tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908452773710448842016-02-04T12:07:09.783-08:00Komz Reviews-an e-zine about reviews, interviews, giveaways and much more!Komznoreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-8373411799610755682012-03-05T06:21:00.000-08:002012-03-05T06:21:15.546-08:00BE MY GUEST: How To Write Gripping Openings & Endings By Dan Coxon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMova8QPFcA/T1TB4PvPKxI/AAAAAAAAAvU/hZEDlpZm5wk/s1600/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMova8QPFcA/T1TB4PvPKxI/AAAAAAAAAvU/hZEDlpZm5wk/s320/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Before I hand it over to Dan who tells his viewpoint on this topic as an “author”, I cannot resist but tell my opinion as well, being an eclectic reader. </span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Here are my two-cents as a reader and reviewer of books: </span></b><br />Whenever I read a story, be it short story, a novella/novel or even non-fiction like memoir or say travel book (Yes, I do like to read a variety of genres!), the first thing that I judge as a reviewer is: was the writer able to pull me in the story from the very first chapter? In fact, I can gauge from the opening lines or sometimes by reading first few paragraphs of the book, that whether the story is going to be engaging or not (with few exceptions of course, where the story does get interesting after a slow start!). <br /><br />That being said, when I am nearing the finishing chapters, I am always intrigued and desperate to find out as to how the writer put all the strings of the story together and gives a coherent and satisfying resolution. For example, in most of <span style="color: magenta;">chick-lit</span>, it is simple stuff like: was the girl able to establish her own career and be independent? Was the boy successful in winning over the girl? Will she choose guy A or B? <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">In a memoir</span>, it depends mostly on which phase of writer’s life is emphasized and at which stage is the writer going to finish it? (Read <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/book-review-unimagined.html" target="_blank">“Unimagined”</a> to know what I am talking about!) If it is theme based, then I want to know the stance of the writer, which side is he/she taking? What is his/her opinion? How he/she perceives that topic/phenomena/dilemma? The perfect example could be Caitlin’s book,<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-To-Woman-Caitlin-Moran/dp/0091940737/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330955325&sr=1-1" target="_blank"> “How to be a woman” </a>or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Funny-Thing-Ellen-DeGeneres/dp/0743247639/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330955365&sr=1-1" target="_blank">“The Funny Thing Is…” </a>by Ellen Degeneres. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://readingwithmartinis.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/thefunnythingis-194x300.jpg" /></div><br />Okay, so that was how I felt on writing the first and the last lines of a book, needless to say, a very subjective opinion as I am not the expert writer who knows all the tricks of the trade. I felt it was important to share my thoughts so the readers of my blog can get a full picture: <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>from a book reader’s viewpoint</b> </span>as well as from<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b> a book writer’s viewpoint. </b></span><br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">So, now let’s move on to Dan who is not only the author of travel stories but also has a wide experience of writing on variety of subjects, which means he knows what he is talking about! Over to you, Dan! </span></b><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Guest Post:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>How to give your stories gripping Openings and Endings </u></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">By Dan Coxon </span></b></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://litreactor.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/header-medium/images/column/headers/typewriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://litreactor.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/header-medium/images/column/headers/typewriter.jpg" /></a></div></div><u><span style="color: magenta;">How to give a gripping opening: </span></u><br /><br />“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” <br /><br />“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” <br /><br />“Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins.” <br /><br />“Call me Ishmael.” <br /><br />We’re all aware of the great opening lines of classic literature, and at times my family used to turn it into a guessing game at holiday gatherings (for the record, the origins of the four openings above are as follows: Pride and Prejudice, 1984, Lolita, Moby-Dick). It’s a well-known truth that books can stand or fail on the quality of their opening, and a strong beginning acts as a promise to the reader that we’re in safe hands, that this writer knows how to reel us in and keep us guessing. <br /><br />My personal favourite comes from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Crow-Road-Iain-Banks/dp/0349103232/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330696943&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Iain Banks’ The Crow Road</a>: “It was the day my grandmother exploded. I sat in the crematorium, listening to my Uncle Hamish quietly snoring in harmony to Bach's Mass in B Minor, and I reflected that it always seemed to be death that drew me back to Gallanach.” Who wouldn’t want to read more of that? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/83/IainBanksTheCrowRoad.jpg/200px-IainBanksTheCrowRoad.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Giving your own stories – either fiction or non-fiction – this kind of gripping opening isn’t quite as easy, however. We all know that we should start with something intriguing, something that compels the reader to read on, but that’s harder than it sounds. As always, the best idea is to learn from the classics. <br /><br />If you look at the examples above, they all pose questions and puzzles that will be answered during the course of the story: Why did his grandmother explode? Is it really a ‘truth universally acknowledged’ that a man must want a wife? Why are the clocks striking thirteen? Try to include an element of mystery in your opening and the reader will want to continue with it – if only to discover where you’re heading. <br /><br />Strong openings rely on more than just a single line, however, and if you want your story to truly grip the reader then you’ll want to think long and hard about your opening page, or pages. You’ll want these pages to immediately give your readers an impression of the world the story inhabits: the kind of story it is, where it takes place, who the main characters are. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://data6.blog.de/media/621/5685621_f8ecab9611_m.jpeg" width="217" /></div><br />If you read beyond that curt opening line of Moby-Dick you’ll find that Melville quickly tells us that his narrator is a seafaring man, and a philosophical one at that. We already know that this will be a book about the sea, and that its narrator will sometimes be given to philosophical asides. <br /><br />We also come to realise that Ishmael feels compelled to take to the sea, and it’s this concept of compulsion and obsession that drives the rest of the novel. We would do well to learn from Melville here. Not only is it important to set the scene and the characters in the opening pages, but you’ll want to set the tone and the themes too. <br /><br />If you’re writing a memoir about growing up in China, then you’ll want to make that clear to the reader from the outset; but you’ll also want to hint at your future themes too, such as the interplay of foreign cultures, or the difficulties facing a Westerner in an unfamiliar culture. <br /><br />One of the ways to achieve this is to think of your opening as posing a question, and I’m not just talking about the mysteries posed by the opening line. The first few pages of your book should set up the theme for your story, and if this isn’t already clear in your mind you should give it some thought. It can be as complex as ‘How can mankind live together in peace’, or as simple as ‘Will our heroine find love’ (Jane Austen uses that one quite a lot). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.g-pop.net/images/pridenovel.jpg" width="194" /></div><div><br />Depending on the length of your story, you’ll want to have at least a couple of questions posed at the start, and identifying what they are can help you plan and structure the rest of the story too. You don’t have to explicitly ask them (although you can), but you should drop hints for your readers so that they recognize your theme and can become engaged with it. <br /><br /><u><span style="color: magenta;">How to give a gripping ending: </span></u><br /><div><br />Of course, the joy of setting questions is that they lead you to answers, and it’s here that the gripping ending comes into play. If you’ve done your job well, and posed questions at the start of your story, then you’ll want to make sure that you wrap them up at the end too. Usually this will involve your protagonist undergoing a number of ordeals and adventures, then returning to the setting or outlook that you used in the opening – but with some new information or self-knowledge. <br /><br />To use a simplistic example from modern storytelling, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lord-Rings-Book-Box/dp/0261102389/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330696811&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Lord of the Rings trilogy</a> opens with the question “Can a small, unassuming person conquer evil?”, and the answer at the end is “Yes he can – but only with a little help from his friends”.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.indiaplaza.in/books/9780/0071/9780007149247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.indiaplaza.in/books/9780/0071/9780007149247.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div>If you’re struggling to find a satisfactory ending to your story it’s worth going back to the questions you posed at the beginning, and making sure that they’ve all been answered. Naturally, you won’t want to spell the answer out for the reader (they should have to work a little too, after all), but if you haven’t tied up all the themes of your story then the reader will usually feel that the story is unresolved or unsatisfying. They’ll be looking for a resolution – even if it isn’t the one they expected at the story’s outset. (In fact, especially if it’s not the resolution they expected – there’s nothing more satisfying than a story that surprises us). <br /><br />There’s far more to writing than this, but if you can bear in mind these techniques then you should at least have something to draw the reader in, and leave them satisfied after they turn the final page. The rest, as they say, is up to you. <br /><br /><i>Note from Dan: The ideas used here are drawn in part from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writers-Journey-Mythic-Structure/dp/193290736X" target="_blank">Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers.</a> If you don’t already own a copy, you may want to invest in one! </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YMQwEK9-qGU/TsgfEMSJ5DI/AAAAAAAAAcI/YXTnD4VTbIc/s200/Dan+Coxon+author+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YMQwEK9-qGU/TsgfEMSJ5DI/AAAAAAAAAcI/YXTnD4VTbIc/s200/Dan+Coxon+author+photo.