Sue A. Maynard's Blog, page 3
August 22, 2011
In Leah's Wake - Author Interview!!!
Announcing the In Leah's Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour—WooHoo!
[image error]
As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the In Leah's Wake Kindle edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.
What's more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle, 5 autographed copies of the book, and multiple Amazon gift cards (1 for $100, 3 for $25, 5 for $10, and 10 for $5 – 19 in all)! Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, August 26th, so you don't miss out.
To win the prizes:Purchase your copy of In Leah's Wake for just 99 cents
Fill-out the form on the author's site to enter for prizes
Visit today's featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book!
And I can win $100 too if you vote for my blog over on the author's website. The blog host that gets the most votes in this traffic-breaker polls wins, so please cast yours right after purchasing In Leah's Wake and entering the contests!
The featured events include:Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We're kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We'll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Tuesday, Twitter chat with the author! Tweet with us between 4 and 5 PM Eastern Time, using the hashtag #emlyn. We'll be talking with the author about her favorite books and best writing advice. Bring your questions about In Leah's Wake and don't forget to use #emlyn or to follow Terri @tglong. By joining in the tweet chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Wednesday, Google+ video chat with the author! Join our hangout between 12 and 3 PM Eastern Time to talk with the author and us via video chat. We'll be gabbing about great books including In Leah's Wake and about writing. Did you know that Terri is a creative writing instructor at Boston College? She's got tons of good advice for aspiring writers. By joining in the Google+ video chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Thursday, Facebook interview with the author! Stop by Novel Publicity's Facebook page and ask Terri questions. She's chosen three of her favorite topics to talk about: writing, parenting, and gourmet cooking. Of course, you're welcome to ask about In Leah's Wake too. Leave a comment or question as part of the thread, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget tolike Terri's Facebook page or to visit her blog to enter for the other prizes!
Friday, Fun & games based on the book! We want to close this whirlwind social media tour with a gigantic bang, which is why we've set-up two interactive book-themed features on the author's blog. You can take the official Facebook quiz to find out which In Leah's Wake character is most like you and learn how that character ties into the story. Then try out our crossroads story game. Throughout the course of the narrative, you'll have several decisions to make. What you choose will affect the outcome of the story. Play as either rebellious teenager Leah or the trampled peacemaker and mother Zoe. Leave a comment or question on any of Terri's blog entries, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to check out the other give-away contests while you're on Terri's blog!
About In Leah's Wake: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore. While Zoe and Will fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah's younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn't enough? Jodi Picoult fans will love this beautifully written and absorbing novel.
An interview with Terri Giuliano Long, author of In Leah's Wake*Questions courtesy of BookBundlzTerri's book was voted the 2011 book club pick of the year by the BookBundlz staff and community!
About Terri:1. If you could have coffee with any 3 authors, living or dead, who would they be?
This is a tough question. Let's see: Joan Didion – I love her work. The Year of Magical Thinking is a powerful book. I'd like to have coffee with her because she's a brilliant, courageous woman, a true pioneer, and she's led a varied and interesting life. I'd love to hear her stories.
Cormac McCarthy - although I'm not a fan of his early work – too macho for my taste - he hooked me with No Country For Old Men. I enjoyed the novel so much that I taught it in one of my classes. The Road is the most moving novel I've ever read. The man says to his son: "You have my whole heart. You always did." That line has stayed with me – as have so many stark, tender moments. I'm in awe. I think I'd be too dumbstruck to talk. I'd probably just sit there.
Alice Hoffman – I love her work and I admire her ability to write a bestselling novel, year after year. It took me several years to finish In Leah's Wake. To produce a book a year requires tremendous determination and discipline. You've got to be willing to sit down and write, whether you feel like it or not. That discipline helped her overcome breast cancer, after which she established the Hoffman Breast Center at the Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. She's also written screenplays and children's books. And friends who know her say she's a lovely, giving person.
2. If you could only take one book, food item and drink with you to a deserted island what would they be?
Oh, goodness, another tough question! If I had to choose one book, I'd take the Bible. The stories are fascinating, with so many layers of meaning, and the imager and language are captivating. You can read the stories over and over and never grow tired. For nourishment, champagne and dark chocolate – I'd be tipsy and fat, but I would be smiling.
3. What are your secret indulgences?
Travelling and trying new foods - my husband, Dave, and I have had the great fortunate of visiting many beautiful, interesting places. I love ethnic foods and I'm fairly gutsy when it comes to trying new dishes. In Beijing, a few years ago, we went to a tiny restaurant with two students we met. The restaurant was a local spot, as opposed to a tourist trap, the menu written in Chinese, so they ordered for us. When the steaming bowl arrived, I dipped my chopsticks into the stew – and pulled out a frog. The head was gone, thank goodness, but the body was fully intact. I realize that a lot of people eat frog; this was actually green. I thought Dave would gag when I ate it. To his credit, he didn't.
4. What about you would surprise your readers?
When they meet me, people almost always assume I'm in my thirties, so they're surprised to learn that I have adult children and grandkids. I was 18 when I married Dave and he's the love of my life. Like all couples, we've had our ups and downs, but we still enjoy each other's company, we have fun, and we love being together. This surprises people.
