Susan Palmquist Interviews Editor Tera Kleinfelter of Samhain Publishing Ltd.

Seems like everyone’s a writer yet the author’s grapevine is a tiny one. Most days it’s talk about who’s looking for this story and that, while on others it’s chatting about a publisher’s reputation. One company that constantly gets high praise is Samhain Publishing Ltd., so this month I decided to check them out for myself. Here telling us about the company and what they’re currently looking for is editor Tera Kleinfelter. www.samhainpublishing.com

Susan Palmquist (SP)-When did you start working at Samhain?

Tera Kleinfelter (TK)-I started working at Samhain in 2007

SP-Any particular genres you work with?

TK-I work with all genres. I won’t close myself off to anything. A great story is a great story no matter what genre it’s in. That said; I particularly like contemporary, romantic suspense, m/m and ménage, any combination.

SP-Samhain publishes everything from romances to sci fi. What’s your best selling genre?

TK-My personal best-selling genre is m/m and m/m/f, but I think a lot of that has to do with those authors and how they promo and their popularity.

SP-Any genre you think is under-represented at Samhain, meaning that you’d like to see more submissions?

TK-Wow. That’s a tough one. I try to keep up with everything that comes out and reading a lot of our books, but I simply can’t, so I can’t be sure about that.

SP-When I visited the Web site I noticed you have some upcoming anthologies. Red Hot Fantasy Tales, Steampunk Romance and Red Hot Winter Tales. Maybe you can tell us more about them?

TK-I can tell you they’ll be really good. =) Other than that and what information is on the website regarding them, I don’t actually know anything else. An anthology is that particular editor’s baby, so they are really the only ones that know all the particulars about it.

SP-Any other forthcoming anthologies you can tell us about?

TK-Of my own? No…I do however have an idea that I’m pitching that I think everyone will love and I’m pretty sure hasn’t been done before. =)

SP-I’m hearing lots about ‘steampunk’. I immediately think of the show from way back when ‘Wild Wild West’. Do you think it’s the next ‘big thing’ in publishing? And what do you look for in a steampunk submission?

TK-There has indeed been a lot of hype around steampunk lately. It seems that everywhere I turn and every time I read an article, someone is talking about steampunk. Could it be the next big thing? Sure, why not.  I have to admit, I love the idea of steampunk, but I’ve never actually edited it, and I’ve never received any submissions for it. We have other editors, like Sasha Knight, who love the genre. I would rather let editors who have a passion for it receive those submissions.

SP-And what about vampire tales and urban fantasy? Have they had their 15 minutes of fame? Or will Samhain continue to actively look for these stories?

TK-Samhain will now and forever continue to actively look for well-written, unique, and wonderful stories…no matter the romance sub-genre. I personally enjoy vampire tales and urban fantasy and have those stories in my repertoire of contracted manuscripts.

SP-In your role as editor you probably see no end of these paranormal stories. How can a writer put a new spin on them and make you take notice?

TK-I’m really not sure about that anymore. I love paranormal, but I feel like I am seeing the same stories over and over. Sometimes I wonder if there is anything original out there anymore, though I know there is. There always is. It just takes someone’s imagination and a fresh spin on an old idea. I’d like to see someone take something very UNparanormal and give it a paranormal twist.

SP-Thinking about some of the recent manuscripts you’ve acquired, what got your attention, what made you say, I have to offer the author a contract for this one?

TK-Unless a manuscript catches my attention and makes me say “I have to offer a contract on this one” I don’t contract it. Every manuscript has to have that something that grabs me. I know that seems vague, but it really is as simple as that. There is no “one” thing, because every story is different.

SP-What don’t you like to see in a submission?

TK-To me, a submission includes the query letter, so I’m going to include that too. =) The very first thing I look at is someone’s e-mail and what e-mail addy they are sending it from. I don’t like seeing an address that is obviously a family e-mail, or one that is sexygrrrl69@whatever.com. It takes two seconds to set up a free e-mail account at Yahoo! or G-mail (my personal fave) and shows that you take your writing seriously. As for query letters, I’ve posted about the on my personal blog and the Samhain weblog, so I won’t bore you with that here. =) Then comes opening the manuscript. If I see a grammar error, misspelling or word misusage on the first page, it’s going to put a bad taste in my mouth. I also don’t like to see manuscripts that start with a dream sequence of someone fantasizing about someone. I think it’s overdone and rarely done right.

SP-I love the warnings you have on each book, like deep emotions, edge of your seat suspense. Some of them make me laugh out loud. They’re very original. Does each editor write these?

TK-Actually, our authors write these. Sometimes we editors tweak them teeny teeny bits, but by and large, the authors come up with the warnings, and we encourage them to be as creative as possible with them.

SP-So for the readers out there, what makes a Samhain book different from the rest?

TK-One of the biggest I can think of is quality. We take the editing of every facet of our books very seriously. And we are very particular about the books we offer contracts on. Our cover art is also amazing; the art department does a wonderful job and we have some amazing talent working for us.

SP-Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Anything you'd like us to know about Samhain Publishing?

