a Scottish writer, Michael Faber, “Under the Skin” and am now on a kick of reading Scottish authors. I'm rereading all of Kate Atrkinson right now. She's amazing.
I read that you always thought you would be a painter, do you still paint?
I gave up painting long before I realized I could engage my imagination better with words. There was always some hitch between my mind and the paint brush so that nothing ever came out exactly as I intended. Words were just better.
Did you celebrate when your first novel was published? Not formally, but I do have a picture taken shortly after my agent called with the news: I’m in my kitchen wearing yellow rubber gloves and my son has just placed a cheap tiara on my head. Quite apt, really: you sell a book and think the work is over, when it’s only just begun. That first journey into publishing was almost a fairy tale, and for a minute I did feel like a princess. Alas, no more tiaras.
What was your inspiration in writing “The Ice Chorus”?
I was in Ireland, and that was enough to make me want to set the book there. And I adored the people and their use of language and the fact that the average taxi driver was better-read by far than most Americans, and more politically astute about OUR politics, was humbling and embarrassing. George Bush had just been elected so everyone wanted to know just what were you people (wankers) thinking? Also, I'd just come out of a marriage much like Liselle’s, so there was that.
Some more pieces of information from Sarah:
*My memoir, "Shelter," will be out in March of 2011 from Borealis Books.
*My new unpublished novels are a departure from The Ice Chorus and These Granite Islands in that they are faster paced, more humorous and the protagonists are definitely less patient. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for those titles, Vacationland, and Fishing With RayAnne. Hopefully, readers will find them on shelves in 2012.
Special thanks to Sarah for doing this interview with me and for sending the books for the giveaway.
How to win "The Ice Chorus":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: Have you ever studied abroad? If so, where?
OR
2. Please tell us: What place (city, state, country, etc.) or culture inspires you the most?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Monday, October 4th, at 6 pm EST.
**Giveaway is now closed**
Sarah Stonich has been an artist-in-residence at numerous programs here in the U.S. and abroad. Her second novel “The Ice Chorus” was started while she was at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. Sarah has been inspired by her Irish contemporaries and credits Irish literature for having a major impact on her and her writing. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband.
Read on to learn more about Sarah, her writing, and what she enjoys doing in her free time! And when you're done, enter for a chance to win one of two copies of "The Ice Chorus."
What is your usual writing routine?
I write in the mornings as soon as I get up, often while still eating breakfast. If I don’t start then before my mind is polluted by the day, it’s tough to get going. By noon I'm written out.
You currently live in Minnesota, do you plan to stay there for good?
I’m actually on my way to British Columbia this very moment, for a long-awaited vacation, during which I hope to seduce my husband into thinking it will be HIS idea to retire there. Living on the ocean is on my bucket list. In a Minnesota January, your nose hairs freeze, so no, I'd rather not stay here for good.
What, if any, challenges did you face while writing your second novel “The Ice Chorus”?
Time, more than anything. Having a deadline and only two years to write a novel, and frankly I'm not that swift. But Minnesotans have reputations for being two things, nice and prompt. I’m prompt.
How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
Hiking, kayaking - I’ll be doing my first big ocean kayaking over the next two weeks, and hiking on the Pacific coast, and in Cathedral Grove - a massive stand of old growth forest. I love to cook, mostly because my husband consumes whatever I make him as if it were a gift. I’ve taken up stone building, of all things. It’s what we have most of in northern Minnesota, stone - and it provides weight bearing exercize, and since I'm getting to the age where I'm supposed to be concerned about bone density and muscle mass it might be more effective than say, scrapbooking...
You started writing in your 30’s and your first novel “These Granite Islands” was extremely successful. What was the journey to publishing like for you?
It was remarkably easy. I had a writer friend who hooked me up with an agent who was relentless. The challenge comes after two books, I’ve discovered. Third and fourth books hold much less interest to editors, and even though my newer books are better, they remain unpublished. I no longer have that first-time-author cachet, which is preferable to publishers than old horses like me. In the realm of nurturing authors' careers over the long haul, the larger publishers have grown increasingly short-sighted. If they had their way, every book would be a first book and every author a first-time author. Like puppy mills. Do I sound bitter?