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author:</span></b><br /><br />Dan Coxon has recently moved to the Pacific Northwest, having spent ten years living in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is the author of Ka Mate: Travels in New Zealand and The Wee Book Of Scotland, and he currently works as the Seattle Editor for CultureMob.com, while also contributing to The Nervous Breakdownand Spike. His fiction has appeared in the anthology Late-Night River Lights, and in numerous small press magazines and journals. To know more about him and his writing, visit his website, <a href="http://dancoxon.com/">http://dancoxon.com/</a> or <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>read my exclusive interview</b></span> with him as we talk about writing, travel places and more! To read this interview, simply <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/11/be-my-guest-author-interview-dan-coxon.html" target="_blank">click here. </a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtuAJrp3cx0/TsQYkNVRw5I/AAAAAAAAAbw/BvwK3HhtIXc/s400/Ka+Mate+cover+2+v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtuAJrp3cx0/TsQYkNVRw5I/AAAAAAAAAbw/BvwK3HhtIXc/s320/Ka+Mate+cover+2+v3.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book: </span></b><br /><br />The New Zealand All Blacks are one of the most recognisable team franchises in modern sport, and their performance of the Ka Mate haka prior to international matches is known across the globe. But how many of us know anything about the Maori people to whom this haka belongs?<br /><br />Ka Mate: Travels In New Zealand takes us on a three month journey around New Zealand, through the vineyards, over the glaciers, and across the fields of boiling mud. Freelance journalist and writer Dan Coxon does more than simply entertain us with anecdotes of his travels: he unravels New Zealand's complex history of migration and settlement, and reveals an intriguing story of British colonisation that still has repercussions today. Plus there's time for a rugby match or two along the way.</div><div><br />To buy his book, “Ka Mate: Travels in New Zealand” on Amazon, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ka-Mate-Travels-Zealand-ebook/dp/B005K24Z86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321465964&sr=8-1">click here</a>. </div><div><br />To read <b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">my detailed review</span></b> of this book, <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-ka-mate-travels-in-new.html" target="_blank">click here. </a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">International Giveaway!!! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Open till 11th March, 2012 </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Prize: “Ka Mate: Travels in New Zealand” E-Book to FOUR lucky winners!!! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">To enter, just write a genuine comment on this article.</span> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Yes, it's that easy!!! :)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are a writer, share how important you find the openings and endings of a book and what are your tips to make those interesting for the reader. If you are a book reader, tell which book made an impression on you because of its engaging beginning lines or a surprise ending. Share what you feel on this topic. After the comment, please <span style="color: #cc0000;">leave your name</span> and <span style="color: #cc0000;">valid e-mail address</span> so I can contact you if you are one of the <span style="color: #cc0000;">FOUR lucky winners. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>You do not have to be a follower to participate, but if you follow “The Review Girl” and share this giveaway through Facebook or Twitter, it will be highly appreciated. If you share, please mention the Facebook & Twitter link, so I know. Thanks so much! So write your comment and get a chance to win this fantastic travel book! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>Good Luck Everyone! :-)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Note: </u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Only the genuine comments will be published and counted for the entries. The winners will be chosen through Random.org. They will be notified by e-mail from “The Review Girl”. A BIG thanks to Dan for providing four copies of his e-book for this giveaway!</u></div></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-7104186241486891642012-03-01T06:53:00.001-08:002012-03-01T06:59:13.490-08:00BE MY GUEST: Author Interview & Giveaway With Catherine Stine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DB5nw-yRK90/T0-CcPj59kI/AAAAAAAAAus/EvfJD6ZIMzE/s320/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" width="213" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: magenta;">I am so pleased to host Catherine Stine, brilliant author of many books. She is one of those versatile authors who have written in a variety of genres. Today, she is here to talk about her latest release, </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireseed-One-Catherine-Stine/dp/0984828206/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1" style="color: magenta; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">“Fireseed One”</a><b style="color: magenta;">, a futuristic thriller involving lots of twists and turns. When asked where she got idea for this book, she said, </b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">“From pain can come beauty and soulful meaning.”</span></i><b style="color: magenta;"> To know more about the ideas behind this book and her writing journey so far, read on! Oh yeah! Also look out for the </b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">surprise giveaway</span></b><b style="color: magenta;"> at the end of this interview, great news...right? :-)</b></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Why did you become a writer? Did some person or incident in life inspire you? </span><br />I was always writing stories and illustrating them. In fourth grade I decided to write a novel. I got to the third chapter and couldn’t figure out how to do the rest. But by sixth grade, I’d written my first fantasy, called "A Better World" about kids who escape from an attic window to an exotic jungle world. My teacher Xeroxed copies for all my classmates!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireseed-One-Catherine-Stine/dp/0984828206/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Hc416RpbL._SL500_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-big,TopRight,35,-73_OU01_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Why did you choose to write a futuristic thriller? </span><br />More and more, I love to write suspenseful page-turners. I love plot twists and turns; a book that keeps you up at night. And I love speculating on the future. But it has to have romance. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireseed-One-Catherine-Stine/dp/0984828206/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1" target="_blank">Fireseed One</a> does! Varik and Marisa have a very fire and ice love affair. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: What books have you published so far and what are they about? </span><br />My young adult novel is called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Refugees-ebook/dp/B001TLZEZK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1329544492&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Refugees.</a> It’s about two modern refugees: Dawn, a runaway from San Francisco and Johar, a boy from Afghanistan, and how their paths connect in unexpected ways. I’ve also written middle grade fiction: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Best-Friend-Innerstar-University/dp/1593698062/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2" target="_blank">A Girl’s Best Friend</a>, a choose-your-own-adventure for girls.<br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: If you could be a character from your books, who would you be? Why? </span><br />I’d choose Marisa from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireseed-One-Catherine-Stine/dp/0984828206/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1" target="_blank">Fireseed One</a> because she’s beautiful, rich, and pretty wild. She joins a terrorist organization and gets into big trouble, but in the process she gets to hang out with a famous and handsome marine biologist’s son, Varik, and travel with him into exotic desert lands in search of a magical hybrid plant. She changes in shocking ways, but I won’t say how! You have to read "Fireseed One" to find out. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Where do you get ideas for your stories and characters? </span><br />Everywhere! From people I meet, from odd articles, from parts of myself, from issues that upset or fascinate me. One of the inspirations for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireseed-One-Catherine-Stine/dp/0984828206/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1" target="_blank">Fireseed One</a> came from a dark place: the shocking news that a very old friend had been murdered while snorkelling. I dedicated the novel to her. From pain can come beauty and soulful meaning. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kxoTfs2Hug0/T0-DmXBVBCI/AAAAAAAAAu0/VHsZo0ooTh4/s1600/writing+tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kxoTfs2Hug0/T0-DmXBVBCI/AAAAAAAAAu0/VHsZo0ooTh4/s320/writing+tips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Would you like to give some writing tips for those who want to venture into writing fiction? </span><br />Writing is revision! In your story, make the stakes high. Do lots of free-writes and outlining before you even start that novel, it’ll save you time and big headaches. Get into a committed writing group with people whose writing you respect, and workshop. Read a ton of good novels, you learn so much about writing that way. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Do you think book blogs play a vital role in getting books across to readers?</span><br />For sure! Some of the most avid readers are online book reviewers, and readers flock to good review sites to look for novels. The online community is great, very generous and helpful about paying it forward. You do need to find your proper audience though. If you write nonfiction, don’t approach a reviewer who likes mysteries. On the other hand, you never know who might fall in love with your novel. It can be quite surprising. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://www.tvwaimun.com/userfiles/Image/news/30092011W/30092011103658.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Printed books vs. E-books. What’s your take on this?</span><br />I love them both! I have a<span style="color: #cc0000;"> Kindle Fire</span>, fully loaded with all kinds of ebooks. On the other hand, I still enjoy holding a paperback in my hands. And as an author who has published both traditionally and independently, I feel as if the future trend is not towards one or the other, but toward an author who can go fluidly from one to the other, depending on the project. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How much time does it take you to complete a novel? What was your routine? </span><br />"Refugees" took me two years, as I was new at writing a novel, and it involved research. My first children’s book for American Girl was a manic write. I was under contract to write the darn thing in one month! I wrote a chapter a day. "Fireseed One" took me a year, but the revision, forever and a day. I’m getting faster though. I go to a writing space, and I also have a home office-full of photos of my characters. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How do you balance your family life and your writing commitments?</span><br />My two boys are off in college. Glorious, I feel like a teenager again, with all of the writing time I want between teaching gigs. My hubby and I both love to work, and then have a late dinner out. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/161937_118180184920195_6316023_n.jpg" /></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Are you inspired by any particular author? Who is your favourite author? </span><br />So many! Cherie Priest is the queen of fantastic suspense. I love Nancy Werlin, who does YA thrillers. And then, the classic authors like Cormac McCarthy and Camus. It’s all good! Favorite author? Ray Bradbury, the king of lyrical tales about Mars. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Among other author’s books, any character you relate to and you’ll always remember? </span><br />I adored Briony Larkin in Billingsley’s Chime. She was made to believe she was a witch who caused her twin’s terrible accident. I won’t say what happens, but it’s a real surprise. Billingsley works this idea of dreadful guilt, kneading it like taffy. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JjBDrPX0X4Q/TiQV8WXxXMI/AAAAAAAADJU/kqzOUjnDpKo/s1600/Chime.jpg" /></div><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: I believe that there are only two categories of books: good books and bad books. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a “good book”? </span><br />A great book is one that haunts you way after you read it, one that makes you see something in a new way, one that makes you cry and laugh and gasp. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Now, time for some fun questions: </span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></b><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Share with us three favourite childhood memories. </span><br />Making a lending library with all of my books, getting a pearl bracelet from my dad for Christmas, selling my handmade paper dolls at school! <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Tell us about the craziest thing you ever did in your life. </span><br />I painted the walls of a half-built apartment building that I really hated with tar. (It was being built right behind our old house) My father made my friend and me scrub it all off. Ick. I also locked my teacher in a closet-by mistake! <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How do you relax when you have free time? </span><br />I go to a spa and get a massage, go to a movie with a friend or read. Oh, I also love bad TV shows. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Complete these sentences: </span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Love is..</span>. all around if you know where to look. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Life is... </span>such a gift! <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Writing is..</span>. a rollicking adventure. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Thank you so much for stopping by my blog during your <a href="http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/2012/02/complete-fireseed-one-book-blog-tour.html">virtual book tour</a>. I wish you all the best for your books!</span><br />Komal, thanks for hosting me on Review Girl! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8thV6PSyJQ/T0-EizSGWgI/AAAAAAAAAu8/e9Xn05AADSg/s1600/Kitsy%252C+best+Cape+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8thV6PSyJQ/T0-EizSGWgI/AAAAAAAAAu8/e9Xn05AADSg/s1600/Kitsy%252C+best+Cape+photo.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author:</span></b><br /><br />I’m Catherine Stine and I write novels for teens and new adults. I love suspenseful page-turners of any kind. I am published both traditionally and independently. I’m also a professional illustrator. Fireseed One, my new futuristic thriller, has nine of my drawings in it. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Author Links: </span></b><br />Goodreads Author Page:<br />http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1018139.Catherine_Stine <br />Website: http://www.catherinestine.com<br />Blog: http://catherinestine.blogspot.com<br />Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/crossoverwriter<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8pws5unkoKA/T0-FQBk9fxI/AAAAAAAAAvE/1j-KO-yzybE/s1600/Fireseed+online+flyer+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8pws5unkoKA/T0-FQBk9fxI/AAAAAAAAAvE/1j-KO-yzybE/s320/Fireseed+online+flyer+cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book:</span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Fireseed One: </span></b><br /><br />What if only your worst enemy could help you save the world?<br />Fireseed One opens onto a near-future earth of floating island farms, people zipping around in amphibious boats, and 18 year-old Varik hanging out with his dolphin, Juko by the water’s edge. All Varik really wants to do is to party on SnowAngel Island with his fashion-hound friend, Audun, and flirt with the college girls he dreams of joining next year in his quest to become a doctor. Instead, he inherits a vast sea farm, following the drowning of his marine biologist father. Things turn treacherous, when a beautiful and shrewd terrorist named Marisa Baron, breaks into Varik’s father’s secret underwater vault that stores the world’s food supply. <br /><br />Varik is forced to take Marisa, who knows way, way too much about things that are none of her business, to scorching desert lands in search of a magical hybrid to try to save the food source. Problem is, the Fireseed plant Varik’s father envisioned may not have ever existed off the drawing board! Things get truly daunting, when Varik and Maria are captured by a cowled cult who worships Varik’s drowned father. Will the cult chop up Varik, the founder’s son and eat him to gain magical Fireseed powers? Will Varik and Marisa ever get back to Ocean Dominion? <br /><br />Fans of Divergent and Feed will likely enjoy this YA thriller, as well as those who like a generous dash of romance with their page-turners. Illustrated by the author. <br /><br />All eBook formats, $2.99 <br /><br />Collectible illustrated paperback, $7.99 <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Purchase links for “Fireseed One” are given below: </span></b><br />For Amazon Kindle and Paperback, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireseed-One-ebook/dp/B006O4SL3O/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1325707253&sr=8-1">click here.</a> <br /><br />B&N Nook and Paperback: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fireseed-one-catherine-stine/1107972814?ean=9780984828210&itm=1&usri=fireseed+one">click here.</a> <br /><br />iTunes for iPad or iPhone: <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/fireseed-one/id489625883?mt=11">click here.</a> <br /><br />Sony Reader: <a href="http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/catherine-stine/fireseed-one/_/R-400000000000000557610">click here.</a> <br /><br />To “LIKE” the Fireseed One Facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireseed-One/160174947415366">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireseed-One/160174947415366</a><br /><div><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>To see complete list of FireSeed One’s Virtual Book Tour Stops, Feb 20 through March 19, <a href="http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/2012/02/complete-fireseed-one-book-blog-tour.html">click here</a>. <i>or</i> Simply click the banner to know which blogs are hosting Catherine.</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/2012/02/complete-fireseed-one-book-blog-tour.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWi10zdqg2k/T0-FYxeD_0I/AAAAAAAAAvM/8d8sJGjjm5Q/s320/FinalFIRES+banner.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">International Giveaway!!! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Open worldwide till 11th March, 2012 </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Prize: Fireseed One (E-Book) to THREE winners!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">To enter, simply do the following: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“Like” Fireseed One Facebook page, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireseed-One/160174947415366">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Follow Catherine’s blog<a href="http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/2012/02/complete-fireseed-one-book-blog-tour.html">, here.</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Join “The Review Girl” Official Facebook Group, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/review.girl/">here.</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, once you follow these three simple rules, just write your Facebook name and valid e-mail address in the comment section below, so the author can contact you, if you are one of the THREE lucky winners. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That’s all! Pretty simple, right? :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Good Luck everyone! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NOTE: </u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">The winners will be chosen through Random.org. </div><div style="text-align: center;">They will be notified through e-mail by “The Review Girl”. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is the responsibility of the author to send books to winners. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Last but not least, a BIG thanks to the lovely author for offering 3 copies for this giveaway! </div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-5316943264245437052012-02-28T04:39:00.000-08:002012-02-28T04:39:06.496-08:00BE MY GUEST: How To Choose An Apt Book Title By Karen Lenfestey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SH3W3c9HodI/T0zHjutd2MI/AAAAAAAAAuU/i26iemDW8yI/s1600/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SH3W3c9HodI/T0zHjutd2MI/AAAAAAAAAuU/i26iemDW8yI/s320/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">I will say this is an excellent article contributed by a successful author, who knows what she is talking about. If you want to be part of the writing industry, this information is a must for you especially if you are an author or want to be one. Learn from the expert as joining my blog today is an extremely talented author <a href="http://karensnovels.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Karen Lenfestey</a> (Author of "A Sister’s Promise" and "What Happiness Looks Like"), talking about the secret behind intriguing titles and how you can create one. Over to you, Karen! </span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Guest Post:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>How to choose an apt book title</u> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">By Karen Lenfestey </span></b></div><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">“What’s the title of your novel?”</span></b> the writing instructor asked. Proud of mine, I volunteered, “Small Town Colors.” I thought it was brilliant because my story included diverse cultures in a small, Midwestern town. On the cover, I pictured trees in the midst of their autumnal color change. So clever, I thought. The instructor emitted some sort of disapproving, unimpressed grunt. Then called on her next victim. <br /><br />I went home and asked myself, <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">“What is my book really about?”</span></b> I made a list of words that described my novel: marriage, sisters, motherhood, childlessness, guilt, jealousy, promises, lupus, and secrets. As it turned out, diverse cultures had little to do with the story I’d actually written. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Who is my audience? </span>Women who read for fun, women who are considering motherhood or are mothers, women who want to read about relationships and marriage. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What words speak to that audience?</span> Along with the artwork on the cover, titles signal to the reader if a book is in their preferred genre. The word “sister” immediately designates my book as geared toward women. So many of us either have sisters or wish we had sisters. Ultimately, my story is about a sister’s promise and a wife’s promise. My protagonist, Kate, must break one. I decided on the title "A Sister’s Promise". <br /><br />I have to admit, people have mixed reactions to the title of my second novel, "What Happiness Looks Like". It’s about how our lives don’t always turn out the way we envisioned. I heard a woman in a movie accused of being miserable say, “This is what happiness looks like.” I immediately thought it sounded like the title of a novel. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">How many other books have that same title?</span> Often when I think I’ve created the ultimate book title, I discover it’s not so original after all. For example, I thought “Forgotten Dreams” would be a great title. Well, so did a lot of other writers. Go to amazon.com and do a search for your book title. If several books already have that title, I suggest you alter it. You want your title to come up first when someone searches for it. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Is my title too long and complicated? </span>When I tell friends and fans about my book, I don’t want them to say “Spell that for me” like they do when I tell them my last name is Lenfestey. I want my title to be memorable but simple. Recently I pulled up the titles of the New York Times bestselling hard covers for one week in February 2012. Most of them are fairly short and sweet. Maybe we can learn something from them: Home Front, Private #1 Suspect, Taken, Defending Jacob, and Death comes to Pemberly. Now look at the books on your shelf or on your e-reader. Study the titles and think about which ones you picked up on your own without a recommendation. Ask yourself what word(s) in the title intrigued you. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What if I can’t decide?</span> Come up with a few possible titles and poll people through FaceBook, Twitter or your website. Ask those in your critique group or anyone familiar with your work. Everyone has an opinion and we love to be asked! <br /><br />Basically, if your title works, readers will pick up your book rather than emitting some sort of disapproving, unimpressed grunt like my writing instructor did. (Although her lack of enthusiasm is what pushed me to work harder, so I’m thankful for that). Now that you’ve had my crash course in titles, see if you can match the book title from some of my favorite authors to its genre below: <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Name that Book Quiz: </span></b><br /><br />The Detroit Electric Scheme--by D.E. Johnson non-fiction <br /><br />Pink Champagne--by Nicole Green urban fantasy <br /><br />Declutter Your Diet--by Tanya Isch Caylor thriller <br /><br />Prophecy Denied--by ML Rigdon historical fiction <br /><br />Wolf’s Bane--by Judy Post romance <br /><br />The Perfect Crime--by Les Edgerton fantasy <br /><br />A Fatal Waltz--by Tasha Alexander mystery <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta;">Visit <a href="http://www.karensnovels.weebly.com/">www.karensnovels.weebly.com</a> to check your answers or to read the opening chapters of "A Sister’s Promise" or "What Happiness Looks Like". </span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kwywEgPY00/T0zIV9IbTyI/AAAAAAAAAuc/s3T8G7E5WME/s1600/Karen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kwywEgPY00/T0zIV9IbTyI/AAAAAAAAAuc/s3T8G7E5WME/s320/Karen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author: </span></b> <br />Karen Lenfestey, a Midwest Writer’s Fellowship winner, writes women’s fiction with characters you care about. "A Sister's Promise" is currently #4 in Amazon's drama category and has sold over 26,000 copies. "What Happiness Looks Like" was recently released and is #11 today in Amazon's drama category. Her books are available as e-books and in paperback at <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3AKaren+Lenfestey&keywords=Karen+Lenfestey&ie=UTF8&qid=1329506961&sr=8-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B004SBIK2M">amazon.com</a> and barnesandnoble.com.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About her Books: </span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://karensnovels.weebly.com/uploads/7/7/9/5/7795273/5619126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://karensnovels.weebly.com/uploads/7/7/9/5/7795273/5619126.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">A Sister’s Promise: </span></b><br /><br />Kate Hopper can list a million reasons why she doesn’t have kids. No, more like reasons why she shouldn’t have kids: genetics, a demanding career, and ultimately, the fear that she wasn’t cut out to be June Cleaver, Carol Brady or Claire Huxtable. TV moms always make it look so easy, but Kate knows better. When Kate’s sister faces death, Kate is willing to say anything to save her sister’s life—even promising to have a baby. Kate decides to keep her rash words a secret from her husband until she can figure out whether she really wants to be a mother. Especially since they agreed their marriage would remain childless. A sister’s promise and a wife’s promise: Kate must break one. Should she risk everything she has for the unknown? <br /><br />To purchase this book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Promise-Karen-Lenfestey/dp/1463787960/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1">click here.</a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-umoGCRxilWo/T0zKcadKtVI/AAAAAAAAAuk/RzGz17MdG9M/s1600/wht+happiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-umoGCRxilWo/T0zKcadKtVI/AAAAAAAAAuk/RzGz17MdG9M/s200/wht+happiness.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">What Happiness Looks Like:</span></b><br /><br />Joely Shupe had a vision of what her thirties would look like: she’d be the mother of two, finger painting with her kids during the day and cooking dinner for her loving husband at night. Instead she’s a single mother struggling to provide for her young daughter. To make matters worse, her ex-fiancé, Jake, shows up--unemployed and reeling from a personal tragedy. He claims he’s ready to parent the daughter he abandoned five years ago. Joely is more interested in Dalton, a devoted father to his own son, who offers to take care of her the way no man ever has. Should Joely risk her daughter bonding with someone new or with the man who broke her heart? One thing is for sure: this is not the life Joely expected. Is it time to adjust her idea of what happiness looks like? <br /><br />To purchase this book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Happiness-Looks-Like-ebook/dp/B0061CX6KM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">click here.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">How do you choose the titles of your books? Do you find it difficult to go for that perfect title? Did you find this article informative? Share your feedback in the comments section below.</span></b></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-45623606722677471152012-02-21T04:29:00.000-08:002012-02-21T04:29:42.224-08:00Book Review: Kissed in Paris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCSe2a_rI5A/TzptHP2L3iI/AAAAAAAAAsA/wJF714LzKBw/s320/KISSED+600x900+72+dpi.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Book: Kissed in Paris </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Genre: Chick Lit, Romantic Comedy, Action Adventure </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Authors: Juliette Sobanet</span></b> </div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Cover Critique: </b></span><br /><br />Stunning, dazzling, very stylish cover! I love the collage of bright colours here – orange, yellow, green, red and of course there is the trademark of Paris, Eiffel tower in the background. This is, so far, my favourite cover in 2012. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Book Blurb: </span></b><br /><br />“You are in Paris, the City of Love. You must not be so controlled. Here, have another glass. I promise you, it will not hurt.”<br /><br />When 29-year-old event planner Chloe Turner wakes up penniless and without a passport in the Plaza Athénée Hotel in Paris, she only has a few fleeting memories of Claude, the suave French man who convinced her to have that extra glass of wine before taking all of her possessions and slipping out the door. As the overly organized, go-to gal for her three drama queen younger sisters, her anxiety-ridden father, and her needy clients, Chloe is normally prepared for every disaster that comes her way. But with her wedding to her straight-laced, lawyer fiancé back in DC only days away and a French con-man on the loose with her engagement ring, this is one catastrophe she never could have planned for. As Chloe tries to figure out a way home, she runs into an even bigger problem—the police are after her due to suspicious activity now tied to her bank account. Chloe's only hope at retrieving her passport and clearing her name lies in the hands of a rugged, undercover agent named Julien who has a few secrets of his own. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Blurb Courtesy: Amazon.com) </span><br /><div><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Review: </span></b><br /><br />This is the story of an impulsive girl (Chloe), who is robbed by a French conman (Claude). She decides to trust an undercover agent (Julien) who is apparently trying to save our heroine from the clutches of police in the hope to recover her passport so she can fly back to America in time for her wedding (which is in next few days!). Does this sound like a promising premise for a well-written novel? And the answer is, YES!!! <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">This madcap romantic comedy (I would not call it the usual chick-lit, it is much better than that!), is full of thrills and adventure and the more it progresses, the faster it gets, like a furious car race with more U-turns and twists at every step of the way. With the sensational opening chapter, which perfectly sets the tone, mood and setting of the story, the writer drives the story forward in fifth gear and takes the readers for a “wild ride”.</span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />The book gives a splendid tour of France (not just Paris!) and its beautiful countryside as a backdrop while the French agent (the hero) and the heroine run to get their life in place, but the more they try to solve things, the more they get entangled in bigger mess. While the story is written from first person perspective, it follows the hero to lead them from one situation to another. <br /><br />The character of Chloe and Julien is brilliantly carved by the writer. She not only gives them signature traits (such as Chloe’s love for chocolate croissants and Julien’s bad habit of smoking) which make the characters memorable, but also gets into the hidden crevices of their minds, to reveal their secret desires (i.e. how Chloe finds Julien smoking hot) and conflicts (as Chloe decides between Paul and Julien) to the readers. There is a certain amount of craziness to their behaviour which adds to the momentum of the story. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">What I loved most about the novel is that it does NOT have typical chick lit ingredients like BFFS, whining and sulking by the heroine or the search for a perfect gentleman. On the contrary, this novel has thugs, tattooed badass men, suspicious activities by our hero (Julien) who is street-smart and not really trustworthy. To know how he leads (rather misleads!) our heroine, read the novel! </span><br /><br />You can understand how much I enjoyed every bit of the novel, from the fact that it kept me up all night long! I was up till 6 in the morning turning the pages swiftly to finish it. This is the first novel in many years that interrupted my sleep and left me craving for more (the previous one was “Zoya” by Danielle Steel which I would recommend as well). Seriously, I did not want this excellent novel to end. It was so much fun – “pure escapism” and that is why, equally hard to bid farewell to the characters! <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Final verdict:</span> </b>Highly recommended for the natural flow in the story, unconventional and gripping writing style of the author, flawless execution of original plot, unforgettable characters, exotic French scenery and laugh-out-loud crazy adventure. A must-read for those who enjoy a little bit of eccentricity to spice up the routine. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Review Girl Rating: 10/10</b> </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">“I would like to thank Juliette Sobanet for sending me a free copy of this book, for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. You can buy this book from Amazon, by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-in-Paris-ebook/dp/B0075MR85G/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" target="_blank">clicking here.</a>” </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Want to read this book free? Then, <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/p/see-this-page-for-entering-in.html" target="_blank">click here!</a></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Was this review helpful? Have you already read this book? Did you enjoy it as much as I did? </span><span style="color: magenta;">Tell me in the comments section below! </span></b></span></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-36601775540443025392012-02-17T11:04:00.002-08:002012-02-18T04:30:53.566-08:00Valentine's Day Exclusive Group Chat With the Authors of “Valentine Delights Anthologies”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALnNMOvwUjg/Tz6i-Qb7cyI/AAAAAAAAAtg/jelqikYwv6I/s1600/valentine+special+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALnNMOvwUjg/Tz6i-Qb7cyI/AAAAAAAAAtg/jelqikYwv6I/s320/valentine+special+banner.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">To continue the marathon of special posts, I am so thrilled to do first of its kind group chat on my blog. I hope you guys will enjoy! So, let’s meet the authors of Valentine’s Delights Anthologies (<a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-day-special-book-review.html?showComment=1329495814896#c4439613073181046645">read my review here</a>) as they share their idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day, all-time favourite romantic movie and book, with the readers of “The Review Girl”. </span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AOu_EO_ciwQ/Tz6RWkfUeCI/AAAAAAAAAs4/DDugU_dlXkw/s1600/VD+be+mine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AOu_EO_ciwQ/Tz6RWkfUeCI/AAAAAAAAAs4/DDugU_dlXkw/s1600/VD+be+mine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AOu_EO_ciwQ/Tz6RWkfUeCI/AAAAAAAAAs4/DDugU_dlXkw/s320/VD+be+mine.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbK_9vZCc1U/Tz6Ry03kIKI/AAAAAAAAAtI/hnXlZxAFPWs/s1600/VD+kiss+me.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbK_9vZCc1U/Tz6Ry03kIKI/AAAAAAAAAtI/hnXlZxAFPWs/s320/VD+kiss+me.jpeg" width="247" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>You can also win these anthologies and enter in the giveaway by <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-day-special-book-review.html?showComment=1329495814896#c4439613073181046645">clicking here. </a></b></span></div><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Okay, let’s move on and read how these writers celebrate Valentine’s Day and what it means to them. Make sure you sit with a hot blueberry muffin and tea, like me! Hee Hee! Sorry, no sharing, this yummy muffin is all mine! :-)</span></b> <br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Liberty Blake </span></span></b><br /><a href="http://libertysspells.blogspot.com/">http://libertysspells.blogspot.com/</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />For me the perfect Valentine's Day is walking along a deserted beach with the man I love. Laughing at life and exchanging hugs and kisses. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />Bringing Up Baby is my favorite romantic movie. Nobody does romantic comedy better than Katharine Hepburn. The costumes are gorgeous and Cary Grant…(sigh) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/BringingupBaby.jpg" width="241" /></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book/novel?</span><br />Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer. No matter how many times I read this book it makes me laugh and it makes me cry. The dialogue is witty. It is a madcap romance between two young people who learn what love is. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Jillian Chantal </span></b><br /><a href="http://www.jillianchantal.com/">www.jillianchantal.com</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />A nice fire, some Lindt chocolates, and my significant other. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />Sense and Sensibility- Colonel Brandon could read me some poetry any time. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book/novel?</span><br />Dr. Zhivago. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Denise Moncrief</span></b><br /><a href="http://www.denisemoncrief.blogspot.com/">www.denisemoncrief.blogspot.com</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />If my husband surprised me with an overnight stay at a bed and breakfast, my day would be practically perfect. Sleep late, a dozen yellow roses (I know, but yellow roses are special to me), and of course, Godiva chocolates. I won't sleep late; it's a workday. He'll get me the roses and the chocolates, because he always does, but he'll never think of the bed and breakfast. It's not a surprise if I have to tell him, right? Oh no, he was looking over my shoulder when I wrote this. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KciCp3asD94/Tz6hRCs5bDI/AAAAAAAAAtY/SVLHBtZgcvY/s200/friendship-yellow-roses-1.jpg" width="200" /></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />Ooh, that's a tough one. I can't choose just one. When Harry Met Sally or How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days. I can think of at least five more go-to movies when I need a romance fix. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book/novel?</span><br />This is tough choice, too. Gone With the Wind and Rebecca are my classic choices. Something contemporary? I really loved The Other Eden by Sarah Bryant. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Jennifer Daiker </span></b><br /><br /><a href="http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/">http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />Avoiding restaurants. I love a heart shaped pizza, a mini bottle of champagne, and my hubby.<br /><div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />I adore romantic comedies though they are forever changing. For the moment: The Proposal (though Crazy, Stupid, Love is a close second). What can I say, I have a thing for Ryan's (don't tell my husband *wink*.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://munfitnessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/ryan-reynolds-toned-body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://munfitnessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/ryan-reynolds-toned-body.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book?</span><br />It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. She's a genius and I've yet to dislike anything she's written. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Maggie Devine </span></span></b> <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></span></b><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />My perfect Valentine’s Day would be a dozen red roses, a heart shaped box of chocolates (I know, cheesy but it's Valentine’s!!) and a romantic dinner...sigh...and if he gift wrapped a 16 hand Friesian horse, I would marry him that day!! <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />Above all else it is Pride & Prejudice. First the BBC version with Colin Firth followed by the more recent one with Kiera Knightly <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book?</span><br />"The Promise" by Danielle Steele - I read it cover to cover one night at the cottage. My mum found me on the sofa in the morning still reading - I couldn't put it down! She was horrified. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Ceri Hebert</b></span><br /><a href="http://www.cerihebert.com/">www.cerihebert.com</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />Sleep in. Spend the day outdoors, either by a lake or the ocean followed by dinner at our favorite little Italian restaurant. A movie then home to a quiet kid-free house for a little us time.<br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />Three way tie between PS I Love You, Phantom of the Opera (Gerard Butler is fantastic in both) and the Keira Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice. </div><div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book? </span><br />Outlander by Diana Gabaldon <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Darlene Henderson </span></span></b><br /><a href="http://www.dandwh.wordpress.com/">www.dandwh.wordpress.com</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />Any day is Valentine's day when I'm in love and I get chocolate. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />The Lakehouse. I can't watch it over and over again because I sob. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.posters555.com/pictures/The-Lake-House-(2006)-picture-MOV_7c194770_b.jpg" width="282" /></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book?</span><br />Favorite romantic book Gone With the Wind. I have loved Rhett Butler since I was ten years old. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">W. Lynn Chantale</span></b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like? </span><br />My perfect Valentine’s Day is spending time with my wonderful husband. This year we’re going on a mystery/dinner train, but that’s a tame date compared to what we’ve done in the past.<br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />My favorite romantic movie is An American President. I just love how Andrew Shepard (Kirk Douglas) fumbles his way through a romance with lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Benning) while trying to remain president.<br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book?</span><br />This may surprise you, but I don’t have one.<br /><br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Shannon O’Brien</span></b><br /><a href="http://shannonobrienauthor.wordpress.com/">http://shannonobrienauthor.wordpress.com/</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />Husband cooking me dinner, kids being good and leaving me alone, and a loooong soak in the tub with a glass of wine and a book. But if Edward Cullen showed up, I'd expect a steamy night at the Four Seasons. Just sayin'.