Laura McNeill's Blog, page 19

What are the Treasures of Your Life?

Share Your Thoughts!

 

Tomorrow, I travel to lovely Fairhope, Alabama and talk to a women’s church group for a Mother’s Day Tea. Sally Jones, who graciously invited me to speak, happened to read Dancing Naked in Dixie several months back.

So, being the last-minute gal that I sometimes am, I only have a rough draft of my script put together. I’ll be adding and polishing today (and probably tomorrow morning), looking for just the right things to say about family, friends, memories, and of course, mothers.

Here are a few of the treasures in my life:

I would love to hear about the treasures in YOUR life … and have your help making my talk meaningful and personal.

Leave me a comment and your email, and I’ll include YOUR treasures in my talk! As a thank you, I’ll gift you a ebook copy of Stay Tuned.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!  Happy Mother’s Day!

 

xx, Lauren

 

 

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Release Day: The Forgotten Ones

Author Spotlight: Laura Howard

 

Today, I’m thrilled to share that my friend Laura Howard’s novel, The Forgotten Ones, is now AVAILABLE on Amazon! Please check it out, give her a thumbs up on Amazon, and then download her book!!     xx, Lauren

The Forgotten Ones
 
The Danaan Trilogy
 
Book One
 
is now available exclusively on Amazon!
 

 

Allison O’Malley’s plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she’s been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison’s mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn’t trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother’s sanity.

 




About Laura Howard

Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Connect with Laura:
Blog | Twitter | Facebook |




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Moms: Getting Your Groove Back

Your Advice on “Grooving”

 

Happy Monday! Hope your weekend was wonderful! Mine was great … I spent it with my boys and friends at our street’s annual block party. It was a gorgeous evening with cool temperatures, filled with the scent of steaks on the grill, Crawfish boiling, and the sounds of laughter and a live band.

While we’re talking about fun and fantastic weekends, I’m working on an article for Parents & Kids Magazine about helping new moms Get their GROOVE back—after having babies. For me, what helped the most was spending time with my girlfriends who had kids the same age. We would walk (a lot), talk (a lot), swap recipes, chat about our lack of sleep and marvel at the amount of time we had B.C. (before children).

So, as I’m working on the article over the next several days, I’d love your thoughts and advice about how YOU or your friends got your groove back after becoming a parent. Did you get massages, start to exercise, schedule date nights, or just lie in the tub while a friend came over to watch your little cherubs?

Share your best advice in a quick comment below, leave me your email address, and I’ll send you a copy of Stardust Summer! (.mobi or .epub). I’ll need your thoughts by midnight tonight, though, so that I can meet my deadline!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts & have a wonderful week, everyone!

 

xx, Lauren

 

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Alabama Book Festival

Sun, Swag & Stories
at the Alabama Book Festival

 

It was a gorgeous, sunny weekend for this year’s Alabama Book Festival!

Entrance to Montgomery’s Old Town

Saturday morning, I explored many of the rustic buildings in Montgomery’s Old Town, browsed in the Capital Book and News on-site bookstore, caught up with friends, picked up my author “swag bag, “and enjoyed a picnic lunch outside.

Capitol News and Books

Old Town

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the 40 featured authors were Birmingham native and New York Times bestselling novelist Sena Jeter Naslund (Ahab’s Wife) and Therese Anne Fowler, who talked about her new book, Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald.

My friend Kerry Madden and her lovely daughter, Lucy Madden-Lunsford, discussed their new children’s book, Nothing Fancy About Kathryn and Charlie, based on the friendship between Alabama artist Charlie Lucas and Alabama storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham.

I wrapped up the afternoon in Tent “F” (Fiction) and gave a talk about the perils, pitfalls, and payoffs of Indie Publishing. Afterward, I was thrilled to catch up with Alabama Book Festival Organizer, Gail Waller, two friends from Clayton, Alabama–Jolene and Betty–and Dothan library director Bettye Forbus.

Meeting Alabama Book Festival Organizer Gail Waller

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to listen to my talk, ask questions, and or pick up signed copies of Dancing Naked in Dixie or Stardust Summer!

Signing Books under the Arbor at the Alabama Book Festival

If you’ve never been to the Alabama Book Festival, I highly recommend marking it down for next year! It’s a free event, set in a historic Old Town Montgomery, and features many fun activities for the entire family.