You have been awarded a number of fellowships from places around the U.S. and abroad, can you tell us a bit about what exactly these fellowships entail?
Mostly they allow for time to write, and can be very validating - knowing someone believes in what you’re doing - so much so that they feed and house you and provide a space - is incredible. And, they are often in beautiful settings and places most writers could never afford to go to. They provide the rare chance to meet other writers. Women on fellowship seem to appreciate them more, I think, for all the reasons any mother can imagine (someone changing your sheets?!) I'm about to apply to one in Iceland. If I apply to ten, I might get one, so I'm usually up to my knees in applications, and it's a gamble, but it's worth it
Do you have any plans to return to Ireland in the future?
Not currently, but Scotland is on my list. I read a wild book from a Scottish writer, Michael Faber, “Under the Skin” and am now on a kick of reading Scottish authors. I'm rereading all of Kate Atrkinson right now. She's amazing.
I read that you always thought you would be a painter, do you still paint?
I gave up painting long before I realized I could engage my imagination better with words. There was always some hitch between my mind and the paint brush so that nothing ever came out exactly as I intended. Words were just better.
Did you celebrate when your first novel was published? Not formally, but I do have a picture taken shortly after my agent called with the news: I’m in my kitchen wearing yellow rubber gloves and my son has just placed a cheap tiara on my head. Quite apt, really: you sell a book and think the work is over, when it’s only just begun. That first journey into publishing was almost a fairy tale, and for a minute I did feel like a princess. Alas, no more tiaras.
What was your inspiration in writing “The Ice Chorus”?
I was in Ireland, and that was enough to make me want to set the book there. And I adored the people and their use of language and the fact that the average taxi driver was better-read by far than most Americans, and more politically astute about OUR politics, was humbling and embarrassing. George Bush had just been elected so everyone wanted to know just what were you people (wankers) thinking? Also, I'd just come out of a marriage much like Liselle’s, so there was that.
Some more pieces of information from Sarah:
*My memoir, "Shelter," will be out in March of 2011 from Borealis Books.
*My new unpublished novels are a departure from The Ice Chorus and These Granite Islands in that they are faster paced, more humorous and the protagonists are definitely less patient. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for those titles, Vacationland, and Fishing With RayAnne. Hopefully, readers will find them on shelves in 2012.
Special thanks to Sarah for doing this interview with me and for sending the books for the giveaway.
How to win "The Ice Chorus":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: Have you ever studied abroad? If so, where?
OR
2. Please tell us: What place (city, state, country, etc.) or culture inspires you the most?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Monday, October 4th, at 6 pm EST.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Book Review: I Heart New York
I do not "heart" New York, having lived by the "Big Apple" for two and a half years. However, I really enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of Angela Clark, a girl who runs away from her home in London after catching her fiancé cheating on her at her best friend's wedding.
Lindsey Kelk takes her readers on Angela's adventures throughout New York City in the first book of what looks to be a fun and entertaining series. After Angela arrives in NYC, heartbroken and unsure of what she wants, she spends a few nights at a hotel and becomes best friends with the concierge, who helps her acclimate to her new environment. She then meets two guys and starts blogging about her dates for a magazine. Meanwhile, she continues to figure out where her place is in life and where she should live in order to be happy.
I enjoyed this story, as it was light, entertaining and very feminine. It was like a night on the town with a new girl friend. I felt it was the perfect escape from work, motherhood and all the other things in life that can be overwhelming at times. It fed some self-indulgent fantasies and I found it ultimately satisfying to live vicariously through Angela. It made me want to tell everyone who has had a bad breakup, or even a bad day, to escape to another city and start over fresh! To top it off, there were some nice "romantic" scenes that left me blushing!
The only criticism I had was that Ms. Kelk's editor did not pay much attention to spelling and grammatical errors before sending this off to be published. (Lindsey, if you need a new editor in the future, please contact me!) Overall, I had fun reading this novel and look forward to reading "I Heart Hollywood" and "I Heart Paris." I just hope one day that Angela will "heart" Washington DC! (I'd be glad to give Ms. Kelk a tour if she needs inspiration!)
