Laura McNeill's Blog, page 17
August 8, 2014
Pie Girls Setting
Before the release of Pie Girls on August 10th, I wanted to share a few things about the setting of the story ~ Fairhope, Alabama ~ just 30 minutes from where I live in Mobile.
Fairhope, often referred to as the jewel of the Eastern Shore, is a small city with a population of around 16,000 people. From the moment you drive into the area, you’re immediately greeted by cheery storefronts, well-maintained homes, beautiful gardens, and the sights and sounds of Mobile Bay!
Here’s a snippet from the City website:
Fairhope is known as a pedestrian’s paradise that has an active arts community, exceptional schools, outstanding public services, excellent senior services, and top-notch recreational programs for all ages. It is also home or a weekend retreat for many famous artist and authors.
Fairhope has been recognized nationally and internationally for its environmental stewardship, beauty and quality of life. Fairhope continues to receive favorable notice in national magazines, including the Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, USA Today, The Smithsonian, and Money Magazine. In 2010, Family Circle Magazine named Fairhope as one of the 10 best places to raise a family.
It’s one of my favorite places to visit, with great shopping and restaurants galore!
Do you have any favorite small cities in the South that you love to visit? I’d love to hear about them!
xo, Lauren
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August 6, 2014
Pie Girls ~ August 9th Release
Hey Everyone! Happy Summer!
I’m thrilled to share that Pie Girls will finally be released August 9th!
We’re busy putting the finishing touches on the book, and I am so grateful to my Beta readers for giving the story a once-over!
Here’s what two of my faithful, fabulous friends had to say on GoodReads about Pie Girls:
May 26, 2014 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars
I was given a copy by the author to read and let her know what I thought about it and to send her any errors I found..
I can say this is a wonderful book. It will make you mad, happy, sad, tearful and happy again. There are parts that shocked me but that was good. Over all it is a great story and I hope she does not change a thing.
Jun 06, 2014 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars
This was an advance read from the author.
The story is wonderful. The characters will make you believe in love and family & community strength.
Make sure you add this to your to-read list!
Pie Girls will be on Amazon, BN.com, iBooks, and eventually Audible!
Here’s the summary:
Princess, Southern belle, and spoiled-rotten social climber Searcy Roberts swore on a stack of Bibles she’d never return home to Fairhope, Alabama. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Atlanta, Searcy embraces big-city life—Carrie Bradshaw style.
But now, Searcy has a teeny, tiny problem. Her husband’s had a mid-life crisis. He’s quit his job, cancelled her credit cards, and left her for another man.
Searcy returns to Fairhope, ready to lick her wounds. But when her mother falls ill, she’s is thrust into managing the family business—only to discover the beloved bakery is in danger of closing its doors forever.
Enlisting the help of the adorable bike store owner next door, an array of well-heeled customers, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Searcy hatches the plan of the century to save Pie Girls.
Have a fabulous Wednesday! More about Pie Girls coming soon!
Lauren
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November 18, 2013
Shopping at ‘The Paradise’ Contest
~ Episode 8
So, this week marks the Big Showdown—Moray’s choice between Denise and Katherine.
Whom does he decide on and why?! Drum roll, please!
(Elaine Cassidy as Katherine & Joanna Vanderham as Denise)
When Moray and Denise planning Happily Ever After only 20 minutes into the episode, I was a bit worried. I knew it was not going to be smooth sailing, especially with Lord Glendenning making huge waves.
Lord G. soon lowers the boom on the brash and bold Moray, informing him that he now owns the whole street, including The Paradise. Moray, obviously dismayed at this revelation, receives gruff ‘encouragement’ from Lord G., who says that it hardly matters whose name is on the paperwork…as Moray will “soon be family.”
The implication, a veiled threat, is that if Moray doesn’t marry Katherine, then Lord G. will destroy The Paradise and all of the shops surrounding it.
At the same time, Katherine finally realizes where Moray’s affection lies and decides to confront the competition. Katherine, smiling and controlled, threatens Denise, and informs her that she, as the daughter of legal owner of The Paradise, will ensure that Moray is ruined. This also means that Mr. Lovett will be evicted from his property.
Boldly, Denise asks Katherine why she would marry a man she knows doesn’t love her. In true Katherine fashion, she brushes off the comment with arrogance and informs Denise that she’s told Moray to love her, and that “He will again.”
(Elaine Cassidy as Katherine)
Moray and Denise are shaken and face a terrible decision. Will they risk everything for love? The storyline keeps us on edge until the last few minutes.
I was quite worried when I saw Arthur standing outside The Paradise in his groomsman outfit and Katherine dressed in a bridal gown, walking downstairs, bouquet in hand, on the arm of her father.