ALSO ~ If you’re a Southern author, don’t hesitate to get involved for the 2014 Festival. The staff and volunteers are wonderful to work with, the events ran like clockwork, and I was made to feel very welcome and appreciated.

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The “Author” Green Room

For more information, check out www.alabamabookfestival.org.

Author Roster: You can find my name at the VERY bottom!

Have a great week, everyone!

xx, Lauren

 

 

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2013 Alabama Book Festival

Alabama Book Festival
2013 Author Lineup

 

I’m thrilled to be among more than forty authors presenting at this year’s Alabama Book Festival this Saturday, April 20th in Montgomery!

The Festival, held on the historic grounds of Old Alabama Town, attracts between 4,000 and 5,000 avid readers from Alabama and surrounding states each year. During the daylong festival, authors will read excerpts, answer questions and sign books.

Several other featured authors include:

Therese Anne Fowler, recently interviewed on National Public Radio concerning her new book, “Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald.” Her fictional account of the life of the famous Montgomery native is a “Best Pick for 2013” by Huffington Post.
Birmingham native and New York Times bestselling author Sena Jeter Naslund, author of “Ahab’s Wife.” “Adam and Eve” is her latest book.
James Cherry, who was nominated for a NAACP Image Award in 2009 for his poetry collection “Honoring the Ancestors.”
Michael Morris, who will be discussing his new release, “Man in the Moon,” which author Pat Conroy has called “One of the best portraits of a small Southern town I’ve ever encountered.”
Tim Dorsey, a former journalist for the now defunct Alabama Journal newspaper. He has published 16 novels in several languages. His latest is “The Riptide Ultra-Glide.”

A list of all of the authors, brief biographies, along with hours and other information can be found HERE.

Festival grounds open at 9 a.m. Hours for the festival are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public. The festival concludes with the Alabama Readers Theatre performing Harper Lee’s play, “Now Is the Time for All Good Men.”

Alabama Book Festival authors’ books will be for sale on the Festival grounds through Montgomery bookstore Capitol Book and News.

For more information on the 2013 Festival, visit http://www.alabamabookfestival.org.

If you’re near Montgomery, please stop by and say hello! My presentation begins at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday!

 

xx, Lauren

 

 

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Eufaula Pilgrimage 2013

Fiction, Friends, & Fun
in the Heart of Dixie

 

After a quick flight from Upstate New York to Atlanta, I made the drive into the heart of Eufaula, Alabama on Saturday for the 58th annual Pilgrimage. The streets and sidewalks were packed with visitors from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee—enjoying the balmy temperatures, sunshine, and blooming Azaleas.

I was fortunate enough to watch the festivities from the front porch of Shorter Mansion, where everyone was treated to music from this talented duo …

A welcome from a Confederate soldier …

And tours of the mansion from lovely young ladies in hoop skirts and men in period costume …

I was so fortunate to spend the afternoon with fellow author Jeanetta Britt, who lives in Eufaula. Look her up … she’s on Facebook and the small sample I’ve read from her poetry is wonderful!

I want to say a big thank you and send out huge hugs to everyone who stopped by, said hello, chatted with me about books and the Pilgrimage, and bought copies of Dancing Naked in Dixie, Stay Tuned, and Stardust Summer! Y’all truly made my weekend!!

For now, it’s back to Mobile, Alabama and back to work on Pie Girls!  I’m eager for everyone to meet Searcy Roberts and follow her adventures.

Have a fabulous week, everyone!

xx, Lauren
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The Eagle Has Landed …

Stardust Summer ~
Paperback Edition Out!

 

Happy Friday y’all!!!

YAY!  The Stardust Summer paperback has officially been released on Amazon (Happy Dance! Whoops and Hollering)

So …. If you’ve been craving the smell of a REAL book, the feel of smooth pages between your fingers, and need a break from your Kindle or Nook, hop on over to this landing page and place your order!

 

Here’s the link:  Stardust Summer Paperback

 

Check out the fabulous formatting (stars above every chapter reading!), the Readers Guide (exclusive to the paperback edition right now), and the amazing, eye-popping cover design (I adore you, Damonza, for your always creative wow-factor!)

Drop me a line and let me know that you’ve ordered a copy (or ten) and I’ll ship you off some absolutely fabulous swag, including my brand-new Stardust Summer bookmarks and snazzy, updated business cards! Leave your email in the comments below to snap up the swag!