5. What is your perfect day as an author?
Being in a quiet place, with beautiful scenery, and no phone or Internet. A few years ago, we spent a heavenly winter in Stowe, Vermont. I would sit at my desk, looking out at the mountains. Dave would be working in the other room, so I wasn't alone; we'd work all day, then have dinner together, maybe a glass of wine by the fire. Now I'm actively involved with social media, which I really enjoy, but I long for a quiet day with no interruptions, no distraction.
6. If you could be any fictional character who would it be?
Sara Paretsky's PI, V.I. Warshawski – I have a special place in my heart for police officers. They risk their lives for us, every day, and they're the connectors, the glue that holds communities together. I've always admired Gail Mullen Beaudoin, a police officer in Chelmsford, MA. Gail brings strength, dignity and grace to a very difficult job. In a fictional character, V.I. is the closet I can come to Gail - two very strong, caring, centered women. Theirs are very big, wonderfully feminine shoes to fill.
7. What are the book(s) you are reading now?
The Trust, an engaging, fast-paced legal thriller by Sean Keefer, and A Walk in the Snark, a wise, sexy, very funny nonfiction read by Rachel Thompson, and Take One Candle Light a Room, an insightful, gorgeously textured literary novel by National Book Award finalist Susan Straight.
8. What was your favorite book as a teenager, and why?
Please don't laugh – The Exorcist. By today's standards it's tame; then The Exorcist was a shocking literary sensation. I was a bit of a rebel when I was younger. I didn't use drugs or take the risks Leah takes in my novel, but I hated being told what to do. Although I've always loved reading, I never got the full enjoyment from the classics we were forced to read in school. That The Exorcist was forbidden gave it a wonderfully sweet edge. I also loved Exodus, a glorious book by Leon Uris, about the birth of the nation of Israel. It was, to my mind, the first truly important book I ever read.
9. (Aside from your own) What book(s) have you read that you think are perfect for book clubs?
Elizabeth Strout's heartbreaking novel Abide With Me would make a terrific book club selection. Her Pulitzer Prize winner, Olive Kitteridge, is one of my favorite books. Abide With Me, a moving story about a young minister struggling to raise two small children after the premature death of his wife, is so real and relatable on so many levels, and it raises thought-provoking questions about family and life.
About In Leah's Wake:10. Where did the inspiration for your book come from?
Years ago, I wrote a series of feature articles about families with drug and alcohol-addicted teens. The moms talked candidly about their children, their heartbreaking struggles. Those stories stayed with me.
My husband and I have four daughters. Most families struggle during their children's teenage years. We're no different - though, thank goodness, we experienced nothing remotely akin to the problems and challenges the Tylers face in the book. As a parent, I knew how it felt to be scared, concerned for your children's welfare and future. These were the primary forces driving me to write this story.
My work with families, my personal experiences and core beliefs – all these things played on my conscious and subconscious mind, and ultimately emerged as this book.
11. They say every book written is the author telling a personal philosophy. What personal philosophy are you trying to get across?
The epigraph, from The Grand Inquisitor, says it best: "everyone is really responsible to all men for all men and for everything." Hillary Clinton famously said that it takes a village to raise a child. I believe we must all do our part, be supportive members of the village. The Tyler family is far from perfect, but they love one another. Our flaws make us human and that humanity connects us. I very much hope that readers feel this sense of connection—and hope.
12. Writers are often surprised by something that happens in their book. Perhaps a character says or does something you did not think they would, or something you thought would only be a couple of paragraphs turns into 10 pages. What surprised you about your book?
The challenges Leah faces in the aftermath of her sexual awakening. In the first draft, she lost her virginity; in the context of her rebellion, that felt right. In later drafts, darker incidents emerged. As a mom, I found these scenes hard to write, but they felt very true to Leah's character and experience.
About Terri's Writing Process:13. What is your writing process like?
With the first draft of In Leah's Wake, I had no idea where I was going – in writing programs, this sort of organic writing is usually encouraged. In the revision process, I looked for and developed themes. In Leah's Wake is character driven, so outlining would have produced a different book. I think it's helpful to know who we are, as writers, and what our goals are. For literary fiction, the goal is to develop and understand character. I hope I've done this adequately.
My novel-in-progress, Nowhere to Run, is a psychological thriller, so I'm approaching that differently. I've mapped a partial outline - plot points to use as markers - and writing the sections organically. While I recognize the benefits of outlining or plotting, sticking firmly to either feels limiting. Giving myself this freedom allows for possibilities. Of course, it also makes for a messier process.
14. What gets you in the mood to write?
When I first sit at my desk, especially if I've been away for a few days, I often feel blocked, the nasty editors on my shoulders heckling: A writer? Are you crazy? Nine times out of ten, I dig in; the writing may be choppy at first, but eventually I regain fluidity. If the demons are too loud to ignore, I read. Reading, like meditation or yoga, settles my mind, calms me. Soon I find my mind wandering to my story, and I can't wait to start writing.
15. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Believe in yourself. I know wonderful writers whose first, second or third books, really good, strong books, were rejected. To deal with the rejection, boot your computer, day after day, when it seems as if no one cares, the stars misaligned – or to indie publish in a world that still privileges the traditionally published - you have to believe in yourself.
Writing is a lonely profession. Most of the time, we're alone with our work. The loneliness can wear on you, and cause you to question yourself. A few supportive writer friends, supporting and encouraging you, can make all the difference.
Hold onto your dreams. You can make them happen. Don't ever give up!