Only THEN, though, Moray suddenly runs through the shop, brushing past customers, ignoring stares. He only stops when he sees Denise in the courtyard. He walks up to her and kisses her. Just like that. They both smile.
Happily Ever After … for now. 
(Emun Elliott as Moray and Joanna Vanderham as Denise)
So, some huge questions are left to be answered at the end of this season finale. Has Katherine been left at the altar? How soon will she and her father seek revenge? Will Moray lose The Paradise? Can Moray and Denise’s love survive the challenges? Season 2 has the answers.
So, what do you think will happen in the next series? Can’t wait!
CONTEST DETAILS
Winner Announced Today!
Our own Paradise co-op of fabulous Chick Lit authors (see list below) has been running a Paradise Giveaway contest. Several prizes are up for grabs, including a $50 Macy’s gift card and a Kindle copy of The Ladies’ Paradise by Émile Zola. The winners will be selected by the True Random Number Generator at www.random.org.
As the contest ended last night at midnight, the winners will be announced later today, Monday, November 18th, 2013.
Check out previous posts on The Paradise by the wonderful Chick Lit authors:
Tracie Banister http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/2013/10/shopping-at-paradise-contest.html
Laura Chapman http://change-the-word.blogspot.com/2013/10/shopping-at-paradise-contest.html
Elizabeth Marx Elizabeth Marx http://elizabethmarxbooks.blogspot.com/
Sara Palacios http://sarapalacios.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/shoppingattheparadise/
Martha Reynolds http://marthareynoldswrites.com/2013/10/04/paradise
Julie Valerie http://www.julievalerie.com/paradise
The Paradise is a drama series written by Bill Gallagher, very loosely based on Au Bonheur des Dames or The Ladies Paradise by Emile Zola.
The show features Denise Lovett is a young country girl with only her wits to live on after showing up in a Northern city to take up a long-held promise of work in her uncle’s drapery shop. She soon finds out though that her uncle cannot afford to employ her as most of his customers have been seduced away by the The Paradise, the country’s first department store, across the street. She ends up being forced to take a job at The Paradise and falls in love with its surroundings and reckless owner, John Moray.
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October 14, 2013
Matt Nathanson: Rock Star Inspiration
Rock Star Inspiration
Last night I had the incredible experience to be part of a small but intimate crowd that welcomed singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson to Soul Kitchen in Mobile, Ala. (And I had 1.5 seconds of Instagram fame WITH the man … details to follow!)
Not only was it an incredible performance, with a sweet preview by Joshua Radin, but it gave me pause to think about Nathanson’s life — as a writer, as a performer, and as a person.
As an author, I live a relatively sheltered life, choosing to share my books on the page (and screen) when and with whom I want (until I press the publish button on Create Space, KDP, or Nook). Of course, without the publishing step, I’m guaranteed that no one will read my books, so with some crazy, wild abandon, I’ve launched myself off that precipice three times. And thank goodness I did. I have amazing friends & wonderful readers. And a few folks like my books!
Nathanson’s done it with ten albums. TEN. He’s had great success with “Come on Get Higher” with his 2008 album “Some Mad Hope.” Amazing song, by the way, if you’ve ever been in love, are in love, or remember what that rush of wonderful-temporary insanity feels like.
While opening for acts like Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, and Sugarland, Nathanson is writing songs, touring across the United States, and pouring his heart out on the stage for his thousands (and in Mobile….hundreds) of adoring fans. The energy he brought was real. His passion was amazing. He was humble, sexy, and funny, and shared parts of his soul.
My point in all of this is that Nathanson connects with his audience because his lyrics are powerful…they are gorgeous words strung together to tell a story—about romance, passion, breaking up, crashing, or the end of the world. He doesn’t apologize for any of it… and why should he? It’s his experience. It’s real and raw. And he’s putting it out there.
To me, that’s what being a writer…an artist…or a singer is all about. Bravo to Matt Nathanson and bravery. Audacity. And tenacity. I’m sure he wouldn’t live any other way, but it’s a reminder to ALL of us to be authentic.
BTW – Here’s me in an Instagram shot Matt Nathanson posted minutes before the show wrapped up! (I’m on the very left next to the dude in the bright blue shirt!!!! My 1.5 seconds of FAME…)
So ……. on this Monday ….. What makes you connect with a song or a book? Who’s the songwriter or author who makes you swoon?
xx, Lauren
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October 3, 2013
“Shopping at The Paradise” Contest
Join the FUN!
Some period drama-loving friends and I are throwing a big online party to celebrate Masterpiece airing season one of The Paradise.