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />Toss up between Hope Floats and The Notebook<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://joyfulmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/hope-floats.jpg" /></div></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book?</span><br />Rosemary Rogers, Sweet Savage Love (stole it from my mom's bookcase when I was 15). Ginny and Steve *sigh*. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Liv Rancourt</span></b><br /><a href="http://liv-rancourt.blogspot.com/">http://liv-rancourt.blogspot.com/</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />It would somehow involve The Inn at Langley, on Whidbey Island in Washington State. I accidently stayed there one night last summer - that's what God made American Express for, after all - and it was so incredibly luxurious and relaxing that I can't wait to go back. I can imagine sitting out on our lanai, wrapped up because of the February cold, sipping wine and watching the waves, with the fireplace burning and the stereo playing. The restaurant has the best food on the planet. Yep, sign me up for that one.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K_hn_p3pL_E/Tz6f9VypEMI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/61xQ0wuGdQQ/s1600/cuddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K_hn_p3pL_E/Tz6f9VypEMI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/61xQ0wuGdQQ/s320/cuddle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />I'm a loser. I'd rather read the book. How 'bout the scene at the end of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie when Will & Elisabeth finally kiss?</div><div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book?</span><br />The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook. Steampunk and romance and yum! It was my favorite book of 2011, and I've re-read it at least three times. I have it on my Kindle, and I also have a paper version so I can lend it out. Anyone want to borrow it? <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Clara Waibel </span></b></span> <br /><a href="http://www.pomadness.blogspot.com/">www.pomadness.blogspot.com</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your perfect Valentine's Day like?</span><br />Just me and him, blankets, some hot chocolate and a movie on the TV. Oh, and snow outside.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lindtusa.com/img/main-hot-chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lindtusa.com/img/main-hot-chocolate.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />Come on people, 'PS: I Love You'. </div><div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your all-time favourite romance book?</span><br />'The Time Traveller's Wife', which turned out to be an ok movie. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">Thanks to all these authors for sharing their Valentine's Day ideas with me. I loved knowing about you all, such varied and interesting answers! I would especially like to thank the publishers at “Still Moments Publishing” for arranging this exclusive group chat with so many lovely authors for this special post. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Want to read sweet romantic books? </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Then, <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/p/see-this-page-for-entering-in.html">click here</a> to win some amazing books as part of "Valentine Special Giveaways" going on “The Review Girl”.</span></b></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-5859034609334141382012-02-16T09:03:00.000-08:002012-02-16T09:11:17.612-08:00Valentine's Day Special Book Review & Giveaway: Valentine Delights "Be Mine"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://dandwh.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/valentine-anthology.png?w=450&h=582" width="307" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Book: Valentine Delights "Be Mine" (Short Story Collection) </span></b></div><b></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Genre: Chick Lit, Romance </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Authors: Liberty Blake, Jillian Chantal, Jennifer Daiker </span></b></div></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Cover Critique: </b></span><br /><br />The cover is breathtaking with its deep red silk wrap and red rose, makes for a perfect Valentine’s Day gift! So tempting and beautiful packaging. I love it! <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Book Blurb: </span></b><br /><br /><u>First Story: “The Coroner’s Heart” by Jillian Chantal</u> <br />Making a Valentine’s Day candy heart from Jell-o is easy for this coroner, performing an autopsy on a real heart is even easier, but what happens when her own heart is at risk? <br /><br /><u>Second Story: “Latte Love” by Jennifer Daiker </u><br />When Charlie's secret admirer orders more than just a steamy latte this Valentine's Day, the secrets have never been sweeter. <br /><br /><u>Third Story: “Change Of Heart” by Liberty Blake </u><br />After the night they spent in the hot tub, Melody believed her new man wanted a relationship, but now it was Valentine's Day and not even a phone call. Did he have a change of heart? <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Review: </span></b><br /><br />This is my first review of a short story collection. I have read short stories in my college days but it has been a while since I picked an anthology of short stories, it seems I have been too busy reviewing one novel after another. So, when I read it in the afternoon along with my tea and snacks, it turned out to be the ideal accompaniment! <br /><br />It was a perfect change of pace from the usual long sittings to finish up 400 pages of a novel, especially when I did not have much time to invest in a full-length book but still wanted to relax myself with a cosy reading. These light-hearted and sweet short-length stories turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. <br /><br />Let’s start with the first story. <span style="color: #cc0000;">“The Coronary Heart” </span>begins right in the middle of the things - as the characters are introduced and thrown in the mix of events to build up the romance for the climax. I loved how the writer sets the pace of the story, with the urgency essential to move the story to a fast forward while pulling in the reader for a dose of romance. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">The increasing sexual tension between Elspeth and Adam set against the backdrop of a murder investigation is powerful and engrossing. The witty retorts, biting sarcasm and flirtatious charm of Adam are simply irresistible. He is definitely the most memorable character (hero) who is not portrayed as a hunk of beef but with an attractive personality that every woman vies for. </span><br /><br />This is, without doubt, <span style="color: magenta;">my favourite story</span> among the other stories in the book. It is not all sugary sweet but has a tangy flavour which I devoured! It is commendable how the writer packs such a gripping tale in so less words. A must-read for lovers! Since there are three different stories in this book, I will mark them individually. “The Coronary Heart” gets <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>10/10</b></span> from me. <br /><br />Moving on to the second story in the book: <span style="color: #cc0000;">“Latte Love”</span> is full of sweetness and warmth with a little bit of suspense. I enjoyed the close friendship between Charlie (the heroine) and Zoe (her female room-mate), which made me feel it was more of a chick-lit than a passionate tale of romance. Usual girly fun and typical chick-lit plot! <br /><br />The story is written from first person perspective which I felt limited the reader’s view, maybe because I wanted to know more about the mystery guy, Michael. It is my personal view but I think the story might have been more appealing if the reader would have been able to get into the head of Michael or the writer would have given him more space with a bit more romantic dialogue and scenes between Michael and Charlie. <br /><br />It was an okay read, quite predictable. Had it been a stand-alone chick-lit novel (it had all the elements to turn into one!), I would have given it 9/10. But since I was expecting strong love connection as the outcome of a romance tale, with less girlish talk, I will rate it <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>8/10.</b></span> <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Change of Heart”</span>, third story in this special collection for Valentine’s Day, was full of fiery passion and sizzling romance between Mike and Melody. In spite of “hot and spicy” love scenes (which came as quite a surprise to me!), the story flowed nicely reeling in all the emotion required to make it a convincing tale. It was sensual yet unique in terms of plot and I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting cast, which did not distract from the actual story but lead it towards the meeting between the hero and heroine. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">My most memorable scene</span> would be, when Melody decides to give a free box of chocolates along with the dozen roses to an old man who wishes to give “sixty long-stem roses” to his wife, Rose. So adorable! There is another brilliantly written scene between Melody and her ex, when she hits him in the groin as he tries to molest her. I liked the fact that in spite of having difficult scenes that needed to be written with a lot of care and precision (so they don’t get repulsive yet remain believable), the writer managed to pull them off successfully. I would rate this story as <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>9/10. </b></span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">My final verdict: This collection is full of different flavours from sweet and bubbly to juicy and spicy tales, oozing with love and warmth. A tasty treat for Valentines! Not to be missed! Pick this book to read with your partner for a romantic evening together. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">“I would like to thank <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z-BUNjUB2DM#!">Still Moments Publishing</a> house for sending me a free copy of this book, for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. You can buy this book directly from their website, by <a href="http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/p/ebook-store.html">clicking here.”</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nW2Kxo5W7fw/Tz0yva2ayPI/AAAAAAAAAsw/TWY8lQid2cw/s1600/valentine+giveaway-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nW2Kxo5W7fw/Tz0yva2ayPI/AAAAAAAAAsw/TWY8lQid2cw/s320/valentine+giveaway-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Valentine’s Day Special Giveaway!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">International</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Open till 4<sup>th</sup> March, 2012</span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: red; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;">Prize: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;">“Valentine Delights Anthologies Bundle”: includes TWO E-books: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;">Valentine Delights: Be Mine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"> Valentine Delights: Kiss Me<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;">Both these anthologies will be given to </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">ONE</span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"> very lucky winner!