Joyce DiPastena's Blog, page 81

Jenna Dawlish: Author Interview and Giveaway

Today we have an extra special visitor to JDP NEWS! An interview with British author, Jenna Dawlish. In addition to the interview, Jenna has graciously agreed to donate a copy of her Victorian romance,  Love Engineered  as a giveaway to one lucky reader. I'll tell you how you can enter to win a copy at the end of our interview!
JDP: Thank you for joining us today, Jenna. On your website, I see you refer to yourself as an author of "Vic-Lit". What is "Vic-Lit"?
JENNA: Hi Joyce, thank you for...

Tuesday Teaser

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme (rhymes with "cream"), hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. (I've borrowed it from LDS Women's Book Review.) Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare at least two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT...

You Gotta Read Reviews Gives Loyalty's Web Their Highest Rating!

Val, at You Gotta Read Reviews, has given my sweet medieval romance,  Loyalty's Web , their highest rating: You GOTTA Read!

Here's a snippet from her review:
Loyalty's Web took me on a journey into the twelfth century that I will not soon forget. A tale of intrigue, manipulation, lust and conflict, this book was exquisitely written and showed how love can defy any evil that comes against it.
Elegant descriptions, a juicy plot line and some "hold your breath" action scenes made this my favorite...

Winner of my "OOPS! Contest"

Congratulations to Tara Woods of Alabama! Tara is the winner of my OOPS! Contest for a copy of Illuminations of the Heart with a slightly scratched cover.

Thank you to everyone who entered my drawing!

Summary Sunday

Some writers I know write much faster than I do. Some writers I know write slower. Some writers I know write more hours a day than I do. Some writers I know write less. One thing I've learned. I cannot successfully complete a new book if I worry about comparing myself to others, therefore...I write the number of words a day that I write. I write the number of hours a week that I write. When my efforts feel so small that I sometimes wonder if it's worth it to continue, I take this verse as my ...

What Am I Reading for My 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge?

I just finished reading He Walked the Americas, by L. Taylor Hansen, an "old" book for my 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge.

Now on to another "new" book! I don't recall where I stumbled across it, but it must have been in my TBR pile for a considerable time, for alas, Apollo's Child is no longer in print! That "Alas!", is for you, not for me, because although I've only read one chapter so far, I anticipate this being a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'm fortunate enough to have a copy. You, "Alas...

"Missing", by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen: Review, Author Interview, and Giveaway

Back Cover Blurb for Missing:
A BYU-Idaho choir tour in British Columbia turns out to be anything but ordinary when soloist Stacie Cox spots a kidnapped child from Rexburg during a performance. Before Stacie can alert the authorities, the little girl disappears. Stacie vows to find and rescue her, a choice that forces her to deal with her guilt-ridden past and another little girl that haunts her dreams. When the handsome Matt Brennan helps Stacie in the search, she tries to resist the...

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme (rhymes with "cream"—I just learned that on Google!), hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. (I've borrowed it from LDS Women's Book Review.) Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare at least two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page



BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title &amp...

Mailbox Monday

I've noticed that quite a few bloggers have a Mailbox Monday these days. Most (if not all) of them are book reviewers, so it makes sense that they would want to share their excitement over receiving a new shipment of books to add to their review piles each Monday.

I have no aspirations to become a book reviewer, but I nevertheless have been feeling slightly left out by the Mailbox Monday phenomenon. So today, I present to you my own Mailbox Monday. Strap on your seat belt! My mailbox doesn't g...

What Am I Reading for My 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge?

How are you doing with your New/Old Reading Challenge this year? I thought the least I could do is keep you updated on how I'm doing with my own challenge.

I recently finished reading my first new book of 2010: Missing, by Ronda Gibbs Hinrichsen. A review and author interview (and possibly a giveaway) will be following soon, so stay tuned! (My reading of Haunts Haven by Joan Sowards didn't quite count towards my challenge, as I began my reading of Joan's book in 2009.)

I will not be reviewing e...