Alyssa Goodnight's Blog, page 7
November 6, 2012
Book Review Club ~ November 2012
November?? Gak! I keep seeing signs counting down the days till Christmas, and I want to yelp, “Wait! Stop!” But it’s coming, right along with the crazy schedule demands, frenzy of shopping and cooking, and–hopefully–the cooler weather. I think it was 86 degrees here yesterday! Anyway, my point is, that it’s the first week end November, and so, of course, this post is my contribution to Barrie Summy’s Book Review Club!
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@Barrie Summy
This month I am reviewing Maggie Hope Mysteries, written by the lovely Susan Elia MacNeal. I have read two already, and cannot wait for number three, which is scheduled to be released in May of next year. I adore these covers…
The first book in the series is Mr. Churchill’s Secretary. Here’s the blurb from Amazon:
London, 1940. Winston Churchill has just been sworn in, war rages across the Channel, and the threat of a Blitz looms larger by the day. But none of this deters Maggie Hope. She graduated at the top of her college class and possesses all the skills of the finest minds in British intelligence, but her gender qualifies her only to be the newest typist at No. 10 Downing Street. Her indefatigable spirit and remarkable gifts for codebreaking, though, rival those of even the highest men in government, and Maggie finds that working for the prime minister affords her a level of clearance she could never have imagined—and opportunities she will not let pass. In troubled, deadly times, with air-raid sirens sending multitudes underground, access to the War Rooms also exposes Maggie to the machinations of a menacing faction determined to do whatever it takes to change the course of history.
Ensnared in a web of spies, murder, and intrigue, Maggie must work quickly to balance her duty to King and Country with her chances for survival. And when she unravels a mystery that points toward her own family’s hidden secrets, she’ll discover that her quick wits are all that stand between an assassin’s murderous plan and Churchill himself.
In this daring debut, Susan Elia MacNeal blends meticulous research on the era, psychological insight into Winston Churchill, and the creation of a riveting main character, Maggie Hope, into a spectacularly crafted novel.
I LOVED this book.
I loved that Maggie is a graduate student in math, with a head for code-breaking and logical thinking.
I loved that there are secrets surrounding Maggie’s parents.
I loved that Winston Churchill is a major character in the book and that there are plenty of historically accurate details.
I loved the insight into the lives of Londoners during WWII: their industriousness, their optimism, their stiff upper lips, and their sense of humor.
I loved that you never know who to trust…who might be a spy or simply a traitor. I was tense for most of the reading of this book!
And most of all, I love that the vibrant, irrepressible Maggie is back in Princess Elizabeth’s Spy. And that she will be back again in His Majesty’s Hope and an as-yet-untitled fourth novel from Susan Elia MacNeal!
Looking for an intelligent, historical action/adventure/mystery/thriller? Then this is the series for you!
October 28, 2012
The Next Big Thing
Thank you to Rock Star Stacey Graham for tagging me!
On to the questions:
1 What is the working title of your book?
It’s actually pretty set in stone, as far as the publishing world goes. It’s called AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY.
2 Where did the idea come from for the book?
This book is actually a follow-up to AUSTENTATIOUS, which came out at the beginning of this year. None of the characters are the same–only the magical journal links the two books. I guess I didn’t want to let go of that magical journal, channeling the romantically-inclined spirit of Jane Austen, just quite yet.
3 What genre does your book fall under?
Chick-lit or light women’s fiction with a hint of paranormal.
4 Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Emma Stone as Cate Kendall and Lee Pace as Ethan Chavez.
5 What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Sometimes a magical journal isn’t the weirdest thing in your life.
6 Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It will be published January 29, 2013 by Kensington Books. Two hundred years and ONE DAY after Pride and Prejudice was first published!
7 How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It was crazy-fast for me–only about three months.
8 What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Well, AUSTENTATIOUS.
Austenland or Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale. Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman (although this is YA).9 Who or What inspired you to write this book?
Jane Austen, of course. I love her classic novels, and all the retellings and spin-offs as well. I thought it would be fun to imagine her spirit, alive and kicking, offering up romantic advice in modern-day Austin, Texas.
10 What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
There’s a paranormal element, wrapped inside a paranormal element…
Now I’m going to tag the following wonderful writers:
Eve Marie Mont
Nikki Loftin
Please visit their blogs. They will be publishing their answers to the same questions on Monday, November 5th.
Message for the tagged authors and interested others:
Rules of The Next Big Thing
***Use this format for your post
***Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (Work In Progress)…I chose my latest release, because that’s what’s on my mind right now!
***Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
What is the working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged.
Piece of advice: Line up your five people in advance.
October 25, 2012
Giveaway Winner!
The Jane Austen Giveaway Hop is over–I hope you all had fun hopping! The winner of a copy of AUSTENTATIOUS is Krista of Book Review Club! Congratulations, Krista!
