Keris Stainton's Blog, page 102

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40 Days Giveaway: Three amazing YA books

With just 40 days to go until Della Says: OMG! comes out I thought I'd give away three of the best YA books I've read recently: Threads by Sophia Bennett, When I Was Joe by Keren David and My So-Called Afterlife by Tamsyn Murray. They're very different, but I loved all three.

To be in with a chance of winning, you need to do something a bit different than the other competitions so far. This time you need to become a fan (of me!) on Facebook and leave a comment on the wall or under this blog ...

I *heart* Unhappy Hipsters

Unhappy Hipsters makes me laugh so much.

Wanting Wednesday: Lavazza A Modo Mio

There's no way David would tolerate it (we've already got a pink toaster that I won in a competition and he's not happy with that), but how gorgeous is it?

It's a limited edition Lavazza A modo mio. I don't even know what it does – well, I know it makes coffee, but I don't know if it would make the kind of coffee I like (really feeble latte) – but I want one anyway cos it's pretty.

OMG! I've got a book coming out! Part three.

One of the best things about last week was this fabulous new cover for Della, which Amber of The Mile Long Bookshelf designed. (It's just for fun, it's not going to be on a book anywhere.) Isn't it great? I love it. Thanks, Amber.

Another fabulous thing was being chosen as Iffath's Most Anticipated Author for Author Appreciation Week. And then Iffath got to read Della and loved it. Thank goodness.

I also finally sent out the invitations to my launch parties, which I found VERY STRESSFUL! But ...

The most battered book on my shelf

I pinched this idea from lovely Claire.

The most battered book on my shelf is definitely Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One. Fair enough, since it's my favourite book of all time. I don't remember where I bought it, but I do remember reading it breathlessly on a train (no idea where I was going or where I'd been, but I do remember being amazed that I was so fascinated by the boxing in the book. Boxing!). I also remember finishing it, lying on my bed in St Mary's Road, Ealing and crying when I ...

50 Days Giveaway: Scarlett Fever & Pretty in Plaid

50 days! 50 DAYS! Until my book comes out. MY BOOK!

So I'm celebrating with an international giveaway of two books that I'm dying to read. (I can enter my own competition, right? No? Pah.)

Scarlett Fever by the fabulous Maureen Johnson and Pretty in Plaid by the hilarious Jen Lancaster. And because I'll be sending them via The Book Depository, which has free international delivery, you can enter no matter where you are.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply leave a comment below – make sure ...

Wanting Wednesday: Reading chair

You know how I feel about Orla Kiely and I've wanted this "pouffe" for ages (Heal's calls it a "drum", but it's a pouffe, isn't it.). But it costs £120! For a pouffe!

But look how beautifully it would go with this Luna Chair. And how happy I would be sitting there, feet up, reading a book. But if you thought £120 was bad for a pouffe, wait until I tell you what the chair costs. £1995! For a chair! My car cost less than that!

OMG! I've got a book coming out. Part two.

Sadly, last week was nowhere near as exciting as the week before. Oh it can't all be Meg Cabot quotes and the adulation of 10-year-olds. Although a couple of them did point at me in the library and said, "That's her. Della Says oh em gee."

Talking of the library, I have been chatting with the librarians for a while now and I told them all about my book once there was a publication date. Chatted again last week and they ended up laughing at me because I went on about Meg Cabot so much. They...

I love Lytham St Annes

Yesterday morning, Harry said, "I dreamed we went to the beach." Going to the beach is one of Harry's favourite things in the world. For a while, we used to ask him at night what his favourite part of the day was, but every night he answered, "Going on the beach" even when we'd been nowhere near a beach for months. Then yesterday morning, he asked me what we were having for tea, which was a bit weird since a) he's never asked that before and b) he knows I don't cook tea, his dad does. So I...