TK-You’ve covered a lot here. There isn’t really anything I can think of off the top of my head to share that I haven’t already said in one way or another. Samhain is a wonderful place to work and be involved with and I’m really excited for what the future holds.

Susan Palmquist is a freelance writer by day and fiction writer by night. Her latest novel Sleeping With Fairies is published by Lyrical Press. She’s currently hard at work on her latest book, a romantic suspense set in the Pacific Northwest. Find out more about her and her books at www.susanpalmquist.com  

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

A Distant Melody 

By Sarah Sundin

About The Book:

Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love.

Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives.

As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?

A Distant Melody is the first book in the WINGS OF GLORY series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.

About The Author:

though I come from a home wallpapered in books, I only briefly envisioned myself as a writer, when my sister and I co-wrote Funny Dancing Fruits and Vegetables complete with crayon illustrations.


Then I discovered science. I loved learning about the intricacies of God's creation, so I studied chemistry in college, and then got my doctorate in pharmacy—not a typical career path for a writer.

In pharmacy school, I met my husband, Dave. We settled in northern California and were blessed by three bright, funny children—Stephen, Anna, and Matthew.

Then on January 6, 2000, I woke from a dream so intriguing I had to write it down. I proceeded to write a really bad 750-page contemporary Christian romance. Burn-it-when-I-die bad. But the Lord used it to call me into writing. I joined a critique group, attended writers' conferences, and joined American Christian Fiction Writers. These all taught me about the craft of writing and the publishing industry, and introduced me to writers, editors, and agents.
I first submitted the manuscript for A Distant Melody in 2003, and over the next five years I accumulated a pile of "good" rejection letters from editors and agents. Finally in 2008, a submission at Mount Hermon Christian Writers' Conference led to my first sale.

Between writing and driving kids to soccer and karate, I work one evening a week as a hospital pharmacist, teach Sunday school to fourth- and fifth-graders, and teach women's Bible studies. I enjoy speaking to women's groups and am available to speak on several topics.

My Review:

What a sweet story! Written in a time period when a woman looked for a man who acted like a gentleman and treated her like a lady, it delves, not into sex and selfish gratification, but into love-with honor attached. With World War I as the backdrop, this is a love story that stands the test of separation, hopelessness, and true friendship. From the missions of dare-devil pilots, to the 'ladie's volunteer groups' back home, you'll live the lives of Allie and Lt. Walter Novak as they struggle across two continents to bring their love together.

( Be sure to look under this post for a short interview with Author Sarah Sundin)

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Litfuse Publicity

THE CONTEST:

A Distant Melody, Book 1 in Sarah Sundin’s exciting Wings of Glory series, is in stores now! To celebrate the release, we’re offering one Grand Prize winner the chance to get NOSTALGIC!

THE PRIZE:

The Winner of  the ‘NETFLIX® & Nostalgia’ giveaway will receive a vintage prize package, including:

*A 6 month NETFLIX® subscription

*$25 Starbucks® gift card

*A box of See’s Famous Old Time Chocolates®

*A jar of homemade strawberry jam

*A Big Band music CD

*A Mini B-17 Model airplane

*Vintage stationery and pen

*British specialty tea

*WWII style playing cards

To enter just click on the icon! Contest will be live April 5th and run through April 25th!

Interview with Author Sarah Sundin

Sarah, thank you for sharing some of your precious time with us here at 

Between The Pages and for graciously answering our questions.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I write my rough drafts longhand with pencil and scratch paper, curled up on the couch. All my life I’ve loved to curl up on the couch to read. That’s where I lose myself in a story both as a reader and now as a writer. The computer feels sterile to me. It’s where I edit, not where I create.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

The idea for A Distant Melody came out of a “what if” question in a contemporary novel I wrote (very badly). What if a man and woman met at an event, truly clicked, and parted before exchanging contact info? Wouldn’t it be romantic if he went through great effort to track her down? It wouldn’t work in a contemporary setting—he’d “Google” her—but it made a sweet premise for a historical. My husband and I watched a History Channel special on the US Eighth Air Force based in England during World War II, and I had my link. My great-uncle was a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth, so I had access to family stories plus his personal letters.

As for information, I did a lot of research. My bibliography has over two hundred books and websites. Yes, that’s sick. Some of my favorite research finds were copies of the actual pilot’s manual and Army Air Force training film for the B-17, and also my local newspaper on microfiche for details on Home Front life.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’ve written two contemporary romances that should never, ever be published, and the three novels in the Wings of Glory series. Of the three World War II books, I could no more pick a favorite than I could pick a favorite child! I love them all for different reasons.

What do you think makes a good story?

Characters who are realistic, have flaws to overcome, and who grow. I like at least a hint of romance, even in a subplot, and a dash of humor. And I love good writing—the kind that makes me chew on a sentence, re-read it just for the joy of it, and feel a twinge of envy that I didn’t write it.

How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?

I was born into a long line of readers. During my childhood, my mother read to my sister and me, shared books with us, and took us to the library weekly. As a child, I was a social reject—buck teeth and big words do not make a winning combination on the playground—so I made friends with the characters in books. Yes, they have therapy for that. But it stimulated my imagination and encouraged me to lose myself in my own stories as well.