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;">See this tempting trailer to get a glimpse of these anthologies:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/z-BUNjUB2DM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/z-BUNjUB2DM&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z-BUNjUB2DM&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: magenta;">Want to win these delicious reads???</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;">Then, just write a genuine comment about <span style="color: #cc0000;">my review of "Valentines Delights: Be Mine"</span>, to enter this giveaway. Please leave your e-mail address along with the comment, so I can contact you if you win! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;">That’s it! You do not need to be a follower to participate, but if you follow and share this giveaway, it will be highly appreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Good Luck Everyone! :)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><br /></span></u></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">NOTE:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">One entry per person. Only genuine comments will be published and counted for the entry. The winner will be chosen through Random.org and notified through e-mail by “The Review Girl”. </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">It is the responsibility of the publishers to send the books to the winner.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">I would like to thank the publishers, “Still Moments Publishing” for giving two books to one lucky winner for this wonderful giveaway! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Coming Soon: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Exclusive Group Chat with the Authors of these Anthologies<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-74038547811722273182012-02-14T07:07:00.000-08:002012-02-14T07:07:39.827-08:00Valentine's Day Special Author Interview & Giveaway with Juliette Sobanet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.best-gourmet-chocolate.com/images/chocolatewithrose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.best-gourmet-chocolate.com/images/chocolatewithrose.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Wishing my lovely readers a very "Happy Valentine's Day" with this delicious box of chocolates! </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Join me in this fun post on Valentine's day filled with loads of chocolates and romance ideas to brighten your day! </span></b></div><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">If you day-dream about falling in love in the most romantic city of the world, Paris and dig funny, romantic chick-lit, then <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Juliette-Sobanet/e/B005TSZGAW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0">Juliette Sobanet</a> is one author you must check out! </span></b><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">With her latest release, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-in-Paris-ebook/dp/B0075MR85G/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2">“Kissed in Paris”,</a> she is all pumped up to celebrate Valentine’s day with my readers on <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">“The Review Girl”</a> by giving away free copies of her book (check out </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">special </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">giveaway</span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"> at the end of this post!). </span></b><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Not just this, we are chatting about her perfect Valentine’s day, favourite romance reads, movies and much more! She is sweet, she is hilarious and she loves chocolates! Drooling already? *wink*</span></b><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Welcome to my blog, Juliette! I will start with a straight-forward question. Why chick-lit? </span><br />I love reading and writing chick-lit because it’s a great way to escape at the end of a long, busy day. There’s nothing better than pouring a glass of wine, curling up on the couch, and being swept into a funny, romantic story that makes me forget about my troubles. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Is chick-lit “fun and romance” or about “chicks” who are “beauty with brains”? How do you think it is different from regular women’s fiction?</span><br />I think a strong chick-lit novel can encompass all of the above. Well-written chick-lit stories are fun and romantic with engaging heroines who may seem to have it all, but who clearly need to work through their issues over the course of the book. Chick-lit is lighter than regular women’s fiction, and this light-hearted, humorous nature should only enhance the quality of the book. Don’t we all need a good laugh every now and then? <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: I could not agree more! I am a big sucker for chick-lit that provides a right blend of romance and comedy. In the majority of chick-lit, the character of hero is limited or sometimes half-sketched, do you think it affects the overall depth of story or it’s no biggie?</span><br />Since chick-lit novels focus primarily on the woman’s journey, it is understandable that in some stories, the hero may not be as well developed as the heroine. But I do feel it’s important to develop the hero’s character as much as possible because there needs to be something beyond his good looks to make the reader fall in love with him. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: I agree. In spite of female being the main protagonist, to carry the story forward, all the secondary characters including the hero, have to play their part, otherwise it does get dreary and the reader may not feel “connected” to the story. As a reader/reviewer I find such stories, one-dimensional. Moving on, tell us about your books. Can you give us a sneak peak into your latest book? </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8eR0CGc190w/TzppaGnvqZI/AAAAAAAAArw/7aCVFWtjt4s/s1600/Sleeping+with+Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8eR0CGc190w/TzppaGnvqZI/AAAAAAAAArw/7aCVFWtjt4s/s320/Sleeping+with+Paris.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div>In my debut novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-with-Paris-ebook/dp/B005TNM736">Sleeping with Paris,</a> we follow a sassy, young French teacher on her wild romp through the City of Love where she is determined not to fall in love. But with a slew of Parisian men at her doorstep, including a mysterious new neighbour who feeds her chocolate in bed, it seems as though Paris has other plans. As a Valentine’s Day treat, this novel is FREE on Amazon for today! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCSe2a_rI5A/TzptHP2L3iI/AAAAAAAAAsA/wJF714LzKBw/s1600/KISSED+600x900+72+dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCSe2a_rI5A/TzptHP2L3iI/AAAAAAAAAsA/wJF714LzKBw/s320/KISSED+600x900+72+dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>My second novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-in-Paris-ebook/dp/B0075MR85G/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2">Kissed in Paris</a>, was released this week, just in time for Valentine’s Day! It’s a romantic, action-packed story about a straight-laced event planner who takes a last minute business trip to Paris only days before her wedding and gets duped by a French con-man in the process. Her only hope at clearing her name from a looming police investigation and making it to her wedding in time lies in the hands of a rugged, undercover agent who has a few secrets of his own. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: If you could be one character from your books, who would you choose to be and why? </span><br />Tough choice, but ultimately I would choose Charlotte from "Sleeping with Paris" because her main love interest, Luc, feeds her chocolate in bed. What woman could turn that down?<br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Chocolates are good enough to make any woman weak at the knees! *wink* So, where do you get ideas for your stories and characters? </span><br /><br />I spent a year and a half studying in France, so many of my ideas originated from my experiences abroad. Also, my girlfriends serve as a never-ending source of inspiration on dating topics, relationships, and love. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Do you have any upcoming books/projects? Will it be chick lit or some other genre? </span><br /><br />I am currently wrapping up the edits on my third novel, <a href="http://www.juliettesobanet.com/p/dancing-with-paris.html">“Dancing with Paris”</a>. It's “Midnight in Paris” meets “Moulin Rouge” with a bit of mystery and a lot of romance. While it will still appeal to fans of the chick-lit genre, the murder mystery aspect of the story may reel in a whole new type of reader. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Sounds intriguing! List 3 suggestions/writing tips for those who want to venture into writing fiction. </span><br /><br />1. Learn your craft. Write, re-write, and edit until you’ve written the absolute best book you could write. Then . . . <br /><br />2. Submit to contests for feedback and ask other writers to critique your work. Then...you guessed it, keep on editing and re-writing! Don’t get discouraged—this process is supposed to take a long time. <br /><br />3. Never give up! Have faith that you’ve stumbled upon this writing path for a reason, and your stories will find a home one day. And once they do, all of the hours you’ve spent writing and re-writing will be totally worth it. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2010/02/heart1.jpg?4c9b33" /></div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">RG: Valentine’s Day is being celebrated the whole month of February on my blog and I am asking every special guest who appears on my blog, about their perfect valentines. So, let’s talk about your idea of romance. What is your perfect Valentine's Day like? </span><br /><br />Going out to a romantic dinner with my husband, then eating loads of delicious chocolate together. (Oh, and if he wanted to take me to Paris for a Valentine’s Day surprise, that would be nice too:) <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">RG: That is one heck of a perfect Valentine’s! I am jealous! *laughs* Okay, it leads me to my next question, What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?</span><br />The Notebook. I love that movie so much. And I know he’s going to kill me for saying this, but my husband loves it too. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvgtdhVDCX1r2v7yvo2_250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvgtdhVDCX1r2v7yvo2_250.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">RG: What is your all-time favourite romance book/novel?</span><br />Not sure if this is allowed, but since I’m so engrossed in the love story I’m creating in my third book, "Dancing with Paris", I have to go with this one. It’s a love that must survive incredible obstacles—time travel and murder to name a few. I can’t tell you how it ends though . . . you’ll just have to read it when it comes out! <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">RG: It does count when the story is so tempting! What is your all-time favourite romantic place? (I am guessing favourite romantic place would be Paris, but still curious to know from you.)