DON'T BLINK
(Unabridged)
by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
Read by David Patrick Kelly
Launched into the world of organized crime—one reporter searches for the truth in the best mob novel since The Godfather.
I have three copies to giveaway. Please leave a comment below with your email address to enter. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents but no PO Box addresses. Winners will be chosen on October 19.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Audiobook Giveaway: Good Boss, Bad Boss by Robert I. Sutton
GOOD BOSS, BAD BOSS
(Unabridged)
by Robert I. Sutton, PhD
Read by the Author and Bob Walter
After the smashing success of THE NO ASSHOLE RULE in which he tackled corporate bullying in the workplace, Robert Sutton now asks the question: what separates a good boss from being a great boss?
I have three copies of this audiobook to giveaway. Please leave a comment telling a short story about either good boss or a bad boss you have had. Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents and the winners will be chosen on October 20.
(Unabridged)
by Robert I. Sutton, PhD
Read by the Author and Bob Walter
After the smashing success of THE NO ASSHOLE RULE in which he tackled corporate bullying in the workplace, Robert Sutton now asks the question: what separates a good boss from being a great boss?
I have three copies of this audiobook to giveaway. Please leave a comment telling a short story about either good boss or a bad boss you have had. Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents and the winners will be chosen on October 20.
Audiobook Giveaway: Room
ROOM
(Unabridged)
by Emma Donoghue
Read by Michael Friedman, Ellen Archer, Robert Petkoff, and Suzanne Toren
To five-year-old Jack, ROOM is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and
play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be
asleep when Old Nick visits.
ROOM is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and
fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not
enough…not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies
on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just
how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.
Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond
between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to
journey from one world to another.
It takes more than just the book and the author to record an audiobook, and this month, we have Michele McGonigle,
Associate Director of Production for Hachette Audio and Director of ROOM, the audiobook, to answer some behind-the-scenes
questions:
Hachette Book Group: What made you decide to do a multiple-cast recording for ROOM?
Michelle McGonigle: When I read the book to cast and prep for production, it just screamed out for more than one
narrator. Jack needed his own voice and so did Ma; to have one person read all
parts would detract from the listener experience and not do the book justice.
The impact of hearing Jack's voice, (read by Michal Friedman, an adult woman),
as he tells his story, really places the listener in his world. Ellen Archer
reads Ma and you can hear the restraint, joy, pain, frustration and fear in her
voice, giving the listener a bit of insider information of what's going on. Jack
is experiencing the same actions, words and emotions, however being a five year
old, he doesn't understand what to make of or what is driving them. In a way,
giving Ma her own voice allows her to tell part of her story as well.
HBG: What kinds of voices were you looking for in casting and what do you think each voice-recording artist brings to ROOM, the audiobook?
MM: Jack had to have a strong presence, be sweet, innocent, and believable; Michal Friedman
delivers his words with the incorruptibility and honesty of a true five year
old.
In the case of Ma, I was looking for a soft, patient, loving voice, struggling with staying calm and trying to prevent Jack from hearing/ feeling
her fear and frustration; Ellen Archer was my immediate choice, being a real
mother who reflects these same qualities.
For all other female roles I needed a voice that could make Jack's grandma stand out just a bit more than the
others, but not to overshadow Jack and Ma. Suzanne Toren was perfect for this,
she allowed her characters to be a part of the story without overtaking it.
As for the male voices, Robert Petkoff was the first person I thought of. He is capable of such different character voices and delivers a supporting
performance which allows Ma and Jack to be the focus of this amazing journey.
I have three copies of this audiobook to giveaway. Please leave a comment with your email address to enter. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents but no PO Box addresses please. Winners will be chosen on October 12.
(Unabridged)
by Emma Donoghue
Read by Michael Friedman, Ellen Archer, Robert Petkoff, and Suzanne Toren
To five-year-old Jack, ROOM is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and
play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be
asleep when Old Nick visits.