What were your feelings when your first novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?

I went through five years of “good” rejection letters (“We love your writing, but we don’t want historicals”), so when the contract offer came by e-mail, I had to read it twice before I realized it wasn’t a rejection letter. Once the disbelief wore off, elation took over. I screamed and did some pathetic hand-flapping thing.

As of this writing, I’m expecting the FedEx guy with my author copies any day. I’m not sure if I’ll repeat the hand-flapping thing or fall to my knees and cry. We’ll see.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

 I think every little girl who loves to read dreams of having her name on a book some day.  I’m  no  exception. I put that dream on hold, since my practical left brain is stronger than my creative right brain. Even as a teenager I knew the odds of getting published were as high as the odds of becoming a professional ballerina, so I studied chemistry in college and became a pharmacist. But when I was a stay-at-home mom, the Lord brought the writing dream back to life—and now, shockingly, he made the publication dream come to pass.

If you could leave your readers with one legacy, what would you want it to be?

To grow in their relationship with the Lord—confronting sins, building trust, and stepping out in obedience to serve where God leads.

Between The Pages Hosts Novelist Annette Snyder

Meet Author Annette Snyder

Since I grew up far from anywhere, I read romance novels I bought with my babysitting money at the local grocery store.  Most of the time, I enjoyed them yet sometimes the endings annoyed me and I’d think, “I would end that better.” 

I never considered writing as more than a hobby until I finished my first novel, and third release, Travis Pass.  Once Travis Pass was complete, new ideas kept coming and now I find myself looking at life as if there are millions of stories to be written. 

Whether writing historically, contemporarily, or humorously, my work centers on life in small, Midwestern towns and the amazing bonds people form with their neighbors. 

Annette's advice for aspiring writers - Just do it!

I knew I was a writer the day I woke up with a story idea in my head, wrote it down and it worked.  I was surprised that I actually wrote an entire book.  The fact that I’ve now written so many different stories, and the ideas keep coming, still is a shocker.

I want to tell anyone who ever thought of writing a book or memoir to just do it.  The magic formula is that there is no magic formula.   Write because it comes to you and if it amounts to more, great!  My advice to aspiring writers is to do it if you want and see how far it carries you.  You’ll develop your skills as you go along because there’s always something new to learn.

The hardest thing for me to learn was curbing my point of view switches.  I’m always trying to control which character is doing what and when.  I had a great editor who showed me how to fix my head hopping and now I can control it at least a little.  A lot of my problem is that my brain works faster than my fingers.    

Because I’m a writer, I do all that writing stuff plus promo and keeping up with the writing world plus I work a real job.  I don’t have as much time to read as I’d like.  I save my reading days for my vacations.  I pick books I’d like to read and save them for those special occasions when I have free time.  If I wasn’t an author, I’d be doing laundry and dishes—maybe dusting—scratch that, never dusting. Here’s a hint, if you don’t move anything on top of the television, you never have to dust because you can’t tell it’s dusty!   

If you’re a contemporary reader, I’ve got a release out.  Intimate Flames, a story about a single mom and a fireman.  The second book in that series comes out June 2010.  It’s titled, Drive-Thru and it’s about choices a single mom has to make to provide a good home for her daughter.  Who knew she’d have to choose between love and money? 

If you’re into Historicals, you might want to pick up something from my Travis Pass line.  Sally Murphy, my first published novel, starts off the string of seven novels. You’ll enjoy them separately or as a series.   

Perhaps you like the WWII era?  Then Viveka’s War or Eureka Springs will tempt you. This line starts with two friends during the Depression years and follows the decisions they make while growing to adulthood.  I’m working on another book in that series and hope to have the final draft ready for submission by July. 

You can find information on me and my work on my website, http://annettesnyder.atspace.com or www.whiskeycreekpress.com   My work is also available through Fictionwise and its affiliates, Amazon and in several local and regional stores throughout Nebraska. 

Here’s a blurb from Annette's upcoming release, Drive-Thru

Love isn’t one of Marie Packard’s priorities.  Single parenthood and a hectic work schedule occupy her unruffled life.  Necessities represent security.  Life is slow and easy and that works for her.

Ellis Donifan loves the draw of attention from paparazzi and fans.  Each film, coupled with shouting fans and action of the set, is another star on his walk of fame.  Life is a whirlwind of hectic activity and he likes it that way.

The frenzied, movie star schedule isn’t the choice for Ben Sutter but having a celebrity as a client has its perks.  Posh hotels, world travel and a substantial salary are the norm and fame seeking starlets are part of limousine driver territory.  It isn’t perfect but that’s Hollywood. 

What happens on a stormy winter night when three people find their lives entwined purely by accident?  Can Ellis curb his desire for publicity?  Can Ben put aside uncertainties about overzealous fans? Will Marie choose financial security with the debonair, action film star or emotional happiness with a charming limousine driver? 