Winners of "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis"
In order to pick the winners, I assigned a number to each entry and asked Robyn Harding to pick two numbers at random.
Hello everyone,
Thank you for entering to win a copy of “Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis”. It was so much fun to read your comments about how you met your significant others! I’ve been asked to select 2 random numbers. They are: 21 and 49.
Congratulations to the winners and I hope you enjoy the book! (I hope the rest of you will get a chance to read it, too). And of course, a BIG thank you to Melissa A and Melissa P for the great interview and their great site!
Best Wishes,
Robyn
Congrats to Sarah and Sheila!
*There was a small change of plans because Sarah also received a review copy and realized she didn't need two of the same book. She graciously picked a new winner: #23. So, congrats to Pia!
Thanks again to Robyn for a great interview and for giving away the books and to Melissa P. for all her hard work with this interview.
Don't forget to enter our current giveaway!
"Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. US/Canada only. Ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
Hello everyone,
Thank you for entering to win a copy of “Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis”. It was so much fun to read your comments about how you met your significant others! I’ve been asked to select 2 random numbers. They are: 21 and 49.
Congratulations to the winners and I hope you enjoy the book! (I hope the rest of you will get a chance to read it, too). And of course, a BIG thank you to Melissa A and Melissa P for the great interview and their great site!
Best Wishes,
Robyn
Congrats to Sarah and Sheila!
*There was a small change of plans because Sarah also received a review copy and realized she didn't need two of the same book. She graciously picked a new winner: #23. So, congrats to Pia!
Thanks again to Robyn for a great interview and for giving away the books and to Melissa P. for all her hard work with this interview.
Don't forget to enter our current giveaway!
"Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. US/Canada only. Ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Winners of "Mini Shopaholic"
Thanks for all your participation. We had an amazing turnout for this giveaway. Nice to find so many "Shopaholic" fans!
To find the winners, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 3 and 82.
Congrats to Jonita and Pia!
Thanks again to Sharon and Alexandra from Random House for helping me coordinate this giveaway and providing the copies for the winners!
Don't forget to enter our current giveaways! Both are US/Canada only.
* "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. Ends TONIGHT at 6pm EST.
* "Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. Ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
To find the winners, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 3 and 82.
Congrats to Jonita and Pia!
Thanks again to Sharon and Alexandra from Random House for helping me coordinate this giveaway and providing the copies for the winners!
Don't forget to enter our current giveaways! Both are US/Canada only.
* "Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. Ends TONIGHT at 6pm EST.
* "Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant. Ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
Interview with Marilyn Brant and book giveaway
**Giveaway is now closed**
Marilyn Brant is a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer and national book reviewer. She is also the author of "According to Jane" and "Friday Mornings at Nine," which is being released tomorrow at book stores. Marilyn has traveled to 45 states and over 30 countries and now lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family. On Sunday, she will be participating in Wine, Wit and Lit along with Susan McBride and seven other authors. I had hoped to meet her in person during my trip to Illinois this past summer, but our schedules didn't connect. I have enjoyed e-mailing with her over the past few months and have had fun getting to know her through this interview. After you're done reading this and still want to learn even more about her, check out her blog, Brant Flakes. Marilyn has also been kind enough to give away one ARC of "Friday Mornings at Nine" to a lucky reader in the US or Canada.
What is the first thing you did the first time you got published?
On release day, we raced over to our neighborhood Borders to look at my debut novel, According to Jane, on the actual bookstore shelves. I took about a dozen photos: Of my husband and son with the book. Of friends (who stopped by to look, too) with the book. Of me with the book. Of the bookstore staff with the book. Of the book on its own... Then, of course, we celebrated with ice cream!
What is the inspiration behind "Friday Mornings at Nine?"