ROOM is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and
fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not
enough…not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies
on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just
how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.
Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond
between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to
journey from one world to another.
It takes more than just the book and the author to record an audiobook, and this month, we have Michele McGonigle,
Associate Director of Production for Hachette Audio and Director of ROOM, the audiobook, to answer some behind-the-scenes
questions:
Hachette Book Group: What made you decide to do a multiple-cast recording for ROOM?
Michelle McGonigle: When I read the book to cast and prep for production, it just screamed out for more than one
narrator. Jack needed his own voice and so did Ma; to have one person read all
parts would detract from the listener experience and not do the book justice.
The impact of hearing Jack's voice, (read by Michal Friedman, an adult woman),
as he tells his story, really places the listener in his world. Ellen Archer
reads Ma and you can hear the restraint, joy, pain, frustration and fear in her
voice, giving the listener a bit of insider information of what's going on. Jack
is experiencing the same actions, words and emotions, however being a five year
old, he doesn't understand what to make of or what is driving them. In a way,
giving Ma her own voice allows her to tell part of her story as well.
HBG: What kinds of voices were you looking for in casting and what do you think each voice-recording artist brings to ROOM, the audiobook?
MM: Jack had to have a strong presence, be sweet, innocent, and believable; Michal Friedman
delivers his words with the incorruptibility and honesty of a true five year
old.
In the case of Ma, I was looking for a soft, patient, loving voice, struggling with staying calm and trying to prevent Jack from hearing/ feeling
her fear and frustration; Ellen Archer was my immediate choice, being a real
mother who reflects these same qualities.
For all other female roles I needed a voice that could make Jack's grandma stand out just a bit more than the
others, but not to overshadow Jack and Ma. Suzanne Toren was perfect for this,
she allowed her characters to be a part of the story without overtaking it.
As for the male voices, Robert Petkoff was the first person I thought of. He is capable of such different character voices and delivers a supporting
performance which allows Ma and Jack to be the focus of this amazing journey.
I have three copies of this audiobook to giveaway. Please leave a comment with your email address to enter. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents but no PO Box addresses please. Winners will be chosen on October 12.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Online Book Event-The Poisonwood Bible
Books on the Nightstand will be hosting an online book event tomorrow night featuring Barbara Kingsolver's book-The Poisonwood Bible.
The Poisonwood Bible is a must read, it is one of my favorite books. If you haven't checked out Books on the Nighstand or The Poisonwood Bible, I highly recommend it. If you have, would love to hear your comments about both.
Here are the details for how you can participate:
Tuesday, October 5 at 9:30 pm (EST)
Go to www.talkshoe.com and search for BooksOnTheNightstand (no spaces.
Click on the “Join Now” button. A new window will open.
If you have a computer headset with a microphone, or any computer microphone at all, you will be able to talk.
You can also talk via telephone: the call-in info (724-444-7444, Call ID 87944) appears at the bottom of the new window.
The most fun way to participate is to be at your computer and on the phone (or headset) at the same time. Then you can see the chat window and hear join in on the voice conversation as well. However, if you prefer to just listen along, you can “Join Now” and then don’t call in. You’ll be able to listen to the audio portion of the call through your computer’s speakers.
You can interact with us via the text chat window.
If you’re not near your computer, you can still call in by using the phone number and Call ID number shown above.
I hope that you have some time in your schedule to join us. We’ll have a great discussion!
The Poisonwood Bible is a must read, it is one of my favorite books. If you haven't checked out Books on the Nighstand or The Poisonwood Bible, I highly recommend it. If you have, would love to hear your comments about both.
Here are the details for how you can participate:
Tuesday, October 5 at 9:30 pm (EST)
Go to www.talkshoe.com and search for BooksOnTheNightstand (no spaces.
Click on the “Join Now” button. A new window will open.
If you have a computer headset with a microphone, or any computer microphone at all, you will be able to talk.