What's more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle, 5 autographed copies of the book, and multiple Amazon gift cards (1 for $100, 3 for $25, 5 for $10, and 10 for $5 – 19 in all)! Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, August 26th, so you don't miss out.
To win the prizes:Purchase your copy of In Leah's Wake for just 99 cents
Fill-out the form on the author's site to enter for prizes
Visit today's featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book!
And I can win $100 too if you vote for my blog over on the author's website. The blog host that gets the most votes in this traffic-breaker polls wins, so please cast yours right after purchasing In Leah's Wake and entering the contests!
The featured events include:Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We're kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We'll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Tuesday, Twitter chat with the author! Tweet with us between 4 and 5 PM Eastern Time, using the hashtag #emlyn. We'll be talking with the author about her favorite books and best writing advice. Bring your questions about In Leah's Wake and don't forget to use #emlyn or to follow Terri @tglong. By joining in the tweet chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Wednesday, Google+ video chat with the author! Join our hangout between 12 and 3 PM Eastern Time to talk with the author and us via video chat. We'll be gabbing about great books including In Leah's Wake and about writing. Did you know that Terri is a creative writing instructor at Boston College? She's got tons of good advice for aspiring writers. By joining in the Google+ video chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Thursday, Facebook interview with the author! Stop by Novel Publicity's Facebook page and ask Terri questions. She's chosen three of her favorite topics to talk about: writing, parenting, and gourmet cooking. Of course, you're welcome to ask about In Leah's Wake too. Leave a comment or question as part of the thread, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget tolike Terri's Facebook page or to visit her blog to enter for the other prizes!
Friday, Fun & games based on the book! We want to close this whirlwind social media tour with a gigantic bang, which is why we've set-up two interactive book-themed features on the author's blog. You can take the official Facebook quiz to find out which In Leah's Wake character is most like you and learn how that character ties into the story. Then try out our crossroads story game. Throughout the course of the narrative, you'll have several decisions to make. What you choose will affect the outcome of the story. Play as either rebellious teenager Leah or the trampled peacemaker and mother Zoe. Leave a comment or question on any of Terri's blog entries, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to check out the other give-away contests while you're on Terri's blog!
About In Leah's Wake: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore. While Zoe and Will fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah's younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn't enough? Jodi Picoult fans will love this beautifully written and absorbing novel.An interview with Terri Giuliano Long, author of In Leah's Wake*Questions courtesy of BookBundlzTerri's book was voted the 2011 book club pick of the year by the BookBundlz staff and community!
About Terri:1. If you could have coffee with any 3 authors, living or dead, who would they be?This is a tough question. Let's see: Joan Didion – I love her work. The Year of Magical Thinking is a powerful book. I'd like to have coffee with her because she's a brilliant, courageous woman, a true pioneer, and she's led a varied and interesting life. I'd love to hear her stories.
Cormac McCarthy - although I'm not a fan of his early work – too macho for my taste - he hooked me with No Country For Old Men. I enjoyed the novel so much that I taught it in one of my classes. The Road is the most moving novel I've ever read. The man says to his son: "You have my whole heart. You always did." That line has stayed with me – as have so many stark, tender moments. I'm in awe. I think I'd be too dumbstruck to talk. I'd probably just sit there.
Alice Hoffman – I love her work and I admire her ability to write a bestselling novel, year after year. It took me several years to finish In Leah's Wake. To produce a book a year requires tremendous determination and discipline. You've got to be willing to sit down and write, whether you feel like it or not. That discipline helped her overcome breast cancer, after which she established the Hoffman Breast Center at the Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. She's also written screenplays and children's books. And friends who know her say she's a lovely, giving person.
2. If you could only take one book, food item and drink with you to a deserted island what would they be?
Oh, goodness, another tough question! If I had to choose one book, I'd take the Bible. The stories are fascinating, with so many layers of meaning, and the imager and language are captivating. You can read the stories over and over and never grow tired. For nourishment, champagne and dark chocolate – I'd be tipsy and fat, but I would be smiling.
3. What are your secret indulgences?
Travelling and trying new foods - my husband, Dave, and I have had the great fortunate of visiting many beautiful, interesting places. I love ethnic foods and I'm fairly gutsy when it comes to trying new dishes. In Beijing, a few years ago, we went to a tiny restaurant with two students we met. The restaurant was a local spot, as opposed to a tourist trap, the menu written in Chinese, so they ordered for us. When the steaming bowl arrived, I dipped my chopsticks into the stew – and pulled out a frog. The head was gone, thank goodness, but the body was fully intact. I realize that a lot of people eat frog; this was actually green. I thought Dave would gag when I ate it. To his credit, he didn't.
4. What about you would surprise your readers?
When they meet me, people almost always assume I'm in my thirties, so they're surprised to learn that I have adult children and grandkids. I was 18 when I married Dave and he's the love of my life. Like all couples, we've had our ups and downs, but we still enjoy each other's company, we have fun, and we love being together. This surprises people.
5. What is your perfect day as an author?
Being in a quiet place, with beautiful scenery, and no phone or Internet. A few years ago, we spent a heavenly winter in Stowe, Vermont. I would sit at my desk, looking out at the mountains. Dave would be working in the other room, so I wasn't alone; we'd work all day, then have dinner together, maybe a glass of wine by the fire. Now I'm actively involved with social media, which I really enjoy, but I long for a quiet day with no interruptions, no distraction.