The Amoveo Legacy By Sara Taney Humphreys

The Amoveo Legacy

By Sara Taney Humphreys
Excerpt

About The Book:
What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie? You find out that you aren't even human--at least not entirely. What if, one day, you realize your world will never be the same again? These are the questions that Samantha Logan must face in "The Amoveo Legacy". A dream on her thirtieth birthday compels her to leave her artists loft in New York City and move back to the beach with her Grandmother, Nonie. However, the instant Samantha steps foot on the salty shores of her childhood home, she realizes the landscape has changed.

About the Author:
Follow the link to read Sara's interviews, hear her podcast, and catch the book video.

My Review:

All you shape shifters out there are going to enjoy this story. The Amoveo Clans and their people are unique, powerful, and in trouble.  And Samantha Logan steps into this strange world unprepared for the unveiling of secrets hidden in her own life. Secrets that will change her in every way. Her destiny, in the form of Malcolm Drew, literally soars into her life. A man like none she's ever encountered, a man of purpose, resolute and undeterred by her denial of truths that cannot be changed. This is the first book in a series and is well written. What I especially enjoyed were the believable reactions that Samantha's character displayed, making it easier for me to follow her into uncharted realms of adventure and danger.

Interview with Sara Taney Humpreys

SARA TANEY HUMPHREYS

(From her web page) 

 

What if everything you knew about yourself turned out to be a lie? What if the soul mate you were waiting for came from a completely unexpected world—and was threatened by your own world?

One day several years ago, sitting in the kitchen of her family’s summer home in Westerly, Rhode Island, Sara Taney Humphreys began writing this tale—it was the beginning of the Amoveo Legacy. 

Since her adolescence, Sara was drawn to the fantasies of science fiction, paranormal universe and romance (these worlds collided with her crush on Captain Kirk).  From there she remained completely enthralled with the process of self discovery—and the possibility of actually finding that one true partner in life.

 

While pursuing her B.A. Degree in English Literature & Theater, it was on the stage that Sara found herself and began to thrive in lives of her characters.   Sara’s natural capacity to shift personalities led her through lead and support roles in over twenty college productions of experimental theater and main stage, including Wicked Witch of the West, Alice in wonderland and House of Blue Leaves.

After graduation, she was on the rise with acceptance into a neighborhood playhouse, an acting school in NYC.  Just two weeks, circumstances at home changed and Sara switched gears to focus on her family.  She then married and started a family of her own—all while keeping her stage dream alive.

Sara secured TV roles in such shows as A&E Biography, Guiding Light, Another World, As the World Turns and Rescue Me.  She then became a Drama Teacher at her al ma mater, Convent of the Sacred Heart, and quickly launched her own after school theatre workshop studio for kids called Ensemble Productions.  The first semester drew over 40 students and by the third there were 130.  Her passions were being satisfied in way a she never dreamed, all while pregnant with her second child.   The next derailment came with the dreadful news of her 2-year old son being diagnosed with Diabetes.  It was a quick decision to shut down the business and pay full attention to his needs.  

Several years later Sara gave birth to twins—the house was full to the brim.  In 2001, to support family finances, she found a Speaker position with Monster’s Making It Count and used her acting talents to deliver presentations in high schools across the U.S.  Recognized for her teaching abilities she also fulfilled the role as Speaker Trainer until 2008. Simultaneously, Sara began speaking for The College of Westchester and now serves as Director of High School & Community Relations.

Today, at night, when the kids are asleep and the house lay quiet, Sara is doing what most moms dream of—she’s bringing her ‘sexy back’.  The Amoveo Legacy has turned into a paranormal romance of a different breed and will soon be followed by her series novels, Amoveo Heart and Amoveo Fire.  Each book blossoms with the journey of a new coupling and the characters seem to take control of the story as they weave in and out of society—in a constant state of self discovery in search for true love. 

Bound by reality, Sara lives in New York with her husband, who is very considerate of her double life, four amazing boys, two dopey dogs and an extremely loud bird.  Life is always busy, but never dull.

Between the Pages is very pleased to welcome Author Sara Taney Humpreys. Sara, we thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few interview questions. It's always such a pleasure to get to know the writer behind the stories we enjoy.  

1.      What do you think makes a good story?

That's a tough question because what's "good" is so subjective. Millions of readers love Twilight...but you'll find a good number that didn't. Personally, I like any story that has characters I can relate to. If the hero or heroine are completely foreign to me then it's tough to get really involved.

2.      What were your feelings when your first novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?

I was overjoyed at getting my first publisher. It really is an indescribable feeling. It was joy-shock-disbelief-relief-fear-anticipation all rolled into one. The cover made me blush. It was more "in your face" than I had expected.

3.      What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

Making other people happy and providing them with an escape from the day to day is really fulfulling.

4.    If you could leave your readers with one legacy, what would you want it to be?

To always keep an open mind and an open heart. You never know what may lie around the corner.

5.      Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I'm really lucky. I do have readers friend me on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. They also take the time to write to me via my website. I love it! I get blown away everytime someone tells me they enjoyed my work.

6.      Would you describe yourself as a morning person or night owl?

Night owl by nature. Morning person by demand.

7.      Do you consider yourself a outliner or pantser?

A bit of both. I put together an outline of the story but the actual writing is pantser style. Very often the course of the story changes as I'm writing it.

8.    What would be an appropriate nickname for you?

Chatty Cathy. I talk...a lot.