You can also talk via telephone: the call-in info (724-444-7444, Call ID 87944) appears at the bottom of the new window.
The most fun way to participate is to be at your computer and on the phone (or headset) at the same time. Then you can see the chat window and hear join in on the voice conversation as well. However, if you prefer to just listen along, you can “Join Now” and then don’t call in. You’ll be able to listen to the audio portion of the call through your computer’s speakers.
You can interact with us via the text chat window.
If you’re not near your computer, you can still call in by using the phone number and Call ID number shown above.
I hope that you have some time in your schedule to join us. We’ll have a great discussion!
Book Review and Giveaway: Take A Chance on Me
Title: Take A Chance on Me
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub Date: October 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3751-5
Pages: 412
Price: $14.00
I was given a free copy of this book by Sourcebooks for my honest review.
About the book:
Even in a small town the drama is larger than life. Living in the small town of Channings Hill, Cleo has grown used to the fact that there are some people you just can't avoid, no matter how much you really, really want to.
When her job throws her into constant contact with her childhood nemesis Johnny LaVenture, she's perfectly content to leave the past behind. But for someone she'd rather have nothing to do with, Johnny is getting harder and harder to ignore...
About the Author:
Jill Mansell lives with her partner and children in Bristol and writes full time. Actually, that's not true; she watches TV, eats gum drops, admires the rugby players training in the sorts field behind her house, and spends hours on the Internet marveling at how many other writers have blogs. Only when she's completely run out of way to procrastinate does she write.
Also by Jill Mansell:
An Offer You Can't Refuse
Millie's Fling
Miranda's Big Mistake
Perfect Timing
Rumor Has It
My review:
Heat Magazine said, "Pick this up at your peril: you won't get a thing done till it's finished." Oh, and they were so correct. This book first appealed to me as I am from a very small town where you know just about everyone and everyone knows your business. I think many often think of small towns have a slower pace and people are hard working and spend their free time on family. Well, that is the case, yet there is so much more and Jill Mansell captures it perfectly in her book. Affairs, gossip, meddling, and hot romance are all entwined to keep the reader turning the pages. It was realistic and made me think back to when I was growing up in the small town and all the gossip and drama took place. I think all will enjoy reading this book and can relate to it in that everyone knows someone like the characters in this book.
Giveaway:
Please leave your name and email and a tidbit of your favorite celebrity gossip below to enter. I have one copy to giveaway for US only and the winner will be chosen on October 9.
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub Date: October 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3751-5
Pages: 412
Price: $14.00
I was given a free copy of this book by Sourcebooks for my honest review.
About the book:
Even in a small town the drama is larger than life. Living in the small town of Channings Hill, Cleo has grown used to the fact that there are some people you just can't avoid, no matter how much you really, really want to.
When her job throws her into constant contact with her childhood nemesis Johnny LaVenture, she's perfectly content to leave the past behind. But for someone she'd rather have nothing to do with, Johnny is getting harder and harder to ignore...
About the Author:
Jill Mansell lives with her partner and children in Bristol and writes full time. Actually, that's not true; she watches TV, eats gum drops, admires the rugby players training in the sorts field behind her house, and spends hours on the Internet marveling at how many other writers have blogs. Only when she's completely run out of way to procrastinate does she write.
Also by Jill Mansell:
An Offer You Can't Refuse
Millie's Fling
Miranda's Big Mistake
Perfect Timing
Rumor Has It
My review:
Heat Magazine said, "Pick this up at your peril: you won't get a thing done till it's finished." Oh, and they were so correct. This book first appealed to me as I am from a very small town where you know just about everyone and everyone knows your business. I think many often think of small towns have a slower pace and people are hard working and spend their free time on family. Well, that is the case, yet there is so much more and Jill Mansell captures it perfectly in her book. Affairs, gossip, meddling, and hot romance are all entwined to keep the reader turning the pages. It was realistic and made me think back to when I was growing up in the small town and all the gossip and drama took place. I think all will enjoy reading this book and can relate to it in that everyone knows someone like the characters in this book.