BTW – I’ll be in Eufaula at the Pilgrimage this weekend …. and will take lots of photos of the festivities and fun to post Monday!  Hope your Saturday and Sunday are filled with sunshine!!!

 

xx, Lauren

 

 

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Join the Fun & Festivities in Eufaula

Fun & Festivities in Eufaula

 

This weekend, I’m so excited to join the fun and festivities of the 48th annual Eufaula Pilgrimage. I’ll be signing Dancing Naked in Dixie and joining  other Deep South authors to celebrate the city’s long-standing heritage! The events begin Friday evening, April 4th and run through Sunday, April 7th. See all of the details below.

 

 

Here’s a description taken straight from the www.eufaulapilgrimage.com website:

Experience Southern hospitality at its finest when you visit Eufaula, Alabama during its 48th Annual Pilgrimage on April 5-7, 2013!

Beautiful historic homes, built in the days when “cotton was king,” will be open to visitors during this nostalgic return to the Old South. Grand antebellum and Victorian mansions built by 19th-century planters and merchants still house family heirlooms, the precious symbols of a bygone era.

 

Most of the homes are private residences, open only during the annual Pilgrimage. As you stroll from Greek Revival cottages to Italianate showplaces, your path will be lined with colorful azaleas and dogwoods. Beautifully landscaped gardens and manicured parkways will entice you through the Seth Lore-Irwinton Historic District. Southern belles in hoops and bustles will grace the area and greet you warmly as you pass.

Something for everyone can be found in Eufaula during the spring tour of homes. An open-air art exhibit, gardens, afternoon teas, candlelight tours, musical entertainment and more complement the Pilgrimage experience. A prestigious antique show will appeal to browsers and collectors. Buildings dating from the 1800s await you in a revitalized downtown. Many of them are open to the public during the annual tour!

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

 

Thursday, April 4

Ticket Office Open from 12:00 noon – 6pm at First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall; 201 N. Randolph Ave.
Three on a String – Performance (music, comedy and skits) – 7:00 pm at Eufaula City Auditorium $25 – Reservations Required. Find out more about Three on a String HERE.

 

Friday, April 5

Ticket Office open from 8:00 am – 7:30 pm; First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 201 N. Randolph Ave.
2013 Eufaula Pilgrimage Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – FREE – 9:00 am at Shorter Mansion, 340 N. Eufaula Avenue
Daytime Tours: Homes and Gardens – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Art Show and Sale from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Seth Lore Historic District on N. Randolph Ave.
Afternoon Tea – Shorter Mansion from 2:00 and 4:00 – Reservations Required – $20
Club Dining at Eufaula Country Club, 2650 Country Club Rd. – Reservations Required – Buffett 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Concessions – All weekend on North Randolph Ave.
Local Dining – Comprehensive list available at the Ticket Office
Candlelight Tours: Homes from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Tales from the Tomb – 7:00 pm Fairview Cemetery on N. Eufaula Avenue
Voices from the Past – Historic Tour of Fairview Cemetery on N. Eufaula Avenue

 

Saturday, April 6

Ticket Office Opens 8:00 am – 7:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 201 N. Randolph Ave.
Daytime Tours: Homes and Gardens – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Art Show and Sale from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Seth Lore Historic District on N. Randolph Ave.
Langham Lecture and Luncheon – $35; Reservations Required – 12:30 pm-Eufaula Country Club, 2650 Country Club Road (Click here for more information)
Afternoon Tea at Shorter Mansion from 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm – Reservations Required – $20
Club Dining at Eufaula Country Club, 2650 Country Club Rd. – Reservations Required Buffett 11:00 am – 12:00 noon
Concessions – All weekend on North Randolph Ave.
Local Dining – Comprehensive list available at the Ticket Office
Candlelight Tours: Homes from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Tales from the Tomb – 7:00 pm Fairview Cemetery on N. Eufaula Avenue
Voices from the Past – Historic Tour of Fairview Cemetery on N. Eufaula Avenue

Sunday, April 7

Ticket Office Opens at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 201 N. Randolph Ave.
Sunday Brunch – $20 at Shorter Mansion or Ticket Office – Reservations Required, Sunday 9:00 am – Noon, 340 North Eufaula Ave.
Daytime Tours: Homes and Gardens 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Art Show and Sale; 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Seth Lore Historic District on N. Randolph Ave.
Concessions – All weekend on North Randolph Ave.
Local Dining – Comprehensive list available at the Ticket Office

 

Hope to see you in Eufaula this weekend!