9.     Any phobias you want to admit to?

My only real fear is of losing my loved ones.

10.   What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

Time. A laptop. A fertile imagination. An understanding & supportive spouse (partner). And the belief that ANYTHING is possible.

~  Between the Pages will be posting a review of Sara's story, The Amoveo Legacy Book 1, very soon. So be sure to check back for that. ~ 

The Overnight Socialite by Bride Clark

The Overnight Socialite

By Bridie Clark

About The Book:

Lucy Ellis moved to the Big Apple to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a fashion designer, but the native Midwesterner has just about had it with the city. A mousy, self-conscious girl trapped in a job at a designer sweatshop, Lucy has been mistreated, road-blocked, and otherwise insulted since her arrival. Overwhelmed by city life, Lucy is about to pack it all in and return home to Minnesota. Then she meets Wyatt.

After being publicly dissed by the glamour girl he'd been dating, man-about-town (and bored Ph.D. anthropologist) Wyatt Hayes wants to prove he's still at the top of his game and boasts to his best friend that he can transform any girl - even wallflower Lucy Ellis - into this year's "It" girl. If he can fool the upper crust of New York society into thinking an imposter like Lucy is the real thing, he can rip the chiffon veil off the whole Park Avenue social scene.

Lucy's an unlikely candidate to become a red-carpet butterfly, but she considers it her last resort and jumps at the opportunity to "become somebody" in New York. Wyatt begins to rigorously train Lucy in the style, sounds, and sensibilities of socialites born with entire sets of silver spoons in their mouths. Three months of preparation culminate in Lucy's appearance at the ultra-exclusive Fashion Forum Gala, where Lucy and Wyatt finally confront New York's aristocracy - and their feelings for each other.

Set against the glittering backdrop of contemporary Manhattan, The Overnight Socialite puts a 21st-century sheen on a timeless story of transformation and unlikely love.

About The Author:

Bridie Clark was born on October 7, 1977, and spent a happy childhood in West Hartford, CT. Her parents encouraged her early love of reading and writing.
In 1999, Bridie graduated from Harvard College, where she was an editor of The Harvard Crimson. She has since worked as a book and magazine editor, and written for The New York Times, Vanity Fair, New York, Quest, and Elegant Bride.
Bridie’s debut novel, Because She Can, was published in nineteen countries around the world and was reviewed and featured in dozens of magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, Glamour UK, and USA TODAY. Her second novel, The Overnight Socialite, will be published by Weinstein Books in December 2009.
In 2006, she co-wrote The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media (Atria, July 2007) and co-founded Blue State Coffee.
Bridie lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

My Review:
I normally shudder every time a new book is described as a retelling of a classic that I love. Why, because it's really hard to shine in the shadow of a great classic story. The Overnight Socialite is such a book, but with one exception, it definitely brought it's own light to the party, no shadows for this witty, fun, and lovable story.

Lucy Jo Ellis is that very ordinary, mid-western, All-American girl-next-door. And Wyatt Hayes IV is the typical rich, handsome, arrogant, snob of a hero that thinks he can change Lucy Jo Ellis into a socialite overnight. Well, he is in for a few unpleasant surprises. On the other hand,  I was pleasantly surprised by Author Bridie Clarks wonderful storytelling talent. Even though I knew the outcome of this story in advance, the telling of it was so humorous, fresh, and enchanting, I still had to read every page. I didn't want to miss any of the action or dialogue. And as an added bonus, I met some new and charming characters, and one very nasty little snob that you will just love to despise. :) Every woman from 14 - 84 will enjoy this Classic retelling of Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. Put The Overnight Socialite on your Summer reading list.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by the author.

Just Let Me Lie Down By Kristin van Ogtrop

Just Let Me Lie Down

By Kristin van Ogtrop
Excerpt

About The Book:
Kristin van Ogtrop knows she's lucky--fulfilling career, great husband, three healthy kids, and, depending on the hamster count, an impressive roster of pets. She also knows she is tired. Always. Using stories and insights from her own life, she provides a lexicon for the half-insane working mom. Anyone who has left a meeting to race to the Halloween parade immediately understands van Ogtrop's definition of "Kill the messenger" as "The action you must take in order to forget about the office for a time--that is, to remove your Blackberry/Treo/iPhone/whatever from your person and store it as far away as your neurotic self will allow.

About The Author:

Kristin van Ogtrop is the editor of Real Simple magazine and has held positions at Glamour, Vogue, Travel & Leisure, and Premiere. She lives outside New York City with her family.

My Review:

Kristin van Ogtrop is a writer and mother after my own heart. It's been a long time since I had children at home, since I was expected to be three places at once, or scrambling to help one of my children finish a science project at the same time I was sprinting for a deadline at work. But I remember those days. They're etched on my memory as deeply as any words chiseled on a tombstone. :) While reading Just Let Me Lie Down, those memories came back in a flood of bemusement, belly-laughs, and ironic appreciation. Kristin van Ogtrop is a woman who isn't afraid to say she wasn't a perfect mother, or that she didn't always find exquisite joy in the raising of her children. Now, that made me feel a whole lot better about ME. Because like Kristin, I loved my children to distraction, struggled to fill their every need, and always ended up feeling tired beyond belief. But hey, isn't that what mothers do, drain themselves of every last breath for those babies they love so much? Through Kristin van Ogtrop's humorous explanations, definitions, and experiences, you'll learn that perfection isn't required. And that Love is the equalizing factor. If you're a mother, this is a 'feel good' read for you.