6. If you could be any fictional character who would it be?
Sara Paretsky's PI, V.I. Warshawski – I have a special place in my heart for police officers. They risk their lives for us, every day, and they're the connectors, the glue that holds communities together. I've always admired Gail Mullen Beaudoin, a police officer in Chelmsford, MA. Gail brings strength, dignity and grace to a very difficult job. In a fictional character, V.I. is the closet I can come to Gail - two very strong, caring, centered women. Theirs are very big, wonderfully feminine shoes to fill.
7. What are the book(s) you are reading now?
The Trust, an engaging, fast-paced legal thriller by Sean Keefer, and A Walk in the Snark, a wise, sexy, very funny nonfiction read by Rachel Thompson, and Take One Candle Light a Room, an insightful, gorgeously textured literary novel by National Book Award finalist Susan Straight.
8. What was your favorite book as a teenager, and why?
Please don't laugh – The Exorcist. By today's standards it's tame; then The Exorcist was a shocking literary sensation. I was a bit of a rebel when I was younger. I didn't use drugs or take the risks Leah takes in my novel, but I hated being told what to do. Although I've always loved reading, I never got the full enjoyment from the classics we were forced to read in school. That The Exorcist was forbidden gave it a wonderfully sweet edge. I also loved Exodus, a glorious book by Leon Uris, about the birth of the nation of Israel. It was, to my mind, the first truly important book I ever read.
9. (Aside from your own) What book(s) have you read that you think are perfect for book clubs?
Elizabeth Strout's heartbreaking novel Abide With Me would make a terrific book club selection. Her Pulitzer Prize winner, Olive Kitteridge, is one of my favorite books. Abide With Me, a moving story about a young minister struggling to raise two small children after the premature death of his wife, is so real and relatable on so many levels, and it raises thought-provoking questions about family and life.
About In Leah's Wake:10. Where did the inspiration for your book come from?Years ago, I wrote a series of feature articles about families with drug and alcohol-addicted teens. The moms talked candidly about their children, their heartbreaking struggles. Those stories stayed with me.
My husband and I have four daughters. Most families struggle during their children's teenage years. We're no different - though, thank goodness, we experienced nothing remotely akin to the problems and challenges the Tylers face in the book. As a parent, I knew how it felt to be scared, concerned for your children's welfare and future. These were the primary forces driving me to write this story.
My work with families, my personal experiences and core beliefs – all these things played on my conscious and subconscious mind, and ultimately emerged as this book.
11. They say every book written is the author telling a personal philosophy. What personal philosophy are you trying to get across?
The epigraph, from The Grand Inquisitor, says it best: "everyone is really responsible to all men for all men and for everything." Hillary Clinton famously said that it takes a village to raise a child. I believe we must all do our part, be supportive members of the village. The Tyler family is far from perfect, but they love one another. Our flaws make us human and that humanity connects us. I very much hope that readers feel this sense of connection—and hope.
12. Writers are often surprised by something that happens in their book. Perhaps a character says or does something you did not think they would, or something you thought would only be a couple of paragraphs turns into 10 pages. What surprised you about your book?
The challenges Leah faces in the aftermath of her sexual awakening. In the first draft, she lost her virginity; in the context of her rebellion, that felt right. In later drafts, darker incidents emerged. As a mom, I found these scenes hard to write, but they felt very true to Leah's character and experience.
About Terri's Writing Process:13. What is your writing process like?With the first draft of In Leah's Wake, I had no idea where I was going – in writing programs, this sort of organic writing is usually encouraged. In the revision process, I looked for and developed themes. In Leah's Wake is character driven, so outlining would have produced a different book. I think it's helpful to know who we are, as writers, and what our goals are. For literary fiction, the goal is to develop and understand character. I hope I've done this adequately.
My novel-in-progress, Nowhere to Run, is a psychological thriller, so I'm approaching that differently. I've mapped a partial outline - plot points to use as markers - and writing the sections organically. While I recognize the benefits of outlining or plotting, sticking firmly to either feels limiting. Giving myself this freedom allows for possibilities. Of course, it also makes for a messier process.
14. What gets you in the mood to write?
When I first sit at my desk, especially if I've been away for a few days, I often feel blocked, the nasty editors on my shoulders heckling: A writer? Are you crazy? Nine times out of ten, I dig in; the writing may be choppy at first, but eventually I regain fluidity. If the demons are too loud to ignore, I read. Reading, like meditation or yoga, settles my mind, calms me. Soon I find my mind wandering to my story, and I can't wait to start writing.
15. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Believe in yourself. I know wonderful writers whose first, second or third books, really good, strong books, were rejected. To deal with the rejection, boot your computer, day after day, when it seems as if no one cares, the stars misaligned – or to indie publish in a world that still privileges the traditionally published - you have to believe in yourself.
Writing is a lonely profession. Most of the time, we're alone with our work. The loneliness can wear on you, and cause you to question yourself. A few supportive writer friends, supporting and encouraging you, can make all the difference.
Hold onto your dreams. You can make them happen. Don't ever give up!
August 21, 2011
In Leah's Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour!!!
Announcing the In Leah's Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour—WooHoo!
[image error]
As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the In Leah's Wake Kindle edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.
