Samantha Verant's Blog, page 9

Seve Letters from Paris is $1.99 (again) on Amazon US #kindle

What a deal!If you missed the Kindle Daily Deal on Friday, or if you know somebody that might be interested in my book, you're getting a second chance to grab a copy of Seven Letters from Paris for $1.99. At this price, why not gift a copy to a friend? Or two?
Click HERE!
Honestly, I thought the daily deal was a one time thing, so I was a bit surprised to see the pricing this morning. But I'm not complaining! 
Share the love, people! share the love!
Best wishes and bisous from Toulouse (where I'm curled up in my bed with a nasty cold),
xox
Samantha

Seven Letters from Paris is the Kindle Daily Deal! Today only! Love for a $1.99!

In a world constantly bombarded with trauma and bloodshed, it's nice to know that some of us still believe in LOVE. I do. I really do. So let's forget about HATE for a few moments and focus on LOVE – the reason I decided to share my crazy love adventure with the masses.   I'm glad I took the leap.  And leap...I did.
My memoir, Seven Letters from Paris, is about second chances in both life and in love. In it, I finally open up my heart to LOVE. Today ONLY,  in the US and Canada, Amazon has chosen Seven Letters from Paris as the Kindle Daily Deal in biographies and memoirs. A slice of LOVE can be yours for the VERY low price of $1.99 – cheaper than a gourmet chocolate bar or a café latte. (Hey, we all have our vices. A heartwarming book about LOVE should be one of them...)
Here are the linky, links:
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
If you have a Nook, Barnes & Noble is matching Amazon's price!!! Huzzah!
Admittedly, I'm a bit nervous for this big sale. But... I'm also excited. Because the best part about being a writer is connecting with readers. I've received kind emails, tags on Instagram, messages on Facebook, wonderful reviews, and tweets from people who connected to my story in one way or another. Sometimes these lovely souls share their journeys, hopes, and fears with me, too. It's wonderful. Magic. Amazing. And, soon, I'll be sharing some of these stories with you. On that, if you have a story you'd like to share, hit me up here. It can be anonymous. You can change names. There's just one little caveat: the topic has to be LOVE. 

Bisous from Toulouse,
xox
Samantha

Spread the word. Share the love. (Really, share this post! Please!)

Happy New Year!!!

In just a few hours, we'll be ringing in a new year. My advice to you:
Sing like no one is listening.
Love like you’ve never been hurt.
Dance like nobody’s watching,
and Live like it’s heaven on earth.
I'm thankful for so many things – my family, my friends old and new, and living a simple life full of love, love, love! 2014 has been quite the ride. On October 7th, Sourcebooks released my memoir, SEVEN LETTERS FROM PARIS, into the wild. Prior to that, I worked diligently on the book's launch and, well, lived and loved my life to the fullest. An active family, we skied in the Pyrénées, surfed in Biarritz, and went scuba diving in Spain and in France. There was a lot of singing, loving, dancing, and living, too.
My nephew Steeve (yes, with an extra e) married the beautiful Laura in La Ciotat (the husband's home town) in June. And, earlier this year, the handsome Ollie proposed to my sister, Jessica. I didn't make it back to the US this year, but I did meet up with my family in Italy for some fun...and wedding planning. Jessica and Ollie will marry this coming June!
Prior to Jess's nuptials, Jean-Luc and I will celebrate our 5th anniversary on May 7th. It seems like only yesterday I took that fateful flight to France to rekindle my romance with the Frenchman that got away. After five years of living in France, I've found my feet. No longer do the Christmas celebrations with twenty people speed-talking in French intimidate this American girl. My life is here now. And, I must say, I love it. Jean-Luc and I work perfectly together, focusing on life's ups rather than the downs. (We crush the downs together...)
The kids and I are closer than ever, which makes next year a bit hard. Elvire will be graduating high school this June...and she wants to attend university in Canada. (Schools in Quebec have reciprocity with France). I suppose I'll cross that bridge later. 
Note: Somebody pass me the tissues come August!
BOOK NEWS
Seven Letters from Paris has been doing better than I ever imagined. In addition to the US and Australian editions, translation rights have sold to SEVEN countries so far: Brazil, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Korea, Lithuania, Serbia, and the Slovak Republic. Unbelievable! Pinch me! 
For those in Australia, Seven Letters was featured on the weekend edition of the Today Show, meaning I was on the show, too – filmed right here in a studio in Toulouse via satellite. They could see me. I couldn't see them. And I didn't realize how nervous I was until the taping was over. It was truly a new experience. I didn't see the segment, but one of my sister's friend's in Oz took the below picture of her television set and posted it on Facebook. (She said I did great, but who knows???)
My first TV appearance via satellite.
Seven Letters was also featured on a national radio show in Australia: ABC's Life Matters. You can listen to a streaming version of the emission here.