A Complimentary review copy of this book was provided by the Hachette Book Group

GIVEAWAY

There are 3 copies of this book up for grabs!

1. Leave a comment telling something you've learned from being a mother
2. Leave your email address for contact purposes
3.Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win
-No P.O. Boxes, please. 
4. Must be a blog follow to qualify 
Deadline 5/10/10 

WINNERS - Have been notified by email
Debbie F, Elise, Catherine

Dark Deceptions By Dee Davis

DARK DECEPTIONS

By Dee Davis

About The Book
Torn Between Duty and Desire


Covert operations expert Nash Brennon has spent the last eight years trying to forget Annie Gallagher, his former field partner and the only woman he ever loved. Annie betrayed him when he needed her most, then vanished without a trace. Now suddenly she's back in the game - this time as a suspected traitor and threat to national security.

Annie's son has been kidnapped by political terrorists. The price for his life? Assassinate a UN ambassador. When Nash and his group find her, the smoldering passion between Annie and the man she swore she'd never contact again blazes out of control. But can Nash trust her? The stakes couldn?t be higher: Their enemy's endgame is personal, and one false move could cost them their lives.

About the Author:

Dee Davis has a BA in Political Science and History, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration. During a ten-year career in public relations, she spent three years on the public speaking circuit, edited two newsletters, wrote three award winning public service announcements, did television and radio commercials, starred in the Seven Year Itch, taught college classes, lobbied both the Texas State Legislature and the US Congress, and served as the director of two associations.

Her highly acclaimed first novel, Everything In Its Time, was published in July 2000. Since then, among others, she’s won the Booksellers Best, Golden Leaf, Texas Gold and Prism awards, and been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Holt and two RT Reviewers Choice Awards. To date, she has sold eighteen books and three novellas, including Chain Reaction and A Match Made on Madison.

She’s lived in Austria and traveled in Europe extensively. And although she now lives in Manhattan she still calls Texas home.

My Review:

Grab a pillow, some snacks, and get comfortable because you will not budge for anything short of a fire once you've started reading Dark Deceptions. Author Dee Davis delivers one of the best action-driven thrillers I've read in a long time. Covert operations expert Nash Brennon and his former field partner Annie Gallagher are point-blank ON as High Concept Heroes. Both of these characters are strong enough to carry this story on their own, but together, they have enough energy to keep you spellbound, electrified, and wanting more. And if all of that isn't enough, how about a love story, one that fights for its own survival amid the terrifying circumstances that unfold. Gripping and Emotional! Wonderfully written.

 Five Fun Facts

Follow @DeeSDavis on Twitter

Check out Dee Davis' blog posts on WhineSisters.com

Join Dee Davis on MySpace

Visit DeeDavis.com

A complimentary Review copy of this book was provided by The Hachette Book Group

CONTEST

Thanks to the Hachette Book Group, I have 5 copies of Dark Deceptions to gcive away.

-Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win
-No P.O. Boxes, please.

1. You must be a blog follower to win

2. You must leave a contact email in the comment area.

3. Contest deadline is May 3rd.

WINNERS have been emailed

 Christine H, Booklover0226, Dot S, Jayne, Tabathia

The Darcy Cousins By Monica Fairview

THE DARCY COUSINS

By Monica Fairview

About The Book:
A young lady in disgrace should at least strive to behave with decorum…

Dispatched from America to England under a cloud of scandal, Mr. Darcy’s incorrigible American cousin, Clarissa Darcy, manages to provoke Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Collins, and the parishioners of Hunsford all in one morning!

And there are more surprises in store for that bastion of tradition, Rosings Park, when the family gathers for their annual Easter visit. Georgiana Darcy, generally a shy model of propriety, decides to take a few lessons from her unconventional cousin, to the delight of a neighboring gentleman. Anne de Bourgh, encouraged to escape her “keeper” Mrs. Jenkinson, simply…vanishes. But the trouble really starts when Clarissa and Georgiana both set out to win the heart of the same young man…

About The Author:

As a literature professor, Monica Fairview enjoyed teaching students to love reading. But after years of postponing the urge, she finally realized what she really wanted was to write books herself. She has lived in Illinois, Los Angeles, Seattle, Texas, Colorado, Oregon and Boston as a student and professor, but now lives in London.

My Review:

My love of all things connected to Pride and Prejudice is certainly continued in this book by Monica Fairview. She does a wonderful job keeping the integrity of the characters in this continuation of the Darcy Family Saga. It's such a pleasure to follow Georgiana Darcy while she copes with her American cousin, Clarissa Darcy, and her unorthodox ideas on how young ladies should conduct themselves, resulting in all kinds of mayhem. All of which, is a feast of fun and entertainment to the reader. Don't deny yourself the exquisite experience. Choose The Darcy Cousins for your Summer Reading.

A Complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Sourcebook, Inc.

Dumb As A Doorknob

Dumb As A Doorknob. That's how I would describe me when it comes to architecture. As a writer, I sometimes need to describe a building, and sad for me, it's not enough to say big, little, round, square, short, or tall. So I've had to compile a few facts. Nice person that I am, I thought I would share the fruits of my labor.

Here's a few things I learned about Columns:
1. There Classical Order is as follows:
    a. Corinthian - This column has a capital that is ornately carved to resemble acanthus leaves.
    b. Ionic - This capital is carved to resemble a scroll
    c. Doric - This column has no base and it's capital is made up of an ovolo moulding under a square abacus. It also  has a heavily fluted shaft.

The Capital is the architectural feature at the top of a column. The Abacus is the flat area at the top of a capital.
Here are a few columns for you to ponder. See if you can identify their Classical Name. And don't expect any help from me because I'm still learning. 

She-Rain By Michael Cogdill

She-Rain

By Michael Cogdill

About The Book:

In the early 20th Century, a pair of North Carolina mountain children sow the seed of a love that becomes their only solace in the hard yet beautiful world they know. They grow it from steep ground of poverty, ignorance, and violence. A landscape so brutal it can kill hope long before claiming life.

Bloodshed years later finally sends Frank Locke on the run, deep into wilderness, abandoning his extraordinary love, Mary Lizbeth. When a whitewater river washes this desperate soul into the hands of Sophia, he discovers a luminous woman steeped in mystery, trapped in a tragically brilliant life. Far ahead of her time. Secreted from the world. As she awakens Frank's mind, they rise to meet a love that binds three people for a lifetime.

This love triangle forms a beauty no one sees coming. From the wilds of Appalachia, crossing nearly a century, it runs deep into a lush American fortune, and lives in letters of adoration and hope of the least expected.

In a rhapsody of Southern voices, mingling hilarity and sorrow, She-Rain speaks of lives soaring beyond heartbreak, fundamentalism, and self-destruction. Through the most graceful longing, two women in love with one man ultimately prove the power of human hearts to answer high callings. They show us all how to heal -- and thrive -- to the very end.

About The Author:

Michael Cogdill is blessed as one of the most honored television storytellers in America. His cache of awards includes 24 Emmys and the National Edward R. Murrow for a broad range of achievement, from live reporting to long-form storytelling. His television credits as a journalist include CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and The Today Show, and Michael's interview history crosses a wide horizon: The Reverend Billy Graham, Dr. Mehmet Oz of Oprah fame, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Abby Hoffman, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, Howard K. Smith, James Brown, Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops and many other newsmakers. His coverage credits include Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States.

Michael spent ten years writing She-Rain, letting it evolve into a world of fiction drawn from his upbringing in Western North Carolina but reaching far beyond. His other writing credits are Cracker the Crab and the Sideways Afternoon -- a children's motivational book, and a self-help volume, Raise the Haze. Michael makes his home in South Carolina with his wife, Jill (a publishing entrepreneur), and their second-generation golden retriever, Maggie. He's currently working on his second novel.

For more information, view Michael Cogdill's Web site.

My Review:

I’m not sure where to begin. If you’ve read many of my reviews, you know that I don’t like to recap the storyline. That’s what the section About The Book is suppose to do. I like to tell my readers how this book made me feel, what I learned, what surprised me, or, what completely turned me off.

With this book, I have so many conflicting feelings, that I’m finding it hard to convey those without sounding like a complete ninny. First, let me say that I did not love this story, but I more than liked it. (See what I mean? I do sound like a ninny.)

The author does have beautiful prose, a poetical rhythm, and vivid descriptions. However, for me, maybe a little too much. I kept having to stop and meditate on passages to get the full sense of the writing. As a reader, whenever I have to remove myself from the story to contemplate the writing, it’s like a dash of cold water in the face, suspending my belief in the fictional world the authors has worked so hard to create. Once removed, it’s hard to fully integrate myself back into that world.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the story or the authors narrative skill. In this case, I just feel that the skill overshadowed the storytelling. It’s message of hope, love, and courage is uplifting and entertaining.

So to be really fair, I suggest you try She-Rain for yourself. It’s unique, and no matter your opinion, by the simple act of reading this unusual book, you’ll have broadened your reading horizons.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by the Author

A Dog's Inspiration to a Writer and the World By Michael Cogdill

A Dog's Inspiration to a Writer and the World: 

How the Life and Death of a Golden Retriever Might Save Us From Ourselves
By Michael Cogdill,

Author of She-Rain: A Story of Hope

On the morning of May 29, 2008, I lifted Savannah from her bed, carried her to the car, and made the longest seven-mile drive of my life. At the office of a veterinarian, welcomed by that profession's unique form of love, I soon lay on a cushioned floor beside a golden retriever who showed virtually none of her age, watching both my hands stroke the face that had welcomed me home for thirteen years.