I am on my way to a band concert right now, where my older son is performing “Duel of the Fates” from The Phantom Menace and some of the Fantasia music on clarinet, and I have to run to Walmart beforehand to see if we can find the Adventure Time DVD with bonus Finn hat, as my younger son is dressing as Finn for Halloween. Cross your fingers for me! I will try to post something interesting tomorrow, assuming I get a spare moment. Maybe a story from my girls’ trip, which was lovely and very much needed. We had good time.
Until then, enjoy your Thursday night. I just found Blue Bell Spiced Pumpkin Pecan ice cream and it is soooo yummy! Look at these flavors!
October 18, 2012
Jane Austen Giveaway Hop
Hello!
Welcome to my stop on the Jane Austen Giveaway Hop! I am excited to participate and am giving away a copy of my Jane Austen-inspired novel AUSTENTATIOUS. Here’s a quick blurb:
While browsing in an Austin shop, Nicola James finds a blank vintage journal hidden among a set of Jane Austen novels. Even though Nic is a straight-laced engineer, she’s still a sucker for anything Austen-esque. But her enthusiasm turns to disbelief once she starts writing in the journal – because somehow, it’s writing her back…Itching for a bit of excitement, Nic decides to follow her “Fairy Jane’s” advice. The result: a red-hot romance with a sexy Scottish musician who charms his way into Nic’s heart in about five seconds flat. But a guy like Sean doesn’t exactly fit into her Life Plan. With no one but Fairy Jane to guide her, Nic must choose between the life she thought she wanted – and the kind of happy ending she never saw coming…
I love the idea of Jane showing up (in spirit) in Austin, TX to offer unsolicited romantic advice to modern day women. And the novel has been well-received by readers and reviewers alike…
“Goodnight’s breezy style with a believable heroine, lively conflicts and lots of best-friend confidences elevates this above the usual chick lit fare.” ~ Publishers Weekly
“This humorous romance will appeal to all Austen fans while bringing a fresh twist with its magic journal.” ~ Booklist
“Janeites and chick lit fans alike will enjoy this wonderful romp into modern day romance with the ideal Miss Matchmaker from the past leading the way.” ~ Courtney Webb for New York Journal of Books
AUSTENTATIOUS has been out since January, and its sort-of sequel, AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY, will be out January 29, 2013, two hundred years and ONE DAY after the original publication of Pride and Prejudice!! I am giving away a copy of AUSTENTATIOUS, and Stiletto Storytime is giving away an ARC of AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY, so don’t forget to stop by there as well!
To enter my giveaway, you simply have to become a follower on Twitter. I am a_goodnight.
If you’d like a few additional entries, you could:
1. Add AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY to your TBR list on Goodreads (There’s a giveaway going on over at Goodreads as well!)
2. Post my countdown timer on your blog (click ‘Get Widget’ on the timer)
3. Tweet this giveaway: “I want to win a copy of AUSTENTATIOUS by @a_goodnight in the Jane Austen Giveaway Hop! #janeausten”
Good luck, and have fun hopping!
October 16, 2012
Can You Guess How Many?
One of my tasks this week as a volunteer in the library at my son’s junior high was to count mellowcreme pumpkins and candy corn to go into a plastic gallon-sized paint tin. I ran out of candy before it filled up. Any guesses how many pieces of Halloween candy goodness are in there? The student who guesses the closest without going over wins it all!
In other news, I am off on a Girls Trip the DAY AFTER TOMORROW!! I am so excited!! I checked out the audiobook of One For the Money by Janet Evanovich for the drive. And, I’m packing my Alphasmart and hoping to get some writing and brainstorming done, but I don’t really have high hopes. And that’s just fine.
October 8, 2012
Countdown Timer!
Free for the taking, and posting, and sharing!
It’s very pink. Very pink. Perfect for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
And don’t forget the Goodreads giveaway (see post below)!
October 4, 2012
Giveaway Winner
So sorry for not posting the winner of my AUSTENTATIOUS giveaway! I have literally had no time at a computer.
The winner was Jessica M. Congratulations to her, and thank you all for entering and tweeting!
In other news, I received my ARCs of AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY, and they are so shiny!! And, I’m giving a copy away on Goodreads, so get over there and enter!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Austensibly Ordinary
by Alyssa Goodnight
Giveaway ends November 03, 2012.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
October 2, 2012
Book Review Club ~ October 2012
After a several month hiatus, I am delighted to be back, participating in Barrie Summy’s monthly (mostly) Book Review Club.
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book review blogs
@Barrie Summy
For this month’s pick, I chose the first book in a new series from an award-winning, best-selling author whose books had yet to cross my path. I chose THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater, book one in the Raven Cycle series, and now I am hooked.