I do have more book news. But I can't share it just yet. Soon, though! I promise...

All in all,  2014 was an incredible year and I'm looking forward to 2015. I'll be toasting all of you tonight with a glass (or two) of bubbly. Thank you so, so, so much for being a part of this incredible journey! Here's hoping all of your hopes, dreams, and wishes come true this coming year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 
A NOTE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS
So you want to write creative nonfiction in 2015?

Commit to your calling in Jan. and Feb. Candace Walsh will be teaching an 8-week online class ($500) through the Taos Summer Writers Conference's Rananim program. Registration deadline: January 3! Proceeds support the reopening of Taos's D.H. Lawrence Ranch. Here's the link to Candace's class:  http://bit.ly/cwclass -- and you can read more about Rananim's mission in this Santa Fe New Mexican article (bit.ly/sfnmdhlrananim).

If you're serious about honing your craft, I highly recommend Candace to guide you.

------

Well, that's it for now. See you next year!
Best wishes and bisous from Toulouse,
xox and cheers!
Samantha

Note: It's time to celebrate. Comments are disabled. 

Wednesday is All Write: Happy Holidays and a Book Giveaway

'Tis the season for giving, sharing, and caring. And I'm giving away one signed copy of SEVEN LETTERS FROM PARIS + a charm book mark. (One of the charms from my wedding!)

All you have to do is share this post via Facebook or Twitter with a quick word about how SEVEN LETTERS FROM PARIS is the perfect holiday gift for anybody who believes (or wants to believe) in love, hope, or second chances in life. Then, head on over to Facebook (Post by Seven Love Letters from Paris) and write "shared" in the comments.
I will use RaffleCopter to select a random winner on Christmas Day. 
Share away!

Happy holidays to you and yours! Merci mille fois! Et bon courage! From the bottom to the top of my heart, I thank you for your support! 

Wednesday is All Write: Talking Turkey with Elizabeth Bard

I haven't blogged for a while. Sorry! Life gets busy. After all the guest posts and interviews for my book launch (see the blog tour page above), well, I'm a bit spent. (I'm so over myself. Really, I am. But a book doesn't promote itself. And I worked so hard for this. Tangent: Seven Letters from Paris makes a great x-mas gift...to give to yourself). Now that we have blatant self-promotion out of the way...

One of the bonuses of being an actual author (I can call myself an author now!) is meeting other authors–– well, the sweet ones like Elizabeth Bard (author of Lunch in Paris and the forthcoming Picnic in Provence)--- and becoming friends with them. I first met Elizabeth via email when I asked her if she would be kind enough to provide a 'blurb' for my book. Elizabeth was honest with her reply: "I can't agree to blurb a book I haven't read. But send it my way. If I like it..."
My respect for Elizabeth grew and then some.
Thankfully, she liked Seven Letters. And I thank her from the bottom of my heart.
Since then, I met up with Elizabeth and her family this past summer at her ice cream shop in Céreste, France: Scaramouche (ermagad-the best ice cream in the world!). And I made a new friend. 
Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, and I wanted to thank Elizabeth. So, I invited her to Toulouse to spend T-Day with us. She accepted my invitation - not an easy trek. We live four and a half hours away from one another.
Note: A big thanks goes to my butcher. This year, I didn't have to saw off the turkey's head with my husband's electric saw. Prayer hands.
I went all out. Cooking is love. 