There will be a premiere night Twitter chat, weekly recaps, and to kick things off . . . a fun contest involving one of our favorite pastimes – SHOPPING! This seemed appropriate as The Paradise is a Victorian-era department store where plucky heroine Denise Lovett is employed in the Ladieswear Dept.
Read on to find out how you can enter this exciting contest and be eligible to win several FABULOUS prizes!
CONTEST RULES
1) Take a photo (camera pix are fine) of yourself shopping for one (or more) of the following items:
Shoes
Jewelry
Purses
Lingerie
Make-Up
Perfume
Hats
Stockings/Hosiery
You will receive ONE entry per picture of an item listed above (up to 8 entries.)
You can earn a bonus FIVE entries if you submit a photo of yourself with a cute/crush-worthy shop employee. (Male or female.)
2) You may submit your contest photos via Twitter or Facebook.
Twitter – Tweet your picture(s) to @ParadiseParty2
Facebook – Post your pictures to the Facebook group, Paradise Party. Note: You will have to join the group in order to post to the forum. https://www.facebook.com/groups/444953335622203/
3) This contest is open to residents of the United States ONLY.
4) Contest will begin on Friday, October 4th, 2013 and end at midnight on Sunday, November 17th, 2013. Winners will be announced on Monday, November 18th, 2013.
4) Prizes are as follows:
(1) Grand Prize – A $50 Macy’s gift card, which can be used online or in-store. The winner of this prize will be selected by the True Random Number Generator at www.random.org
(1) Bonus Prize - The Funniest Photo – A Kindle copy of The Ladies’ Paradise by Émile Zola (this is the classic novel that the TV series is based on.) The winner of this prize will be selected by the 8 authors/bloggers participating in The Paradise online event.
(1) Bonus Prize – Item We Most Want Photo – An audio CD of The Paradise TV Soundtrack. The winner of this prize will be selected by the 8 authors/bloggers participating in The Paradise online event.
So, you can earn up to 13 entries and there are THREE great prizes up for grabs. Cleverness and originality count with these pix, so have fun and be creative!
Be sure to check out the shopping finds from these fellow Paradise Party bloggers:
Tracie Banister http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/2013/10/shopping-at-paradise-contest.html
Laura Chapman http://change-the-word.blogspot.com/2013/10/shopping-at-paradise-contest.html
Lauren Clark http://www.laurenclarkbooks.com/2013/10/04/shopping-at-the-paradise-contest
Tracey Livesay http://traceylivesay.com/2013/10/04/shopping-at-the-paradise-contest/
Elizabeth Marx http://elizabethmarxbooks.blogspot.com/
Sara Palacios http://sarapalacios.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/the-paradise-recap-shopping/
Martha Reynolds http://marthareynoldswrites.com/2013/10/04/paradise
Julie Valerie http://www.julievalerie.com/paradise/
Want to get in on the Twitter Night Chat Sunday, October 6th at 9 pm ET/8 pm CT? Here are the details! Use #paradiseparty!
Again, the contest will begin on Friday, October 4th, 2013 and end at midnight on Sunday, November 17th, 2013. Winners will be announced on Monday, November 18th, 2013.
Happy Thursday!
xx, Lauren
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September 26, 2013
Christmas Collection Cover: Merry & Bright
Sip your eggnog, linger under the mistletoe, and make a Christmas wish. Merry & Bright brings you six tales of Christmas cheer, featuring stories of budding romances, Southern charm, lost loves, heaps of humor, and lots of pie!
From sunny Los Angeles to the Rocky Mountains to the Deep South, Merry & Bright will take you on a heartwarming adventure you’ll love to visit again and again. Wrap yourself in holiday mirth and prepare to be swept off your feet.
My contribution for the anthology, which is being published by Simon & Fig, is called “A Very Dixie Christmas” and will include many of the characters from Dancing Naked in Dixie (yay!) and is set in lovely Eufaula, Alabama.
Along with mine, the anthology will be a collection of short stories written by five other amazing women. Here’s a list of the short story titles and authors:
Secret Santa by Libby Mercer
Ice Dating by Nancy Scrofano
Twelve Drummers Drumming by Laura Chapman
Christmas at Mulberry Farm by Cindy Arora
A Very Dixie Christmas by Lauren Clark
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Isabella Louise Anderson
The release date is scheduled for mid-November … I’ll release details ASAP! Have a great Thursday!
xx, Lauren
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August 30, 2013
Christmas Collection Contest!
It may be a bit early to be thinking about Mistletoe and Ho-Ho-Ho, but my author friends and I have been hard at work writing stories for a new Christmas collection due out in mid-November!
