Samantha Hastings's Blog, page 14
October 2, 2019
A New Book Deal!
A ROYAL CHRISTMAS QUANDARY is a funny YA historical romance set in a castle with missing princes, parlor games, and mistaken identities.
Add it to your Goodreads TBR list now!
October 1, 2019
October's Newsletter
October Newsletter
(click here to read)
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Recommended reads!
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September 27, 2019
Anya and the Dragon
My friend Sofiya Pasternack's wonderful middle grade fantasy, Anya and the Dragon is now out!
To celebrate her launch party, Tiana and I wore matching T-shirts.My Review:
Full of wit, warmth, and adventure, this heartwarming fantasy is a must read!
What I loved
August 29, 2019
Facebook Giveaway!
Enter here!!!Grab my book on Amazon for this amazing price! I don't know how much longer it will last!
"Refreshing ... Lucinda, a young Victorian woman with a modern sensibility well ahead of her time, has plenty of pluck and determination. Hastings' breezy prose and crafty plotting will leave readers racing to uncover her own last installment." ―BookPage
"This book was so lovely! Lucinda’s spunky personality mixed with her independent nature made her one of my favorite female MCs ... If you love historical romance than you’ll definitely love this one!" ―The Clever Reader
"I was blown away by the wonderful feminist themes throughout this book, and Hastings delivered them with such a witty punch. Lucinda is the type of heroine girls need to read about! ... This book was everything I’d hoped it would be and then some." ―YA and Wine
August 21, 2019
Half-off Sale!
My book is on sale for more than half off on Amazon! I stumbled across this amazing price ($8.77) by chance, so I don't know how long it will last. If you haven't bought my book yet, you won't find a better price!
August 5, 2019
2019 Whitney Awards Nominee
I'm delighted to share that THE LAST WORD is a 2019 Whitney Awards Nominee!What is a Whitney Award?It's an award for excellence in novels written by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When will I find out if you won?In February 2020, the finalists in each category will be announced and members of the Storymakers Guild will vote for the winner. The winner will be announced at their annual gala in May.
Want to know more?Check out the Whitney Awards website for more information about the awards and discover the titles of past winners.
July 10, 2019
The Last Word Book Launch Party
What a lovely group of people! I am so grateful for the friends, family, and even a few fans (I didn't know I had those) who came to support me at The King's English Bookshop in SLC. They were gracious enough to wear the fascinators and pearl earrings that I made. Fancy Nancy would have approved.
I was in conversation with Mackenzi Lee and we had a great time talking about Victorian underwear and my book, The Last Word.
The best part of my writer's journey has been the friends that I've made.
The Novel 19s group (Authors debuting this year: Addie Thorley, me, Erin Stewart, Tiana Smith, Crystal Pasternack, RuthAnne Snow, and Crystal Smith)
There's so many amazing authors in Utah and they are the kindest people you'll ever meet. And sometimes silly, Summer and I are lifting a leg. I'm not sure why.(More amazing local authors: Emily R. King, Tricia Levenseller, me, Kathryn Purdie, and Summer Spence)
It was a wonderful night and I am so very grateful.
July 8, 2019
Guess These Famous Last Words
Can you guess these classic titles by their last lines?
"Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.""It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”"Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this.""I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath, and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers, for the sleepers in that quiet earth.""'God's in his heaven, all’s right with the world,' whispered Anne softly."“But, in spite of these deficiencies, the wishes, the hopes, the confidence, the predictions of the small band of true friends who witnessed the ceremony, were fully answered in the perfect happiness of the union.” “But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.""With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them, and they were both sensible of the warmest gratitude towards persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them."“How shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?” she whispered, after some time of delicious silence.
“Let me speak to her.”
“Oh, no! I owe to her,—but what will she say?”
“I can guess. Her first exclamation will be, ‘That man!’”
“Hush!' said Margaret, “or I shall try and show you your mother's indignant tones as she says, ‘That woman!’”“She gloried in being a sailor’s wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to a profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in it’s national importance.”Answers below picture
Gone With the Wind by Margaret MitchellA Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottWuthering Heights Emily BronteAnne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud MontgomeryEmma by Jane AustenMiddlemarch by George ElliotPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenNorth and South by Elizabeth GaskellPersuasion by Jane Austen
"Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.""It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”"Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this.""I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath, and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers, for the sleepers in that quiet earth.""'God's in his heaven, all’s right with the world,' whispered Anne softly."“But, in spite of these deficiencies, the wishes, the hopes, the confidence, the predictions of the small band of true friends who witnessed the ceremony, were fully answered in the perfect happiness of the union.” “But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.""With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them, and they were both sensible of the warmest gratitude towards persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them."“How shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?” she whispered, after some time of delicious silence.