Elizabeth and me. The stuffing. Homemade all the way...with French bread (day old baguettes, chopped),
pecans, celery, pomegranate, onions, green apples and fresh herbs.
The table. And a glimpse of my cranberry, coconut. and clementine orange 'sauce.' My roasted potimarron soup. (recipe to come soon. you will lick your bowls clean). Carmelized Brussell Sprouts w/ Lardons, Shallots, and a balsamic glaze.
(A bit burnt during the second heating...but nom, nom, nom (miam, miam) so good! A book to savor.Hell, yeah! I'm a lucky-ass girl. Elizabeth sent me an advance copy of her new book, Picnic in Provence. I just finished it today and I'm still licking my lips. It's delicious, full of joy, and a book to savor-- one chapter and recipe at a time.

p.s. My creamy garlic potatoes didn't get a photo shoot. And neither did the green bean casserole.  Food. There was lots of it. Also missing from the paparazzi glare? Elizabeth's amaze-balls pumpkin cheesecake. We ate it up.  (The recipe is in her latest book...)
Yep, the best part of Thanksgiving this year was the company. Cheers!

G'Day from France, Australia!!!!

Launch Day! Here we go!

Where's my landing pad?
Today is the big day! Seven Letters from Paris has been launched in Australia and New Zealand! I wish I could click my heels together and emerge in Oz or NZ right now, but I've misplaced my ruby slippers! It's on my bucket list to explore both beautiful countries, and, one day, it might happen. Just not today. Sigh. Once again, I'm missing out on the thrill of seeing my book on the shelves. If you live in Australia or New Zealand and happen upon my book in the wild, PLEASE take a picture and send it on to me via Facebook or Twitter! At the very least, I can experience the excitement virtually!

Merci! Merci! Merci!
Although the official virtual book tour for the Oz edition starts in a few days, I've included a few extra posts! Here's the schedule:


Monday 20th OctoberJarrah Jungle –Reviewhttp://jarrahjungle.blogspot.fr/2014/10/book-review-and-preview-seven-letters.html
note: I had to Google TimTams!
Sunday 2nd NovemberBooktopia – Ten Terrifying Questions! (Interview)http://blog.booktopia.com.au/tag/seven-letters-from-paris/
Monday 3rd NovemberWrite Note Reviews- Reviewhttp://writenotereviews.com/2014/11/03/review-seven-letters-from-paris-by-samantha-verant-2/
Thursday 6th NovemberBook’d Out - Reviewwww.bookdout.wordpress.com
Friday 7th NovemberThe Literary Gossip – Q&Ahttp://literarygossip.com/
Saturday 8th NovemberWrite Note Reviews – Guest Bloghttp://writenotereviews.com/
Sunday 9th NovemberStarts at Sixty – Reviewhttp://www.startsatsixty.com.au/
Monday 10th November1 Girl 2 Many Books - Reviewhttp://1girl2manybooks.wordpress.com/
Tuesday 11th NovemberLets Review Stuff – Reviewhttp://letsreviewstuffblog.wordpress.com/
Wednesday 12th NovemberParanormal Angel – Guest bloghttp://paranormal-angel.blogspot.com.au/
Thursday 13th NovemberBook Muster Down Under – Q&Ahttp://bookmusterdownunder.blogspot.com.au

I'll update the links as they come in and post them in the navigation menu under blog tours.
I'm nervous. I'm excited. And I hope everybody enjoys the book.
Cheers!
All my best wishes and bisous from Toulouse,
xox
Samantha

Monday Musings- wow- what a month!