From Amazon:
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them-not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all-family money, good looks, devoted friends-but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys.
From me:
I can definitely see the appeal of Maggie Stiefvater. The premise of this story alone was enough to prompt a Kindle impulse buy, which is pretty rare for me. I read a sample and by the end of the first chapter, I was completely hooked. The storyline is pretty outlandish (no spoilers!), but the characters make it seem plausible. They are immersed in their ‘quest,’ and they carry you along in their wake, making discoveries, connections, and often mistakes. They feel utterly genuine. Blue has a romantic interest–you know I love that!–but to me it’s really more of a triangle. I feel like things could change direction for her in the space of an afternoon. And I will admit it–I hope they do! She may not be feeling any romantic tension yet, but I was!
There is an underlying thread of danger, of suspense, of creepiness, and there are surprises. The story could have been heavy and oppressive, but Ms. Stiefvater achieved the perfect balance of light and dark. The humor between the characters set off the threatening tone of the novel perfectly. I knew when I bought the book that this was the first in the series, and I wondered what would be resolved in this novel. Intriguingly enough, almost nothing was, and yet, I felt that it was a very strong start to the series. I admit, the last line floored me and had me urgent to read book 2.
I’m tempted to seek out Maggie Stiefvater’s other novels, despite not being a huge fan of traditional paranormal or fantasy novels. Her voice is captivating. Strongly recommended!
September 24, 2012
My Go-To Gluten Free List
In recent weeks, several friends and family members have sought my advice on gluten free favorites. So…I thought I’d post my list here in case anyone reading this blog is just getting started on a gluten-free diet, or an old-pro with recommendations of their own to share.
The two biggest difficulties involved in being on a gluten free diet are the lack of convenience and the increased price. Basically, almost all readily available cereals, noodles, crackers, breads, cookies, rolls, etc are made with gluten. Of course there are other ways to make them, but that’s not happening in jumbo factories, so the prices are higher, and those products are less readily available. Similarly, most restaurants don’t have a very extensive gluten free menu. You can probably get salad (hold the croutons, and maybe the dressing), and maybe grilled meat and selected side dishes. Maybe. Hence, the convenience problem.
My family is a little different than most people who get diagnosed with celiac disease: we don’t have any outward symptoms. No stomach distress, no nausea, etc. So we can’t really tell if something is entirely gluten free, unless we see the label. We’re just hoping for the best. That said, some of the restaurants we frequent, with significant gluten-free menus are:
Jason’s Deli
Chipotle/Taco Cabana/Freebirds
Five Guys (we bring our own buns)
Pei-Wei
Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
We eat a lot of Mexican food, because corn tortillas are the base of many meals and are generally, I believe, gluten free.
For at-home baking, all my flours come from Bob’s Red Mill. The baking mix I mostly use contains white rice flour, tapioca flour, and potato starch (flour) and is from Silvana Nardone from easyeats.com. I’ve had pretty good luck with it. Plus, there are LOTS of recipes at that website, which is an online gluten-free recipe magazine and blog.
For homemade baked goods, I’ve been very impressed with Gluten Free Baking Classics by Annalise Roberts–we’ve pretty much liked everythin
g I’ve made. Her baking mix is a slightly different mix of those same flours I mention above, but I suspect either would work fine. My latest cookbook find is Gluten Free on a Shoestring by Nicole Hunn. She’s on Pinterest as well, so I’ve been pinning gluten free recipes like crazy!
I get several things via the “Subscribe and Save” feature on Amazon, which gives you a discount for buying in bulk. The downside: you have to have somewhere to store all that food.
Here’s a short list of stuff we like:
Udi’s hamburger and hotdog buns
Bob’s Red Mill Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix (I think it’s more delicious that wheat-based bread!)
Food That Tastes Good multigrain chips
Snyders of Hanover gluten free pretzels
Van’s Gluten Free Waffles and French Toast Sticks
Tikiyada Brown Rice pasta and Quinoa Ancient Harvest pasta
Kinnikinnick pizza crusts
Wolfgang Puck soups
Lucy’s cookies
Gluten-free Bisquick
Chex cereals (all but Wheat)
There is an iPhone app called ‘Is That Gluten Free’ that I use and a gluten-free grocery store guide, Cecelia’s Marketplace, that has been invaluable to me at the grocery store.
If you are just now taking on a gluten-free diet, I hope this helps! If you’ve been on the diet for a while, please share you tips and favorites!
September 14, 2012
The Books of October
Some reasons I’ve been looking forward to October…
The Runaway Princess (Love, love, love Hester Browne!)
Beautiful Redemption (I’m totally caught up in the Beautiful Creatures saga!)
Princess Elizabeth’s Spy (Was hooked with the first Maggie Hope Mystery.)
Death in the Floating City (Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily books are some of my faves.)
Which ones am I missing??