“Let me speak to her.”
“Oh, no! I owe to her,—but what will she say?”
“I can guess. Her first exclamation will be, ‘That man!’”
“Hush!' said Margaret, “or I shall try and show you your mother's indignant tones as she says, ‘That woman!’”“She gloried in being a sailor’s wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to a profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in it’s national importance.”Answers below picture
Gone With the Wind by Margaret MitchellA Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottWuthering Heights Emily BronteAnne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud MontgomeryEmma by Jane AustenMiddlemarch by George ElliotPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenNorth and South by Elizabeth GaskellPersuasion by Jane Austen
June 23, 2019
The Last Word Tea Party / Book Launch
"So what do you do at a book launch?" my mom asked me.
In case you've never been to a book launch either, I'll tell you. A book launch is really a party for the book. Who doesn't love a party, right? All parties are a little different, but some things you can expect at a book launch: The author to talk about and/or read from their bookQ & A with the audienceBook signings at the end And more...Stick out your pinkies, friends, we're going full out Tea Party style at my book launch for, The Last Word.
First things, first. What's a tea party without a fascinator? I made a ton of these cute little hair accessories so you can feel just like Kate Middleton (Prince William not included).
Come early and pick your favorite to put in your hair!
I also made pearl earrings for all of you too. I only wish that I could feed you delicious tea party treats, but the bookstore didn't think that was a very good idea by all of their new books. Go figure!
I am going to read a little excerpt from my book and be in conversation with an amazing author...but I'm not going to name drop. That's terrible manners. But she is really awesome.
Next we are going to play a literary game! To win one of these adorable quills (I have 16; an odd number but that's the amount they came with) you must guess what the last lines of famous Young Adult and 19th Century novels.
Then I'm going to raffle my favorite things, but I promise that I won't sing. I have seven trays full of books, tea pots, tea cups, quills, handkerchiefs, tea tins, and more.
A close up, because they're just so cute!
And lastly, I will sign books and giveaway more swag. I've got bookmarks made by the many-talented Crystal Smith (check out her books), book pins, and stickers.
I hope my party sounds like your cup of tea and I'll see you on July 9th @ 7pm at The King's English Bookshop.
In case you've never been to a book launch either, I'll tell you. A book launch is really a party for the book. Who doesn't love a party, right? All parties are a little different, but some things you can expect at a book launch: The author to talk about and/or read from their bookQ & A with the audienceBook signings at the end And more...Stick out your pinkies, friends, we're going full out Tea Party style at my book launch for, The Last Word.
First things, first. What's a tea party without a fascinator? I made a ton of these cute little hair accessories so you can feel just like Kate Middleton (Prince William not included).
Come early and pick your favorite to put in your hair!
I also made pearl earrings for all of you too. I only wish that I could feed you delicious tea party treats, but the bookstore didn't think that was a very good idea by all of their new books. Go figure!
I am going to read a little excerpt from my book and be in conversation with an amazing author...but I'm not going to name drop. That's terrible manners. But she is really awesome.Next we are going to play a literary game! To win one of these adorable quills (I have 16; an odd number but that's the amount they came with) you must guess what the last lines of famous Young Adult and 19th Century novels.
Then I'm going to raffle my favorite things, but I promise that I won't sing. I have seven trays full of books, tea pots, tea cups, quills, handkerchiefs, tea tins, and more.
A close up, because they're just so cute!
And lastly, I will sign books and giveaway more swag. I've got bookmarks made by the many-talented Crystal Smith (check out her books), book pins, and stickers. I hope my party sounds like your cup of tea and I'll see you on July 9th @ 7pm at The King's English Bookshop.
June 13, 2019
A Dream Come True in the Mail
On my front porch this morning I found a package. Inside there was a beautifully wrapped book from my editor, Emily Settle.
I eagerly unwrapped the package and held my finished book for the first time. It's gorgeous! Katie Klimowicz did an amazing job designing both the exterior and the interior of my book.
Dreams do come true. Mine did, only today.
THE LAST WORD
I eagerly unwrapped the package and held my finished book for the first time. It's gorgeous! Katie Klimowicz did an amazing job designing both the exterior and the interior of my book.
Dreams do come true. Mine did, only today.
THE LAST WORD