Two book launches, three birthdays, and some stellar news!
October has truly been an epic month! 
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On October 7th, Sourcebooks, my publisher, released Seven Letters from Paris in the United States, followed by Canada, the UK, and Europe on October 15th! Since then, a bunch of you have been emailing me, or tweeting, or posting pictures of the book on the shelves or on the beach or simply holding it. I appreciate this more than you know! It's every author's dream to see their book in the wild, and, at the very least, I'm able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime thrill virtually. I've also received more than a few kind notes from readers. My heart is going to burst!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

On October 15th, Booklist – the magazine the New York Times calls "the acquisitions bible for public and school librarians nationwide," and whose newsletter/site recommends new titles to over 30,000 subscribers – posted their sparkly review of  Seven Letters from Paris, calling it "a passionate, romantic, spring-in-the-step read."

My book launch cake! Almost too pretty to eat! Nom-nom-nom!

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On October 18th, I celebrated my thirtieth birthday (for the fifteenth time!), my mom celebrated her fiftieth birthday (again) on October 25th, and, today, October 27th is Max's fifteenth birthday.
My birthday cake!
Max's birthday cake.Methinks it's time to go on a diet...well, not yet...
On October 21st, Month9Books/Tantrum Books released my middle grade novel, King of the Mutants, (please check out King of the Mutants for more info!) and I also received BRILLIANT news! Brazil bought the foreign rights to Seven Letters from Paris! 
 

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Tomorrow, October 28th, Ann Mah's Mastering the Art of French Eating releases in paperback! Ann was kind enough to support the Seven Letters from Paris launch by offering a giveaway of her delicious memoir...and there is still time to win! Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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You'd think I could relax now, kick my feet up, and enjoy a glass of wine. But no! Random House is releasing the Australia edition of Seven Letters from Paris on November 3rd! Really, it's all quite exciting! Plus, since I'm not a celebrity, I have to keep the momentum going. So a special thanks goes to those of you who have purchased Seven Letters and to those who have left reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads. You guys rock my world! Please keep spreading the word!



Best wishes and bisous from Toulouse!
xox
Samantha 

The Beat Goes On...

Seven Letters from Paris is part of Random House Australia's 'Random 10' program, The Australian / New Zealand edition, of which, is forthcoming on November 3rd! Check out the video below, where my amazing OZ editor, Fiona Henderson, talks about Seven Letters!


That's right! Any woman with a heartbeat will love Seven Letters!
Tomorrow, I will be on The Inspirational Learning Show -Tues. Oct. 21, 2014, at 11 am PST, talking about life and love with Pamela Dollison! It's an internet based show, so be sure to tune in: http://www.latalkradio.com

And, finally, my middle grade novel, King of the Mutants, will be released tomorrow! 




For all the news, reviews, and chances to win copies of the book for your kids (or you), please head over to Maverick's site: KING OF THE MUTANTS! 

Maverick needed his own space! Life, love, living in France (and mutants!) just wasn't working for him.

Again, thank you all so much for your support! Along with my actual birthday, it's my book birthday month! I'm taking a little rest from blogging this week, but will be back soon! Hey, I just gave birth to two books! And I turned thirty. Again.


All my best wishes and gros bisous from Toulouse!
xox
Samantha

Booklist, Book Lover, and...a break!

Thank you to Karina Waters from Château de Gudanes
for capturing this moment!
I'm happy to say that Seven Letters from Paris received a sparkling review on Booklist , the magazine the New York Times calls "the acquisitions bible for public and school librarians nationwide," and whose newsletter/site recommends new titles to over 30,000 subscribers! The entire review will be available on Amazon. com soon, but here's a little teaser for now:

“A passionate, romantic, spring-in-the-step read.”
This is great news, my friends! Great news! I'm so happy! (Clap along) If you feel like a room without a roof! Because I'm happy. Clap along! If you feel like happiness is the truth...

Forgive me if I'm being self-indulgent, but when it comes to happiness, well, we owe it to ourselves to find it whenever we can! And I'm happy.

And...the beat goes on for the blog tour!
Today, Book Lover Book Reviews has posted a wonderfully honest review of Seven Letters from Paris + a giveaway! Thank you, Joanne!