Giveaway:
Please leave your name and email and a tidbit of your favorite celebrity gossip below to enter. I have one copy to giveaway for US only and the winner will be chosen on October 9.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Book Event: Rick Springfield
I like to post book events from time to time, some in my area and some that aren't even close to me, as I know I have blog readers from all over. This event is one I have to post and hope that many will come from near and far to join in.
I am on and English listserv from the university that I graduated from and I get various emails from them periodically. It is often emails relaying success of students or graduates and what they are doing now and sometimes it is for book events. When I received the email that Rick Springfield was coming to a local library to promote his new book, I knew that I had to run as fast as I could to make sure I got a ticket to attend. The second I finished reading the email, I forwarded it to my friend Mickey. She is in love with Rick and told me once that she knew she would marry him one day. I can't wait until we get to the event and see what ensues!
I was at work when I received that email and the afternoon was blown as all I could think about what "I am going to see Rick Springfield!" I know that I am going to embarrass myself by sharing so much info here, but that email about the event brought back so many memories. Many an afternoon spent staring at the television as Dr. Noah Drake did his thing or the hours upon hours I spent in my bedroom, with the door shut, dancing and singing Jessie's Girl over and over and over.
Enough of that now and on to the details of the event. Won't you join me? If you aren't in the area and can't attend, be sure to follow the link below and purchase his new book.
Rick Springfield at Warren County Public Library, Bowling Green, KY
Singer/Actor Rick Springfield will be signing copies of his new book Late, Late at Night: a Memoir at the Warren County Public Library.
In this candid memoir which he authored himself, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Rick Springfield pulls back the curtain on his image as a bright, shiny, happy performer to share the startling story of his rise and fall and rise in music, film, and television and his lifelong battle with depression.
“We are very excited to host Rick Springfield at our library,” says library director, Lisa Rice. “This is a special treat for those of us who grew up listening to his music and watching him on television.”
The event will be held at the Main Library at 1225 State Street on Saturday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m.
Doors open at 6:00, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early to reserve their space in line.
Books will be available for purchase and signing. No memorabilia will be signed. For information about the book, visit www.latelateatnight.com.
Tickets are free, but necessary for admittance. Free tickets are available at all Warren County Public Library locations.
For more information, email Jayne Pelaski at jaynep@warrenpl.org.
I am on and English listserv from the university that I graduated from and I get various emails from them periodically. It is often emails relaying success of students or graduates and what they are doing now and sometimes it is for book events. When I received the email that Rick Springfield was coming to a local library to promote his new book, I knew that I had to run as fast as I could to make sure I got a ticket to attend. The second I finished reading the email, I forwarded it to my friend Mickey. She is in love with Rick and told me once that she knew she would marry him one day. I can't wait until we get to the event and see what ensues!
I was at work when I received that email and the afternoon was blown as all I could think about what "I am going to see Rick Springfield!" I know that I am going to embarrass myself by sharing so much info here, but that email about the event brought back so many memories. Many an afternoon spent staring at the television as Dr. Noah Drake did his thing or the hours upon hours I spent in my bedroom, with the door shut, dancing and singing Jessie's Girl over and over and over.
Enough of that now and on to the details of the event. Won't you join me? If you aren't in the area and can't attend, be sure to follow the link below and purchase his new book.
Rick Springfield at Warren County Public Library, Bowling Green, KY
Singer/Actor Rick Springfield will be signing copies of his new book Late, Late at Night: a Memoir at the Warren County Public Library.
In this candid memoir which he authored himself, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Rick Springfield pulls back the curtain on his image as a bright, shiny, happy performer to share the startling story of his rise and fall and rise in music, film, and television and his lifelong battle with depression.