 

xx. Lauren

 

 

 

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Sizzling Six Blog Tour Winners

Sizzling Six Blog Tour Winners

 

Seven years ago, I began my writing journey, typing out stories between my day job as a pharmaceutical sales rep and full-time job as a mom to two fabulous boys. On those many early mornings, I woke up before anyone else in the house, began typing, and building a novel about Grace Mason, her son, Evan, and her love interest, Dr. Ryan Gordon.

At the time, I wasn’t sure that ANYONE would read Stardust Summer. Would they enjoy Grace’s journey from Mississippi to Upstate New York? Would they clap a hand over their mouths at Kathleen’s wacky and misguided adventures? Would they want to hug Evan every time he bounced back into a scene, or think about kissing the handsome and available Ryan Gordon after he dashes to the rescue? Would they want a happy ending?

Today, seven years later, I’m lucky enough to have many readers who’ve liked Grace’s story. I’m fortunate enough to have hardworking, talented bloggers who  share my novel with their readers (Among them Jersey Girl Book Reviews, Chick Lit Reviews & News, Christine Raines, Romance Bookie, Kaisy Daisys Corner, Books Etc., and Chick Lit Cafe) BIG HUGS to everyone who’s left comments on blogs, reviews on Amazon, chatted with me on Twitter, emailed, or left sweet notes on GoodReads. Y’all rock!!!!!

Thank you, everyone, for reading my books, letting me know what you enjoyed, and making suggestions about what you’d like to see in future novels (HELLO? More Romance!!!!!!!)

This morning, it’s my turn to give back. My Stardust Summer tour with Colette and ABG Reads has wrapped up, and it’s time to announce the winners!

 

 

 

$10 Gift Card to Amazon or BN.com*

Maureen Carol 

 Josie Haney Hink 



Kelly Ford Powell



Wajiha Rashad 

 

Amber Hall

One Signed Paperback copy of  Dancing Naked in Dixie

Stacey Price

 

Thank you to everyone who entered the Rafflecopter Contest!  
*Winners, please contact me at laurenclarkbooks@gmail.com with your preferred Gift Card (Amazon or BN.com). Stacey Price, I’ll need your address to mail out your paperback book and fun swag!

 

Have a great Monday!

 

xx, Lauren

 

 

 

 

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Festival of Flowers Photos

A Blustery, Flowery Week

 

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

I’m happy to report that after chilly, decidedly un-Deep South like temperatures, blustery winds, and last-minute deliveries, this year’s Festival of Flowers was a wonderful success!

Here’s a photo of me next to the Dancing Naked in Dixie Display. This photo was taken Wednesday, before the Festival of Flowers opened. If you look closely, you’ll see that I’m sporting a lovely pair of peach flip-flops on my feet….  (Oops!)

 

 

Here’s a photo of my talented friends, Ricky Bradford and Bruce Rockstad, who created this fabulous, one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras mask.

 

Here’s a shot of the mansion facade that was built and placed INSIDE the Festival tents specifically for the event. (part of the Bellingrath Gardens Display)

 

 

This display was called the Queen’s Luncheon and was created by Port City Rentals in Mobile, Alabama.

 

 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my dear friends, Ted and Linda Hicks, who sent me brochures, maps, and pictures of the many antebellum homes in Eufaula, Alabama.Those items were tucked in among the roses and azaleas, and the color pictures of the mansions (snipped out of the Pilgrimage brochure!) were hung in frames on the graden trellis that framed the backdrop of the Dixie Display.

 

 

This next photo is of my sweet friends who (truly) put the Dixie display together! Thank you to Bruce, Valerie Case, Ricky, Jana Simpson, Lucy Cope, and design consultant Doug. We couldn’t have done it without you! The design concept was all Jana Simpson … extra BIG hugs to her!

 

 

Also, much appreciation goes to the Medical Alliance of Mobile (and the Alliance book club) who sponsored the Dancing Naked in Dixie ”Seeds of Wisdom” Book Display!

If you didn’t make it out to the Festival of Flowers this year, be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s event! All proceeds benefit Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama.

Thank you to everyone for their kind words, text messages, emails, and compliments on the Dixie Display! It truly was a team effort and I was honored to have my novel nestled among all of the fabulous flowers and arrangements!

 

Cheers and flowers,

 

xx, Lauren

 

 

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