What a week! Tomorrow's my birthday!I can't believe I'm turning 29 again! (Groundhog Day!) So far, it's been a great birthday month!
Again, I'd like to thank everybody for their support!!!You guys rock my world! Catch you on the flip side!
All my best wishes and bisous from Toulouse!
xox
Samantha
Bring me down
Can't nothing
Bring me down
My level's too high
Bring me down
Can't nothing
Bring me down
I said (let me tell you now)
Bring me down
Can't nothing
Bring me down
My level's too high
Bring me down
Can't nothing
Bring me down
I said

I've finished my dance. Now, I'm taking a nap...

White Lady by Jessica Bell

 The Blog Tour Continues!
I'm over at Unshelfish, where there is a very touching review of Seven Letters from Paris
+  a giveaway of the book! Check it out!

And today is also support another author day! (Because I said so...)
First, I’d like to thank Jessica Bell for reading (and supporting) Seven Letters from Paris. I'm on her blog today with seven writing tips.  I’ve known Jessica “virtually” for almost five years now. (Another rock star I'm dying to meet in person!) Not only is Jessica a remarkably talented author and a great friend, she is the go-to gal for writerly advice...and a poet, talented musician, and lyrical writer, as seen with her novel String Bridge.
Here's my review of her latest- a psychological thriller entitled White Lady: 

"Wow! Jessica Bell has done the impossible and has told a story with five different POVs, all with very unique voices, to create an exciting an engaging read. Admittedly, it took some time (around 75 pages) for me to get used to the format and to emotionally invest in these (severely) flawed characters, but once I wrapped my head around everything...I was blown away. And now I understand what Jessica wanted to (and did) accomplish. She brings us into the world of each of her characters and then....BAM! I'm still a bit breathless. Again...wow! No spoilers here. Read White Lady for yourself. If you loved the surprise ending in Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, you will love this book."

Today, I'm pleased to host this extremely talented (and giving) author right here!
And you might win Jessica's book!  

GUESS THE TRUE STATEMENT; WIN JESSICA BELL'S THRILLER, WHITE LADY! (Statement #81)
To celebrate the release of Jessica Bell's latest novel, WHITE LADY, she is giving away an e-copy (mobi, ePub, or PDF) to the first person to correctly guess the one true statement in the three statements below. To clarify, two statements are lies, and one is true:

In White Lady, Nash, Sonia’s lover ...
a. is now divorced because his wife accused him of domestic abuse.
b. used to be married to his high school sweetheart, Celeste. They recently got divorced after she eloped to the USA to marry a rich plastic surgeon.
c. used to be a professional AFL (Australian Football League) player.

What do you think? Which one is true? Write your guess in the comments, along with your email address. Comments will close in 48 hours. If no-one guesses correctly within in 48 hours, comments will stay open until someone does.

Want more chances to win? You have until October 31 to visit all the blogs where Jessica will share a different set of true and false statements on each one. Remember, each blog is open to comments for 48 hours only from the time of posting.

If you win, you will be notified by email with instructions on how to download the book.

Click HERE to see the list of blogs.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

*This novel contains coarse language, violence, and sexual themes.

Sonia yearns for sharp objects and blood. But now that she's rehabilitating herself as a "normal" mother and mathematics teacher, it's time to stop dreaming about slicing people's throats.

While being the wife of Melbourne's leading drug lord and simultaneously dating his best mate is not ideal, she's determined to make it work.

It does work. Until Mia, her lover's daughter, starts exchanging saliva with her son, Mick. They plan to commit a crime behind Sonia's back. It isn't long before she finds out and gets involved to protect them.

But is protecting the kids really Sonia's motive?

Click HERE to view the book trailer.
Click HERE for purchase links.

Jessica Bell, a thirty-something Australian-native contemporary fiction author, poet and singer/songwriter/guitarist, is the Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal and the director of the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca. She makes a living as a writer/editor for English Language Teaching Publishers worldwide, such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, MacMillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.

Connect with Jessica online: Website | Retreat & workshop | Blog | Vine Leaves Literary Journal | Facebook | Twitter