“We are very excited to host Rick Springfield at our library,” says library director, Lisa Rice. “This is a special treat for those of us who grew up listening to his music and watching him on television.”
The event will be held at the Main Library at 1225 State Street on Saturday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m.
Doors open at 6:00, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early to reserve their space in line.
Books will be available for purchase and signing. No memorabilia will be signed. For information about the book, visit www.latelateatnight.com.
Tickets are free, but necessary for admittance. Free tickets are available at all Warren County Public Library locations.
For more information, email Jayne Pelaski at jaynep@warrenpl.org.
Romance Novel Giveaway
Hachette is fantastic at putting together a set of books for giveaways and they have given me the opportunity to giveaway one. Please leave a comment below with your email address to enter. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents but no PO Box addresses please. Winners will be selected on October 15.
And now for the best news-I have three sets to giveaway!
Here is what you are entering to win.
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Hot Wheels and High Heels by Jane Graves
A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore
And now for the best news-I have three sets to giveaway!
Here is what you are entering to win.
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Hot Wheels and High Heels by Jane Graves
A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore
National Adopt a Dog Month
October is the National Adopt a Dog Month and you are more than likely wondering what that has to do with books. Well, to start off, I am a huge dog lover. I can't remember a time in my life when I haven't had a dog and I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't in the midst of reading a book. Hachette Publishers has combined two loves of mine this month to celebrate the national adopt a dog month and I am so excited to get to participate in it.
I have a set of five books that Hachette has so graciously put together and let me give away to one of my blog readers. Here is what you are signing up to win:
Katie Up and Down the Hall By Glenn Plaskin
Oogy By Larry Levin
GoD and DoG By Wendy Francisco
Dog Tags By David Rosenfelt
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend By The Monks of New Skete
Please leave a comment below telling me a short story about your dog or one you have had during your life. Don't forget to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you are the winner. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents but no PO Box addresses please. The winner will be selected on October 31.
I have a set of five books that Hachette has so graciously put together and let me give away to one of my blog readers. Here is what you are signing up to win:
Katie Up and Down the Hall By Glenn Plaskin
Oogy By Larry Levin
GoD and DoG By Wendy Francisco
Dog Tags By David Rosenfelt
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend By The Monks of New Skete
Please leave a comment below telling me a short story about your dog or one you have had during your life. Don't forget to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you are the winner. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents but no PO Box addresses please. The winner will be selected on October 31.
Book Feature and Giveaway: Simply Irresistible
Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.
In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.
Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.
The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books are, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountain adventures.
The Dish by Jill
When I started this series about three estranged sisters who get stuck together running a beach resort, I decided I was out of my mind. I don’t have sisters. I have a brother, and we like each other just fine. Then at the dinner table that very night, my three teenage heathens started bickering and fighting, and I just stared at them in awe and wonder.
I had my fodder! “Keep fighting,” I told them -- much to their utter shock, since I’ve spent the past fifteen years begging them to get along.
After that night, it was a piece of cake to write the sisters — Maddie, Tara, and Chloe — their claws barely sheathed, with resentment and affection vying for space.
So then all that I had left to do was find the three sexy guys who could handle them.
It just so happened that, at the time, my neighbor was having an addition put on her house. For six glorious weeks, there were a bunch of guys hanging off the roof and the walls, in perfect line of sight of my office.
Which is really my deck. It’s a wonder I got any work done at all.
So I sat in the sun and wrote while in the background cute, young, sweaty guys hammered, and sawed, and in general, made my day. And on some days, they even took off their shirts. Those were my favorite days of all. But I digress …
I was working very hard, planning out conflicts and plot pacing and trying to nail down my hero. And given what I was looking at for inspiration, it shouldn’t be any surprise at all that the hero for this first book in the Lucky Harbor series, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, turned out to be a master carpenter.
And a very sexy one at that.