I've talked with a lot of women about their marriages -- and, in some cases, about their affairs. Sometimes these revelations came in the form of random comments thrown out unexpectedly. Other times they were a part of well thought out discussions about whether the women in question should or shouldn't stay married. I met my husband 20 years ago and we've been married for almost 18 of those years. I consider us to be happy, but I don't know anyone who's been married that long who hasn't experienced some ups and downs. I think the fortunate couples are the ones who keep choosing to be together and work on their relationships despite all of those years and the inevitable changes. Of course, it takes both people to do that, and it also takes a lot of time and effort. The individuals involved have to want to get to know these people they married (who may be different creatures than the ones they met a decade or more before), and they need to really pay attention to their own needs and desires, too. Sometimes, in the process of that kind of deep analysis, it turns out there was a profound disconnect somewhere along the line. In some cases, it's possible to reconnect. In others, not so much. So, essentially, I wanted to write a story about three women who have marital disconnects to some degree that makes them wonder what would have happened if they'd chosen differently. Then I wanted them to finally take the time to examine their lives so they could choose mindfully where to head next.
Who is your mentor?
Once I'd already written my first novel and entered the writing community, I was fortunate to meet lots of wonderful authors, many of whom helped and supported me through the business side of the industry and others who were excellent critique partners. I've never had a writing mentor for fiction, though, much as I would’ve loved one. I did have a few very encouraging teachers in high school and college, however -- my university English professor, Dr. Raymond Schoen, being one of them. I'll never forget Dr. Schoen advising me one afternoon with a phrase from Hamlet, “to thine ownself be true.” He also reminded me that “writers write.” He shared with me some of his personal poetry (I didn’t really understand it, but I appreciated his willingness to tell me about it and explain his own struggles over the lines) and, best of all, he possessed this amazing confidence that I would somehow, miraculously, figure out my life, especially once I stopped listening to “that nonsense from other people” -- LOL. As someone who wasn’t even 20 when I first met him, he seemed to require of me near-impossible bravery. But, when I’d pop in to visit him, I always knew I was in the presence of someone not only much older, but also far wiser than I. We kept in touch for many years, but he died in 2007 before I could tell him about my debut novel. I have no doubt he would’ve been pleased. though.
Did you run into any challenges or roadblocks while writing "Friday Mornings...?" How did you overcome them?
There were the usual writing challenges -- especially that pervasive author fear that I'd never finish it or it wouldn't make sense to anyone but me, etc. -- but the only really big hurdle was in trying to tell this story the way I'd wanted it to be told. I've read and enjoyed novels where thoughts of infidelity were contained to one woman's perspective and they were these really intimate, deeply personal portrayals. With "Friday Mornings at Nine," I wanted to feature three individual women but, also, show the group of friends as almost a 4th character. In fact, in my earliest draft, I even wrote the first chapter as "we" and "our" instead of "they" and "them" (i.e., "We met on Friday mornings at nine because that was when..." etc.). In the end, I decided to write those group chapters with more of a traveling 3rd person/omniscent point of view, but I hope it still gets across that, in a way, the group of friends are an entity onto itself.
If "Friday Mornings...." was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?
Hmm... I imagine someone like Kate Winslet for Bridget, Calista Flockhart for Jennifer and Kim Cattrall for Tamara. In any case, it's a cast I'd love to see together!
Is your relationship with your friends similar to or different from the relationship between the women in "Friday Mornings...?"
For the most part, it's different...and thank goodness! While my friends and I often get together for coffee to talk about our lives, just like the women in the book, the friends in Friday Mornings at Nine have a few things to learn, not only about each other but about themselves. (Big time!) I think they make a fair bit of progress during the course of the novel, but I also think it's pretty clear that it's difficult to be a good friend -- or a good spouse, for that matter -- if you're not examining your needs and your motivations with a clear eye. I've certainly been in group situations with other women where there were secrets and hidden agendas. Where the people involved still had so much personal stuff to work out that they couldn't be honest -- even with themselves -- about who they were and what they wanted out of their lives. By contrast, my friends and I, while we're hardly Zen-like creatures of calm and poise (although I can hear one friend saying, "What?! I am too Zen-like!"), we tend to be pretty straightforward with each other. We have varying levels of comfort when it comes to revealing deeply personal information, and our personalities are different, too, but we also know each other well enough by now to trust that we have each others' best interests at heart. That none of us would do anything intentional that might hurt another. That sort of trust allows for a great deal of candidness in our conversations. And while we spend FAR more time talking about baked goods than about any subject someone might consider racy (it's the truth -- talk of hot, muscular guys sadly takes a backseat to discussions about caramel brownies), I'm so grateful to them for being people who know the over-analytical geeky girl that I am and still want to spend so much time with me.