My contribution for the anthology, which is being published by Simon & Fig, is called “A Very Dixie Christmas” and will include many of the characters from Dancing Naked in Dixie (yay!) and lovely Eufaula, Alabama.
Along with mine, the anthology will be a collection of short stories written by five other amazing women. Here’s a list of the short story titles and authors:
Secret Santa by Libby Mercer
Ice Dating by Nancy Scrofano
Twelve Drummers Drumming by Laura Chapman
Christmas at Mulberry Farm by Cindy Arora
A Very Dixie Christmas by Lauren Clark
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Isabella Louise Anderson
Would you like to name the Christmas anthology? Well, if so, here’s your chance. The winner will get a free e-copy of any current Simon & Fig title, plus a $15 Amazon gift card!
Simply click and leave a comment on the Simon & Fig page! It’s that easy!
**The deadline to enter your title suggestion is Tuesday, September 10th. The winner will be announced on Thursday, September 12th!
GOOD LUCK!
xx, Lauren
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August 27, 2013
Voting…& Supporting Your Fav Authors
Supporting Your Fav Authors
Today is election day in Mobile, Ala., and folks were out in droves at 7 am this morning to cast their ballots for this highly-contested race! Of course, I grabbed my sticker …. (wishing they could add some glitter or edge it in pink) and posed for this photo with my good friend and neighbor, Terry Edeker, who was on his way to the polls.
I’m eager for the outcome, and love the excitement of an election. It’s great to see support for all of the candidates…. and hey, it’s an occasion to show off my new favorite pair of shoes!
Voting is a choice, and it’s also a fabulous way to support your favorite author!!! I highly encourage all of you–if you’ve been moved by a novel, swooned at someone’s writing, or just have fallen in lust with a storyline…..show your support and leave a quick review on Amazon, BN.com, Kobo, or Goodreads.
An honest review is the greatest compliment you can pay an author, and it just takes a few moments of your time. If you’ve never left a review, it’s a simple process:
First, go to the Amazon (or BN.com/Kobo/Goodreads, etc.) page that features the book.
On Amazon, click on the highlighted area below “Average Customer Review” and next to the highlighted yellow stars. (Mine says 32 customer reviews) That will bring you to this page.
Here’s where you click the box “Create your own review.” Then, go for it, in a few sentences or more. That’s it! Easy peasy! BN.com, Kobo, and Goodreads all have similar formats.
I’m always looking for another great novel to read…and I’d love to hear whether you take time to do reviews, and the name of the last book you reviewed.
Happy Tuesday!
xx, Lauren
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August 12, 2013
Library Talk & Book Signing
Stardust Summer Photos
During my visit to Upstate New York in July, I was asked to do a talk and book signing at the Penn Yan Public Library, just a few miles from the shores of Keuka Lake, where Stardust Summer is set.
It was a perfect evening, and I particularly enjoyed talking to the library’s research director, Shawn McConnell, and Penn Yan resident Jann Gray (pictured in the photo below with my mom and son, John David).
If you look closely, John’s shirt says “QKA” – the correct pronunciation for Keuka Lake, in case you decide to visit!
Here are some vacation photographs. I hope they give you a feel for the sights and beauty that you’ll find in the Finger Lakes Region of New York and the scenery you’ll read about in Stardust Summer.
What’s your favorite vacation spot? I’d love to hear about it!
Have a wonderful Monday!
xx, Lauren
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August 8, 2013
NY Book Club Visit
& Once Upon a Vine
I was home in July for a week’s vacation with my boys and delighted to be able to visit my hometown library one evening. Kristine Sutton, director of the Newstead Public Library, asked me to come and talk with one of the local book clubs.
The book club decided on reading Dancing Naked in Dixie. We had a fun, lively discussion about Julia’s journey, how her adventures are based on many of my own life experiences, and whether or not she and Shug Jordan will reappear in another novel!
I have many fond memories of visiting the library as a child and young girl, so it was great to go back and visit. The building isn’t the original structure, but is a lovely, light, and airy space for everyone in the community to enjoy.
Newstead, NY Public Library
Library Interior
I was thrilled to receive a special gift from the book club at the end of the night. If you’ll notice, the name on the bottle of wine is a play on fairy tales…perfect for any writer! The illustration on the label is from Sleeping Beauty, with the queen’s arm holding the ‘fated’ mirror! Of course, I had to look up the wines on the internet, and at least a group of four exist, all based on different fairy tale themes! FUN, right?
If you’ve found any special “writer” or “book” related items (t-shirts, signs, posters, etc.) I’d love for you to share them with me!
I hope y’all are having a wonderful, magical summer!
xx, Lauren
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