I’m actually writing book two right now. I keep going out on the deck, sitting and patiently waiting, but my neighbor hasn’t hired any more sexy carpenters. Darn it.
Perhaps I need a new addition myself!
Giveaway:
Please leave a comment below telling me what you find irresistible. Don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you are a winner. I have five copies to giveaway and this is open to residents in the US and Canada, just no PO Box addresses please. Winners will be chosen on October 16.
In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.
Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.
The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books are, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountain adventures.
The Dish by Jill
When I started this series about three estranged sisters who get stuck together running a beach resort, I decided I was out of my mind. I don’t have sisters. I have a brother, and we like each other just fine. Then at the dinner table that very night, my three teenage heathens started bickering and fighting, and I just stared at them in awe and wonder.
I had my fodder! “Keep fighting,” I told them -- much to their utter shock, since I’ve spent the past fifteen years begging them to get along.
After that night, it was a piece of cake to write the sisters — Maddie, Tara, and Chloe — their claws barely sheathed, with resentment and affection vying for space.
So then all that I had left to do was find the three sexy guys who could handle them.
It just so happened that, at the time, my neighbor was having an addition put on her house. For six glorious weeks, there were a bunch of guys hanging off the roof and the walls, in perfect line of sight of my office.
Which is really my deck. It’s a wonder I got any work done at all.
So I sat in the sun and wrote while in the background cute, young, sweaty guys hammered, and sawed, and in general, made my day. And on some days, they even took off their shirts. Those were my favorite days of all. But I digress …
I was working very hard, planning out conflicts and plot pacing and trying to nail down my hero. And given what I was looking at for inspiration, it shouldn’t be any surprise at all that the hero for this first book in the Lucky Harbor series, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, turned out to be a master carpenter.
And a very sexy one at that.
I’m actually writing book two right now. I keep going out on the deck, sitting and patiently waiting, but my neighbor hasn’t hired any more sexy carpenters. Darn it.
Perhaps I need a new addition myself!
Giveaway:
Please leave a comment below telling me what you find irresistible. Don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you are a winner. I have five copies to giveaway and this is open to residents in the US and Canada, just no PO Box addresses please. Winners will be chosen on October 16.
Guest Post: Kara Louise
Kara Louise is the author of Darcy's Voyage and I posted a review of the book on here earlier this month. I am excited to have her writing a guest post on how she became a writer. After you have read Kara's thoughts, be sure to leave a comment below with your email address as I have two copies of the book to giveaway. The giveaway is open to those in the US and Canada and winners will be selected on October 9.
I wonder whether most authors’ writing routines change over the years, but I’m pretty sure mine is not the same today as when I started writing about 10 years ago. We lived in a different house and my schedule (as well as my husband’s) was very different.
I don’t know if I had more free time then, but it sure seems like I am a lot busier now than I used to be. Even though we moved out to the country where life is supposed to be slower, it seems like there is always something to do that gets in the way of writing.
My computer room is in one of the extra bedrooms at the front of the house. This is where I do most of my writing. But my favorite place that bids me to come when the weather is nice is my hanging hammock chair out on our back patio. I take out my laptop, a bottle of water, my IPod, my kindle, maybe the phone, and settle in. It’s very relaxing and comfortable. Unfortunately, we had such a hot summer this year, it was simply too hot to sit outside for any length of time. I’m thrilled that autumn has finally arrived! I’m finally able to enjoy my favorite chair! I normally do my writing in the evenings or when I have large blocks of time alone.
Now, how did I become a writer? Please step back in time with me to 2001. My love for Jane Austen came about through the 1995 A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. It inspired me to go out and buy the novel, read it, and then read her other novels. I fell in love with her writing, her stories, and her characters. Once I had finished with the sixth one, I felt somewhat dismayed. Why couldn’t there be more?
Aha! But there were! Well, not exactly Jane Austen, but other authors who were carrying on her stories and her characters in a variety of ways. I began reading these online stories and one day came upon an idea for a story of my own.