What's more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle, 5 autographed copies of the book, and multiple Amazon gift cards (1 for $100, 3 for $25, 5 for $10, and 10 for $5 – 19 in all)! Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, August 26th, so you don't miss out.
To win the prizes:Purchase your copy of In Leah's Wake for just 99 cents
Fill-out the form on the author's site to enter for prizes
Visit today's featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book!
And I can win $100 too if you vote for my blog over on the author's website. The blog host that gets the most votes in this traffic-breaker polls wins, so please cast yours right after purchasing In Leah's Wake and entering the contests!
The featured events include:Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We're kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We'll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Tuesday, Twitter chat with the author! Tweet with us between 4 and 5 PM Eastern Time, using the hashtag #emlyn. We'll be talking with the author about her favorite books and best writing advice. Bring your questions about In Leah's Wake and don't forget to use #emlyn or to follow Terri @tglong. By joining in the tweet chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Wednesday, Google+ video chat with the author! Join our hangout between 12 and 3 PM Eastern Time to talk with the author and us via video chat. We'll be gabbing about great books including In Leah's Wake and about writing. Did you know that Terri is a creative writing instructor at Boston College? She's got tons of good advice for aspiring writers. By joining in the Google+ video chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Thursday, Facebook interview with the author! Stop by Novel Publicity's Facebook page and ask Terri questions. She's chosen three of her favorite topics to talk about: writing, parenting, and gourmet cooking. Of course, you're welcome to ask about In Leah's Wake too. Leave a comment or question as part of the thread, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget tolike Terri's Facebook page or to visit her blog to enter for the other prizes!
Friday, Fun & games based on the book! We want to close this whirlwind social media tour with a gigantic bang, which is why we've set-up two interactive book-themed features on the author's blog. You can take the official Facebook quiz to find out which In Leah's Wake character is most like you and learn how that character ties into the story. Then try out our crossroads story game. Throughout the course of the narrative, you'll have several decisions to make. What you choose will affect the outcome of the story. Play as either rebellious teenager Leah or the trampled peacemaker and mother Zoe. Leave a comment or question on any of Terri's blog entries, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to check out the other give-away contests while you're on Terri's blog!
About In Leah's Wake: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore. While Zoe and Will fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah's younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn't enough? Jodi Picoult fans will love this beautifully written and absorbing novel.
A Twitterview with Terri Giuliano Long, author of In Leah's Wake*twitterview conducted by Novel Publicity
You can tweet Terri @tglong. Please do! To learn more about twitterviews, go here .
What's more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle, 5 autographed copies of the book, and multiple Amazon gift cards (1 for $100, 3 for $25, 5 for $10, and 10 for $5 – 19 in all)! Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, August 26th, so you don't miss out.
To win the prizes:Purchase your copy of In Leah's Wake for just 99 cents
Fill-out the form on the author's site to enter for prizes
Visit today's featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book!
And I can win $100 too if you vote for my blog over on the author's website. The blog host that gets the most votes in this traffic-breaker polls wins, so please cast yours right after purchasing In Leah's Wake and entering the contests!
The featured events include:Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We're kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We'll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Tuesday, Twitter chat with the author! Tweet with us between 4 and 5 PM Eastern Time, using the hashtag #emlyn. We'll be talking with the author about her favorite books and best writing advice. Bring your questions about In Leah's Wake and don't forget to use #emlyn or to follow Terri @tglong. By joining in the tweet chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Wednesday, Google+ video chat with the author! Join our hangout between 12 and 3 PM Eastern Time to talk with the author and us via video chat. We'll be gabbing about great books including In Leah's Wake and about writing. Did you know that Terri is a creative writing instructor at Boston College? She's got tons of good advice for aspiring writers. By joining in the Google+ video chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to visit the author's blog to enter for the other prizes!
Thursday, Facebook interview with the author! Stop by Novel Publicity's Facebook page and ask Terri questions. She's chosen three of her favorite topics to talk about: writing, parenting, and gourmet cooking. Of course, you're welcome to ask about In Leah's Wake too. Leave a comment or question as part of the thread, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget tolike Terri's Facebook page or to visit her blog to enter for the other prizes!
Friday, Fun & games based on the book! We want to close this whirlwind social media tour with a gigantic bang, which is why we've set-up two interactive book-themed features on the author's blog. You can take the official Facebook quiz to find out which In Leah's Wake character is most like you and learn how that character ties into the story. Then try out our crossroads story game. Throughout the course of the narrative, you'll have several decisions to make. What you choose will affect the outcome of the story. Play as either rebellious teenager Leah or the trampled peacemaker and mother Zoe. Leave a comment or question on any of Terri's blog entries, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah's Wake. Don't forget to check out the other give-away contests while you're on Terri's blog!
About In Leah's Wake: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore. While Zoe and Will fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah's younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn't enough? Jodi Picoult fans will love this beautifully written and absorbing novel.A Twitterview with Terri Giuliano Long, author of In Leah's Wake*twitterview conducted by Novel Publicity
You can tweet Terri @tglong. Please do! To learn more about twitterviews, go here .
August 13, 2011
New Book Alert!!! Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads is now available!!!
Hey all!Just a quick note to say that I have FINALLY published Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads!!!
YAY!!!
At the moment (because I just clicked the button a few minutes ago) it is only available on CreateSpace, but soon - very soon - Ebon will be available for sale in both paperback and e-book versions on Amazon, Smashwords, and several other locations across the World Wide Interweb.