The answer to a yearning awaited us that morning. It was part of the quiet covenant I made with Savannah the day my wife, Jill, and I adopted her. When a sweet dog's bloodline comes in confluence with our own, we human animals take on a sacred devotion. As sickness comes on hard and takes down the joy of living, caring dog owners are committed to shouldering our beloved family member to a merciful death. On the floor that morning, I answered Savannah's courageous outreach for that death, allowing her to carry me. The peace that arrived in her final breath lifted the tide of my heartbreak. As I nearly drowned in sadness, Savannah showed me to the shore of a graceful goodbye.

Later that day, a prominent friend in Hollywood, fresh from the same grief in his own family, shared with us some comfort, but also a spiritual yearning of his own: Why would God measure the lifetime of dogs, and other animals we love, by a virtual hourglass when we live by a calendar? Why so little time on earth for those so good and loyal? It seems a cruelty.

After these months of healing, and the reporting of countless human tragedies on television, I've arrived at a conclusion: Savannah's too-short life, like that of all sweet dogs, calls us to a fine urgency dogs get after big living. They seem illiterate of worry, yet able to read joys that elude us. They quietly shout to us: Wag your backside to music instead of your tongue to malice. Wallow less in pity and more on the bed of the one you adore. Give yourself, extravagantly, away.

I still fail her, of course. I live too much in my worries and sorrows and too little on the joy path she wore for me. Yet in these times of media-saturated human disaster, a thought of Savannah improves me as a man, recalls me to life as a writer. Her memory sets off some musing about the hope found in the life and death of a good dog. See if these truths make the news of your times easier to bear:

Savannah feared nothing about death. She went to it with eyes full of gratitude for the way her life had been. Her eyes seemed to draw from some deep well of love, way beyond the crust of words. Even in her final hour, sick as she was, she lived as a divining rod to this love. No matter how I tried to comfort her, sheserved me -- right to her last moment. The kidney failure that was stalling her life was no match for the servant's heart within her.

The high pitch of biased media, politics, and the vitriol of social debate held no allure for Savannah. She made grace her way of life. She ran from loud voices and bounded to gentility wherever she found it. We could trust her to be tender, even with the smallest child. Savannah taught me there's nothing so powerful in this life as a truly gentle woman or man.

There is no vanity in such dogs. They split mud holes, then track adoration across the floors of the humans who forgive them. They surely wonder why we care so much for things and so little for helping one another have simple wellness and fun. Savannah never cared for the size of my car. She simply loved the ride. She measured none of my money in how she valued me. In times of my sorrow, she made certain to place her head under my hand, letting me read a sense of all-will-be-more-than-well in its Braille.

With the too-often forgotten elderly in a nursing home, Savannah visited with no consciousness of herself. The sights and smells that repulse too many humans never seem to repel a good dog. Something innate about Savannah longed to care for everyone. She never appraised anyone by their politics, religion, or race. No human bloodline or job pedigree held any sway. Savannah treated the ignorant as kings and the malicious as queens. Even avowed dog haters valued what they found in her, and she loved them without pause.

Such a dog will forgive to the point of endangering itself. Some may argue enough hatefulness will turn any dog, even the most generous and kind. Perhaps this forms a caveat to us as well. Maybe good dogs teach us we will eventually draw back what we put into the world. Or is it that forgiveness becomes a form of capital we spend to the great shock of our enemies, an investment from which we draw the interest of turning enemies into friends? After every trip to the vet, on the heels of cavity exams every sane creature loathes, Savannah forgave Jill and me. We never had to ask.

In the afterglow of thinking of her, I adore considering how living so might change humankind. What might the news look like if everyone were so devotedly kind to everyone else? My job -- as a writer of news and fiction -- would so beautifully change.

Within an hour after putting her into that permanent sleep, I sat weeping at our kitchen table and wrote an open letter to Savannah. It let my grief out to run, with the memory of her a comfort at my knee. I leave you with a passage of it here, and a wish that the news of our future days will improve, changed in some small way by the legacy of Savannah.

"You tracked to the child who lives in me always. In this man you found a boy who loves you, sweet girl. Even in death, somehow you will always lead the boy in me home. I will follow your trail. And together, in the grand wet and muddy fun places of memory, we will be glad."

© 2010 Michael Cogdill, author of She-Rain: A Story of Hope

Author Bio

Michael Cogdill is blessed as one of the most honored television storytellers in America. His cache of awards includes 24 Emmys and the National Edward R. Murrow for a broad range of achievement, from live reporting to long-form storytelling. His television credits as a journalist include CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and The Today Show, and Michael's interview history crosses a wide horizon: The Reverend Billy Graham, Dr. Mehmet Oz of Oprah fame, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Abby Hoffman, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, Howard K. Smith, James Brown, Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops and many other newsmakers. His coverage credits include Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States.

Michael spent ten years writing She-Rain, letting it evolve into a world of fiction drawn from his upbringing in Western North Carolina but reaching far beyond. His other writing credits are Cracker the Crab and the Sideways Afternoon -- a children's motivational book, and a self-help volume, Raise the Haze. Michael makes his home in South Carolina with his wife, Jill (a publishing entrepreneur), and their second-generation golden retriever, Maggie. He's currently working on his second novel.

For more information, please visit http://she-rain.blogspot.com.