I had not really done a lot of writing, although I had tried. Years ago I plotted out a story in my head, but when I went to type it out, I didn’t get past about the third page. I thought to myself, I just can’t do this. Then about a year before my introduction to Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice, I discovered some interesting facts while doing some genealogy research and thought it would make a good story. I actually finished three chapters and thought to myself, ‘I can do this!”
I still have those three chapters waiting to be continued, but Pride and Prejudice brought everything else to a standstill. I had plotted out that first story that I came up and thought it would be about 7 chapters. I was sure surprised when it turned out to be 18 chapters. I was even more surprised when people said they really liked the story.
I am the kind of author who has to have an idea of where she’s going before I begin to write. When I finished that first story, called Assumed Engagement, I thought to myself, ‘That’s it. I don’t think I’ll be able to think up anything as good, or better, than that story.’
But I was hit with inspiration and came up with an idea for a sequel to that story, and thus "Assumed Obligation" was written. Then there was "Pemberley’s Promise" (which is the book now being published as Darcy’s Voyage). That book seemed to spark the greatest response, and of the first five novels I wrote and self-published, it was the most popular. I also wrote a modern story that came to me almost like a lightning bolt when I was in Guatemala. Part of "Drive and Determination" takes place in Guatemala in the places I visited. And then there is my dog book. "Master Under Good Regulation" is the story of Pride and Prejudice as seen through the eyes of Mr. Darcy’s dog, Reggie, an English Springer Spaniel. (I was so thrilled to finally get my own ESS this past February, and even though she is a female, we had to name her Reggie!)
I had actually started my final novel, "Something Like Regret," about 6 years ago, and once I had self-published my other 5 novels, I decided to go back and finish it. I completed it in May 2009, just before Sourcebooks contacted me and offered me a contract. They decided to publish Darcy’s Voyage (Pemberley’s Promise) first, and then Only Mr. Darcy Will Do (formerly titled Something Like Regret) will be released in March, 2011.
I never ever imagined I would be a published author. Even when I began writing these stories and received great encouragement for the readers, I never believed a publisher would pick up a variation of Jane Austen’s classic. This opportunity to be published was literally dropped in my lap, and it has been quite a wild, but thrilling ride!
DARCY’S VOYAGE BY KARA LOUISE – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2010
A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas
In this enchanting and highly original retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet sets out for the new world aboard the grand ship Pemberley’s Promise. She’s prepared for an uneventful voyage until a chance encounter with the handsome, taciturn Mr. Darcy turns her world upside down.
When Elizabeth falls ill, Darcy throws convention overboard in a plan that will bind them to each other more deeply than he ever could have imagined. But the perils of their ocean voyage pale in comparison to the harsh reality of society’s rules that threaten their chance at happiness. When they return to the lavish halls of England, will their love survive?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ever since Kara Louise discovered and fell in love with the writings of Jane Austen she has spent her time answering the "what happened next" and the "what ifs" in Elizabeth's and Darcy's story. She has written 6 novels based on Pride and Prejudice. She lives with her husband in Wichita, Kansas. For more information, please visit her website, Jane Austen’s Land of Ahhhs, http://ahhhs.net/.
I wonder whether most authors’ writing routines change over the years, but I’m pretty sure mine is not the same today as when I started writing about 10 years ago. We lived in a different house and my schedule (as well as my husband’s) was very different.
I don’t know if I had more free time then, but it sure seems like I am a lot busier now than I used to be. Even though we moved out to the country where life is supposed to be slower, it seems like there is always something to do that gets in the way of writing.
My computer room is in one of the extra bedrooms at the front of the house. This is where I do most of my writing. But my favorite place that bids me to come when the weather is nice is my hanging hammock chair out on our back patio. I take out my laptop, a bottle of water, my IPod, my kindle, maybe the phone, and settle in. It’s very relaxing and comfortable. Unfortunately, we had such a hot summer this year, it was simply too hot to sit outside for any length of time. I’m thrilled that autumn has finally arrived! I’m finally able to enjoy my favorite chair! I normally do my writing in the evenings or when I have large blocks of time alone.