Also, he will be the subject of my very first book launch early in September! I will be at Wordstock in Collingwood on September 10th to sell and sign copies in person, but at the same time, I'm hoping to do a virtual book launch online, and I will be calling on some of my blogger and Facebook friends to help me out! Details to come soon!
Finally, keep your eyes here and on my Facebook Author Page for information about the Ebon Black contest I intend to run. Well, it's not exactly a "contest", per se, but basically, I am hoping to get some illustrations submitted from kids all over the place over the course of the next year, with the intention of publishing a Kid Edition of Ebon Black, in celebration of its first anniversary! At the moment, there are random blank pages in the paperback version of the book. My hope is that I'll get enough submissions to release an awesome colour edition next year, and in return for the use of their artwork, each kid will get a free copy of the Kid Edition, with their picture and their name in the credits!
Sound cool? :)
There will be many many many more details on all of this to come very soon, I promise. Now that Ebon is finally on his way to being unleashed on the world, I am hoping to be able to update my blog a lot more regularly from now on!
Until soon,
SAM
July 6, 2011
FREE e-copy of Carving The Light!!!
Available now, through the end of July!
It's poorly formatted, but it's FREE!!!
Tell your friends!
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
It's poorly formatted, but it's FREE!!!
Tell your friends!
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
June 25, 2011
Good grief
Things have been busy. And I have been tired. I haven't really taken the time to write lately, which is why I haven't taken even more time (even less? wait...what?) to write anything here. There's not much to update, really.
I got my manuscript with notes back from Elizabeth Ruth, the most recent Writer In Residence at the Toronto Public Library. She took the time to deliver it in person and have a little chat with me about it all, which was above-and-beyond nice of her! Thank you, Elizabeth!
I'm slowly getting closer to publishing Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads.
Browncoat magnet sets are continuing to sell on Etsy and Ebay, even though I can't ship them until the postal strike is over.
Conventions and film festivals are preparing to eat up my time and cash. I've booked too much vacation for all of it, to eat up some of my days accrued. I'm still hoping to es-ca-pe later on, but I am extra worried that it won't happen for me this year. Not sure what I'll do if it doesn't, but I'm focusing on one day at a time right now. We'll see how it goes.
I'm hoping to soon focus some creative energy on my next two semi-secret projects, but more on that later.
I just got my first Amazon review, AND my first sale of Carving The Light on Smashwords!
And, with any luck, I'll be able to go to Niagara Falls to help my good friends with their new movie!
So that's that. Stuff has been happening - I just haven't had much time for actual writing!
And I still can't see. :/
More soon, when I have time to think!
SAM
I got my manuscript with notes back from Elizabeth Ruth, the most recent Writer In Residence at the Toronto Public Library. She took the time to deliver it in person and have a little chat with me about it all, which was above-and-beyond nice of her! Thank you, Elizabeth!
I'm slowly getting closer to publishing Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads.
Browncoat magnet sets are continuing to sell on Etsy and Ebay, even though I can't ship them until the postal strike is over.
Conventions and film festivals are preparing to eat up my time and cash. I've booked too much vacation for all of it, to eat up some of my days accrued. I'm still hoping to es-ca-pe later on, but I am extra worried that it won't happen for me this year. Not sure what I'll do if it doesn't, but I'm focusing on one day at a time right now. We'll see how it goes.
I'm hoping to soon focus some creative energy on my next two semi-secret projects, but more on that later.
I just got my first Amazon review, AND my first sale of Carving The Light on Smashwords!
And, with any luck, I'll be able to go to Niagara Falls to help my good friends with their new movie!
So that's that. Stuff has been happening - I just haven't had much time for actual writing!
And I still can't see. :/
More soon, when I have time to think!
SAM
April 21, 2011
IndieReads.net Interview!!!
Shawn Graham at IndieReads is featuring Carving The Light today on his blog, and including an interview with me tomorrow!
Get on over there and check it out!
His is a fantastic place to discover new indie authors and publishers that you may not get a chance to hear about otherwise, so it's definitely worth checking out from time to time - not just for me! ;)
Also, word is there will be more and more indie book reviews going up on the site, as well, so it's definitely a fantastic way to keep in touch with the indie book world!
Check it out!
Get on over there and check it out!
His is a fantastic place to discover new indie authors and publishers that you may not get a chance to hear about otherwise, so it's definitely worth checking out from time to time - not just for me! ;)
Also, word is there will be more and more indie book reviews going up on the site, as well, so it's definitely a fantastic way to keep in touch with the indie book world!
Check it out!
April 17, 2011
She Writes!
It's been awhile since I blogged, and honestly, this one is going to be very short, as well. I'm having some issues that are affecting my ability to write - and think - for very long at a time. So I haven't been as diligent in any area of my life lately as I would like to be.
BUT I did finally manage to get my Five Questions answered for She Writes, and I couldn't be happier to be featured in such a fine forum of wonderful writers! I am new to the community over there, but so far they've all be really great and active, so I would highly recommend my other author-y friends to have a peek over there and get involved in the discussions, from time to time!
Thank you, She Writes!!!
I will write more soon, I promise. :)
Until soon,
SAM
BUT I did finally manage to get my Five Questions answered for She Writes, and I couldn't be happier to be featured in such a fine forum of wonderful writers! I am new to the community over there, but so far they've all be really great and active, so I would highly recommend my other author-y friends to have a peek over there and get involved in the discussions, from time to time!