Do you have any future books in the works?
Yes! I just finished my 3rd novel, which will be out next fall. The title is still being debated, but it's kind of a modern "A Room with a View" story. This woman gets a summer trip to Europe as a 30th birthday gift from her eccentric aunt and, so, leaves her comfort zone to travel from Italy to England with the members of her aunt's Sudoku and Mah-jongg club. There, she inevitably meets someone very interesting (mmm!) and eats a lot of gelato and linguini (mmm, again!). And I just want to emphasize right here and now that the inclusion of these food items was *absolutely necessary* to the plot. MAJOR turning points happened as a result of my heroine devouring these things. And the fact that I had to eat them while I was writing these KEY scenes was equally necessary...so I could get, you know, the tastes and textures just right. I'm all about the authenticity. *grin*
What movie do you think everyone should see at least once in their lives?
You mean aside from the Colin Firth-as-Darcy version of Pride and Prejudice?! Hmm. I'd say The Scarlet Pimpernel (Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour version). It's got French Revolutionary history. It's got British guys in those very attractive tight pants, fitted jackets and cravats. It's got Anthony-as-Sir Percy saying things like, "Sink me, my dear. Did you expect me to challenge the Countess to a duel?" Oh!! And then there's the contemporary classic When Harry Met Sally -- a hilarious and brilliant film. Everyone should see all 3 of these.
If you were to take someone on a tour of your town, what would be the must-see places?
Okay, first, the gelato place. Yum. The owner is from Italy and they make homemade gelato there. Yes, really! Every flavor is great (I've conducted a thorough sampling), but the chocolate-peanut butter is beyond amazing. Then the library. (I love libraries anyway, but I'm biased on this one because I used to work there.) There's a martini and wine bar nearby, which is fun to visit. Tasty appetizers. My very favorite coffee place in town is no longer open...sigh. I actually teared up in the middle of the street when they closed it but, fortunately, we've found other good coffee haunts. We have an open protected wilderness area that's lovely, with a walking path all around it. And did I mention there was a gelato shop?
Aside from writing, what is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
I love reading, but that goes hand in hand with writing. So, it would have to be traveling. Something as simple as a family road trip for a weekend is wonderful, although it's been years since I've been in Europe. I'd love to show my son a few sites there. And I know my husband, who's a world history teacher, would enjoy going back, too.
Thanks so much for having me as a guest, Melissa! It was such fun to visit!!
And thank you, Marilyn, for a fun interview and for providing the book for our giveaway!
How to win "Friday Mornings at Nine":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What movie should everyone see at least once in their life?
2. Marilyn Brant is a fan of 70's and 80's music. Please tell us: What is your favorite song from either the 70's or 80's? (Or both?)
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Sunday, October 3rd, at midnight EST.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Winners of "After the Party"
To find the winners, I assigned everyone numbers by the order in which the entries came in and used the Custom Random Number Generator. It chose 30 and 47.
Congrats to Heather and Michele!
Thanks again to Lisa Jewell for a great interview and to Louise Campbell for arranging the interview and sending me the books to give away.
Don't forget to enter our other current giveaways (both US/Canada only):
"Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella. Ends tonight at midnight EST!
"Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. Ends tomorrow at 6pm EST.
Congrats to Heather and Michele!
Thanks again to Lisa Jewell for a great interview and to Louise Campbell for arranging the interview and sending me the books to give away.
Don't forget to enter our other current giveaways (both US/Canada only):
"Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella. Ends tonight at midnight EST!
"Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis" by Robyn Harding. Ends tomorrow at 6pm EST.
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