Now, how did I become a writer? Please step back in time with me to 2001. My love for Jane Austen came about through the 1995 A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. It inspired me to go out and buy the novel, read it, and then read her other novels. I fell in love with her writing, her stories, and her characters. Once I had finished with the sixth one, I felt somewhat dismayed. Why couldn’t there be more?
Aha! But there were! Well, not exactly Jane Austen, but other authors who were carrying on her stories and her characters in a variety of ways. I began reading these online stories and one day came upon an idea for a story of my own.
I had not really done a lot of writing, although I had tried. Years ago I plotted out a story in my head, but when I went to type it out, I didn’t get past about the third page. I thought to myself, I just can’t do this. Then about a year before my introduction to Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice, I discovered some interesting facts while doing some genealogy research and thought it would make a good story. I actually finished three chapters and thought to myself, ‘I can do this!”
I still have those three chapters waiting to be continued, but Pride and Prejudice brought everything else to a standstill. I had plotted out that first story that I came up and thought it would be about 7 chapters. I was sure surprised when it turned out to be 18 chapters. I was even more surprised when people said they really liked the story.
I am the kind of author who has to have an idea of where she’s going before I begin to write. When I finished that first story, called Assumed Engagement, I thought to myself, ‘That’s it. I don’t think I’ll be able to think up anything as good, or better, than that story.’
But I was hit with inspiration and came up with an idea for a sequel to that story, and thus "Assumed Obligation" was written. Then there was "Pemberley’s Promise" (which is the book now being published as Darcy’s Voyage). That book seemed to spark the greatest response, and of the first five novels I wrote and self-published, it was the most popular. I also wrote a modern story that came to me almost like a lightning bolt when I was in Guatemala. Part of "Drive and Determination" takes place in Guatemala in the places I visited. And then there is my dog book. "Master Under Good Regulation" is the story of Pride and Prejudice as seen through the eyes of Mr. Darcy’s dog, Reggie, an English Springer Spaniel. (I was so thrilled to finally get my own ESS this past February, and even though she is a female, we had to name her Reggie!)
I had actually started my final novel, "Something Like Regret," about 6 years ago, and once I had self-published my other 5 novels, I decided to go back and finish it. I completed it in May 2009, just before Sourcebooks contacted me and offered me a contract. They decided to publish Darcy’s Voyage (Pemberley’s Promise) first, and then Only Mr. Darcy Will Do (formerly titled Something Like Regret) will be released in March, 2011.
I never ever imagined I would be a published author. Even when I began writing these stories and received great encouragement for the readers, I never believed a publisher would pick up a variation of Jane Austen’s classic. This opportunity to be published was literally dropped in my lap, and it has been quite a wild, but thrilling ride!
DARCY’S VOYAGE BY KARA LOUISE – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2010
A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas
In this enchanting and highly original retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet sets out for the new world aboard the grand ship Pemberley’s Promise. She’s prepared for an uneventful voyage until a chance encounter with the handsome, taciturn Mr. Darcy turns her world upside down.
When Elizabeth falls ill, Darcy throws convention overboard in a plan that will bind them to each other more deeply than he ever could have imagined. But the perils of their ocean voyage pale in comparison to the harsh reality of society’s rules that threaten their chance at happiness. When they return to the lavish halls of England, will their love survive?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ever since Kara Louise discovered and fell in love with the writings of Jane Austen she has spent her time answering the "what happened next" and the "what ifs" in Elizabeth's and Darcy's story. She has written 6 novels based on Pride and Prejudice. She lives with her husband in Wichita, Kansas. For more information, please visit her website, Jane Austen’s Land of Ahhhs, http://ahhhs.net/.
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