Thank you, She Writes!!!
I will write more soon, I promise. :)
Until soon,
SAM
April 3, 2011
So Many Projects, So Little Time
Good grief - it's been awhile, sorry! I've been having problems with my eye for the past month, and most of my time off has been spent going to various doctor appointments to see if we can figure out what's wrong. There's no end in sight (haha - sight - get it?) just yet, but in the meantime, I have also managed to take some baby steps on a number of different things, so that's something!
My revised proof copy of Carving The Light finally arrived, and it's now back up for sale in paperback form. Additionally, the Kindle version has been fixed, so it's been back up for the past couple of weeks, too. AND, happily, the new proof had the same print date as the original, one year later! It looks great - so much better with some blank pages thrown in to separate things, and I fixed a couple of parts that had been bothering me. I was worried about the page set-up, and admittedly, it is cut a little close at the top of the page, but it's still an improvement overall from the original, so I am happy. :)
I have a few ideas for improving it even further, but am going to leave it on the back-burner for now while I focus on other things.
One such project is my Snow White reimagining, Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads. I've decided to make Ebon younger, so now instead of turning 21 in the story, he's about to turn 16 years of age when he receives his inheritance. I toyed with making him even younger, but in the end, the 15-16 age works best. So now I am in the process of going through and changing his age. I am trying to focus on JUST doing that this time, as it requires concentration, and I want to go through again after to shorten/simplify some of the wordier run-on sentences, change some of the girls' descriptions, etc. This edit is all about the age. The next will be more for polish.
So that's going well, and I am even more excited about it than I was before!
My Browncoat Magnet Sets are still selling well, so a lot of my spare time is taken up with making them as often as possible.
My Ryerson ad is back up on public transit across the city, so I'm trying to get a few more prizes together for another Spot The Ad contest. This time I want to have some to help generate buzz for Ebon, as well as CTL. More on that when I get myself better organized! ;)
My hope is to be able to publish Ebon later in the summer - particularly in time for the school year, if possible. I just have to put some real focus into it for awhile to get it ready.
I'm also attempting to write a proper synopsis for CTL so that I can start sending out queries. I got a big chunk done while I was at work yesterday...um. I mean. Crap.
ANYWAY, I'm working on it. It's HARD! lol But I'm working on it.
I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but it's time for me to start getting ready to go. I'm heading to the Jays' game with The Hatter and his bro! :)
Until soon,
SAM
My revised proof copy of Carving The Light finally arrived, and it's now back up for sale in paperback form. Additionally, the Kindle version has been fixed, so it's been back up for the past couple of weeks, too. AND, happily, the new proof had the same print date as the original, one year later! It looks great - so much better with some blank pages thrown in to separate things, and I fixed a couple of parts that had been bothering me. I was worried about the page set-up, and admittedly, it is cut a little close at the top of the page, but it's still an improvement overall from the original, so I am happy. :)
I have a few ideas for improving it even further, but am going to leave it on the back-burner for now while I focus on other things.
One such project is my Snow White reimagining, Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads. I've decided to make Ebon younger, so now instead of turning 21 in the story, he's about to turn 16 years of age when he receives his inheritance. I toyed with making him even younger, but in the end, the 15-16 age works best. So now I am in the process of going through and changing his age. I am trying to focus on JUST doing that this time, as it requires concentration, and I want to go through again after to shorten/simplify some of the wordier run-on sentences, change some of the girls' descriptions, etc. This edit is all about the age. The next will be more for polish.
So that's going well, and I am even more excited about it than I was before!
My Browncoat Magnet Sets are still selling well, so a lot of my spare time is taken up with making them as often as possible.
My Ryerson ad is back up on public transit across the city, so I'm trying to get a few more prizes together for another Spot The Ad contest. This time I want to have some to help generate buzz for Ebon, as well as CTL. More on that when I get myself better organized! ;)
My hope is to be able to publish Ebon later in the summer - particularly in time for the school year, if possible. I just have to put some real focus into it for awhile to get it ready.
I'm also attempting to write a proper synopsis for CTL so that I can start sending out queries. I got a big chunk done while I was at work yesterday...um. I mean. Crap.
ANYWAY, I'm working on it. It's HARD! lol But I'm working on it.
I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but it's time for me to start getting ready to go. I'm heading to the Jays' game with The Hatter and his bro! :)
Until soon,
SAM
March 23, 2011
ABNA Second Round Reviews!!!
Okay! As expected, I did not make the cut in this round, but my reviews were posted much faster than anticipated, so that's good! My whole reason for entering the contest this year was to try and make it to this round, and get some feedback from the Amazon Vine Reviewers who worked so hard over the past few weeks to judge this crazy round. And now, for your reading enjoyment, here they both are! You can find 'em after the jump.ABNA Expert Reviewer
What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt?
Strongest aspect would be in setting up those tricky family dynamics between the three sisters, but it's all buried under too much awkwardly-incorporated back-story
What aspect needs the most work?
The expository passages are way too long and there's not nearly enough forward-looking story development, especially for a sampling. The last line really says it all--"...but without actually going anywhere." There's insufficient plot momentum to make me want to read on. Just a lot of restating the same background history.
What is your overall opinion of this excerpt?
It's awkwardly constructed with overlong passages of family "history" that should have been more effectively woven into the plotting. Especially since this is a short sample of what's in store, much more should have taken place in the present, rather than back-story. We need to see it, rather than be told it, to keep us sufficiently hooked.
ABNA Expert Reviewer
What is the strongest aspect of this excerpt?
Kudos to the author for tackling a touchy subject matter head-on. The struggle that most gay people go through in coming out to family members is a real and challenging one, and I applaud him/her for acknowledging this fact.
What aspect needs the most work?
The author, while not a bad writer, needs to refine his/her style. There is repetition in parts (the word "elusive" pops up twice on the first page) and odd choices of words (Sarah says she will "siphon" a snack or two from the kitchen).
And run-on sentences abound. Some examples:
- "Emily, now forty-three, had never married, though Sam sometimes felt as though Emily had used the reason of having to raise her youngest sister as an excuse to not ever get back out in the world and live her own life."
- "She'd landed at her current school on a whim, wanting to try her hand at journalism, but had quickly changed to creative writing when she'd discovered that it was a positive outlet for her to vent and purge anything she wanted or needed to, and have it actually graded favourably by her professors, rather than feeding on other people's angst ... other people's stories ... and garnering a lukewarm reception, at best."
Some simplification would be welcome, although the author should be commended for not overburdening his/her prose with complicated ideas and/or convoluted metaphors. Using the word "awesome," however, to my mind reduces the prose to Valley-speak instead of well-considered creative writing. It's certainly colloquial, and might be right for how Sam thinks, but Sam is not writing in the first person.
I'm also a little confused by the dog story. Emily gets herself and her sisters a dog to brighten their spirits, but waits until their parents have been dead...11 years? By that time Julie is 26 and Emily 30. And yet the author describes how the "girls" go out to buy a new puppy. Unless I'm reading something incorrectly, this is absurd.
What is your overall opinion of this excerpt?
As good as the writing is, for the most part, this is, essentially, a soap opera. Everyone has a secret, they're all, in their own way damaged and lost. Anna Quindlen and Sue Miller have achieved great success in the genre, and this author may in time. It's just not my choice of reading material. And as much as I applaud the author for tackling the gay subject matter, I wish Sam weren't such a wimp. Presumably the book will follow her journey to becoming a stronger, prouder lesbian, but I'm not sure I like her well enough to come along for the ride. And the other two women are also stuck in some sort of alternate universe in which they've never grown up. (Emily even refers to Samantha as "Sammie-Sam," a baby name if ever there were one.) This may provide the author with dramatic situations to work out, but it made me want to shake these annoying women and shout, "Just grow up, for goodness sake!"
So - yeah. Easy to see why I only made it past the pitch round! lol
I do feel bad that they had to struggle so hard to find anything positive in the excerpt. Hopefully the other 39 they each had to read weren't as tough! I'd been aiming for the Meh pile, but unfortunately I ended up being among the Migraines and, if my reviewers are reading this, I really do apologize. Thank you SO MUCH for all the time and effort you put into judging this contest, while still managing to have lives! It really is appreciated.
I also feel kind of bad that there isn't really any way to salvage CTL. In the hands of a better writer, maybe. But not in mine. We'll see if I can do any better writing for kids! ;)
In the end, I got so much out of this whole experience. I made a whack of amazing new friends (some of whom made it through, so I'll be asking you to go vote for them in the Quarter Finals when the time comes), I learned a lot about the process, and even more about myself.
Some things have been rattling around in the back of my mind for years, too; questions I was never sure how to ask. Some of them have been answered now, I think. The biggest one is that I am fairly certain now that Sam really was the problem the entire time. Sarah just put up with her longer than most.
I'm not sure now if I am going to query this, though. On the one hand, it would be good to practice with something that doesn't matter. But on the other, that seems like a giant waste of time.
We'll see. For now, I have magnet sets to cut! :)
March 6, 2011
Book Review: Benevolence by Cynthia Holz
I want to start off by saying that I won this book recently in a Goodreads giveaway and, apart from an interesting blurb on the back, I really didn't know what to expect.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover how much I truly enjoyed reading this book! I was drawn into the lives of Dr. Ben Wasserman, and his wife, Renata Moon, right from the start. Ben is an organ transplant psychiatrist and Renata is a psychologist, but for two people who've devoted their careers to an ability and necessity built on communication with relative strangers, their own marriage is slowly falling apart due to their inability to communicate effectively with one another.
Add in Ben's widowed mother, Molly, who's allowed a man from her past back into her life, and you have a recipe for awkwardness and misunderstandings, overshadowed by deep secrets on all sides.
And yet, despite the frustration of watching from the inside as people struggle to keep their deepest feelings from those they love the most, I found myself caring very much about each and every one of them. Holz has created characters who are as real as they are flawed, and each one is painfully honest - not with one another, nor with themselves, but with me, the reader. So attached to these people was I that, when I turned a page to find myself suddenly at the end, a genuine sadness came over me and I was reluctant to let them go.
There is a sense of smoothness and heartbreaking fluidity in Holz's writing style as she breathes life into these characters, and the people who inhabit their daily lives. Spellbound by their decent into darker places, we watch - equally entranced - as they find those tiny moments to breathe for; a bit of magic, to bring back the light.
5 stars
Benevolence
Cynthia Holz