</span><br />Paris is definitely high on the list, but ultimately I have to go with Annecy. It’s a fairy-tale town located in the French Alps, and with winding cobblestone streets and a sparkly blue lake surrounded by gorgeous snow-capped mountains, it’s simply breathtaking. I can’t wait to take my husband there one day. Maybe for Valentine’s Day next year? <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-buhzmgAyiIc/TzpvbEhQ4FI/AAAAAAAAAsI/omfmpHGVNPE/s1600/Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-buhzmgAyiIc/TzpvbEhQ4FI/AAAAAAAAAsI/omfmpHGVNPE/s400/Paris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Complete these sentences: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Romance is</span>...the passion of life. Without it, what are we doing here? <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Life is..</span>.a wild ride. Hang on and eats loads of chocolate along the way. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Chick lit is...</span>fabulous, sexy, and fun. Mix with chocolate and wine and you’ve got a perfect night ahead of you!<br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Oh my! You are making me crave chocolate right now! How about we share a lindt (your favorite chocolate!) Yummy! *laughs* Is there any such thing as "food-gasm"? *wink*</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-l10vk3LqE/TzpwMF7sHoI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/JJHeRhUMscw/s1600/lindt-excellence-chili.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-l10vk3LqE/TzpwMF7sHoI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/JJHeRhUMscw/s320/lindt-excellence-chili.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Thanks so much for such a lovely conversation, full of laughs and yummy chocolates! Great to have you on my blog for Valentine's Day. Wish you all the best for your books.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MN28mj528c/TzpxPqtfEGI/AAAAAAAAAsg/HO5-R13cNyE/s1600/Juliette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MN28mj528c/TzpxPqtfEGI/AAAAAAAAAsg/HO5-R13cNyE/s320/Juliette.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author:</span></b><br /><br />Juliette Sobanet is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York University in France, and she has lived and studied in both Paris and Lyon. She is currently a French professor in the Washington, DC area where she lives with her husband and their two massive cats. When she's not writing, she's eating chocolate, practicing yoga, or scheming on when she can travel back to France. <br /><br />Author’s website: Chocolate for Writers – <a href="http://www.juliettesobanet.com/">http://www.juliettesobanet.com/</a> <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">Visit her website, stalk her on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JulietteSobanet" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or “like” her page on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Juliette-Sobanet-Author-of-Sleeping-with-Paris/229741887075155" target="_blank">Facebook!</a></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Purchase links for her books: </span><br /><br />Amazon link for “Sleeping with Paris”: http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-with-Paris-ebook/dp/B005TNM736/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1 <br /><br />Amazon link for “Kissed in Paris”: http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-in-Paris-ebook/dp/B0075MR85G/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1328745414&sr=1-2 <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpsKQ1Wrnl4/Tzp0L1Qu_UI/AAAAAAAAAso/lxlDIGRMt_g/s1600/valentine+giveaway-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpsKQ1Wrnl4/Tzp0L1Qu_UI/AAAAAAAAAso/lxlDIGRMt_g/s320/valentine+giveaway-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valentine’s Day Special Giveaway!!!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">International!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/3d/72/fd62dc84a7780a7e9d9ab5.L._V140501151_SX200_.jpg" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prize: Kissed in Paris (E-book)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To: Three (3) lucky winners<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Open till 26<sup>th</sup> February, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To Enter,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDg4Zi1ZSFhOWlI1VTZldzBLOUVneHc6MQ#gid=0" target="_blank">CLICK HERE!!!</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good Luck Everyone! </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">NOTE: </div><div style="text-align: center;">The results will be drawn through Random.org. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The winner will be notified through e-mail by “The Review Girl”. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to my lovely friend and amazing author, Juliette Sobanet, for this wonderful giveaway. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Before signing off, I would like to thank all my followers, for their support and love, as I have reached 500 mark today. Thanks so much everyone! xxx </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">To express my gratitude, I am having lots of giveaways to give you chances to win fantastic books. Happy reading everyone!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">To take part in other Valentine’s Day Special Giveaways on my blog, <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/p/see-this-page-for-entering-in.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">click here.</span></b> </a> </div><br /></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-48284609674667217272012-02-12T11:41:00.001-08:002012-02-18T14:39:39.469-08:00Valentine’s Special: How to find Affordable Romantic Getaways: Guest Post by Shereen Rayle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNTHhpw_3GA/TzgPUkqsKnI/AAAAAAAAArU/m-rK5FVFz88/s1600/valentine+special+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNTHhpw_3GA/TzgPUkqsKnI/AAAAAAAAArU/m-rK5FVFz88/s320/valentine+special+banner.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Valentine's Day Special Post @ The Review Girl</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Do you want to know the tricks and tips for a great but budget-friendly romantic holiday this Valentine's? Then, look no further. Shereen Rayle, who is not only a great travel writer but also knows how to save the big buck while not cutting down on the fun, has joined me on "The Review Girl" today telling us how and what to do, to please your Valentine even with a tight budget. Let's welcome her! </span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sandals.co.uk/images-general/couple_img1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://www.sandals.co.uk/images-general/couple_img1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Guest Post: </span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Affordable Romantic Getaways for You and Your Valentine </span></b></u></div><u><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"></span></b></u><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>By Shereen Rayle (Travel Author)</u></span></b></u></div><br />With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, many people are racking their brains for what to get for their sweetheart. You want to show them how much they mean to you, but coming right off of the Christmas holidays, money can sometimes be tight this time of year. Maybe you’ve even socked some money away, but still haven’t come up with any great ideas with what to do with it. A romantic getaway is always an appreciated gesture and enjoyable for both of you. It doesn’t have to bust your budget to be luxurious, though. With just a bit of planning, your trip can feel like a million dollars without even coming close. <br /><br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Pick an affordable destination.</span></b><br /><div>Winter is an excellent time to plan a trip, because it’s the off-season for most touristy spots and is a great time to snag a bargain. They’re practically giving away rooms and incentives. Some of the best locations to choose from right now are: <br /><br />· Mexico, where all-inclusive resorts are really trying to lure vacationers to idyllic spots like Punta Cana, Cabo and similar beachfront locations. <br /><br />· The Caribbean has more all-inclusives fighting for your dollar by dropping rates and adding big bonuses, like room upgrades, kids stay, play and eat free and resort credits. There are also huge cruise deals for the Caribbean right now. Sail from under $200 per person! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NXy6eNIcAbo/Sx8CrWEMyeI/AAAAAAAAFTE/YwuReL0-lSs/s400/caribbean-wedding-location2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NXy6eNIcAbo/Sx8CrWEMyeI/AAAAAAAAFTE/YwuReL0-lSs/s320/caribbean-wedding-location2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />· South America is a non-traditional romantic getaway for those that love nature, but also the conveniences of a modern city, like Quito, Ecuador. <br /><br />· Las Vegas is high on the list of budget destinations, since you can usually get a solid deal on a package or even purchase airfare and hotel separately for amazing prices. There are so many things to do in Vegas that are cheap or free, which can be paired with a candle-lit dinner and a fantastic show to cap off a fun holiday. It’s also perfect for those that can only slip away for 2-3 days. <br /><br />· Europe is ideal for the romantic at heart and right now airfare and hotel rates are at some of the lowest of the whole year. If you can find a bargain, you can spend your days walking along the Seine and eating baguettes in Paris with your valentine. Choose some affordable activities – like visiting Notre Dame and Musee D’Orsay – so you can splurge on a ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Walk more. </span></b></div><div>Walking gives you a chance to spend more time with your significant other, get some fresh air and see more of the city. Tell them you want to take a stroll and hold their hand…and also save money over taxis and public transportation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yv6PvyqNn9Q/TzgSzB4N5RI/AAAAAAAAArc/d8vYNYrP7Xs/s1600/pd493479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yv6PvyqNn9Q/TzgSzB4N5RI/AAAAAAAAArc/d8vYNYrP7Xs/s320/pd493479.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Use daily deal sites. </span></b></div><div>No matter where you are in the world, there is a daily deal site that services a major city near you. Groupon, Living Social and others offer 50-90% off activities, dining, tours and more things you’ll want to do, but maybe can’t find money in your budget for. Now you can! Signing up is free and easy. Choose your preferred destination and check your email each day for discounted deals. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Purchase a city pass. </span></b></div><div>Almost every big city that attracts tourists has a pass that gets you into all their best attractions (and some fun and obscure ones) at a considerable discount. Your honey will love you even more for being budget-conscious and not having to wait in ticket lines for anything. That means more time to enjoy your destination with each other. Some even include transportation or dining. For a start, check out <a href="http://citypass.com/?mv_source=shereentravelscheap">CityPass</a>, <a href="http://www.gocardusa.com/affiliate/weeklyoffers.html?img=39&kbid=5757">SmartDestinations</a> and <a href="http://www.visiticket.com/power-pass">VisiTicket</a>. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Find discount codes on Broadway Box.</span></b></div><div>If you’re looking to take in any shows or tourist attractions, but maybe won’t do enough to make a city pass worth the money, check out <a href="http://www.broadwaybox.com/">Broadway Box</a> and get promo codes for discount prices on everything from Blue Man Group to visiting the Statue of Liberty to staying near Disney World. Visiting Orlando, Vegas, London or New York? Broadway Box should be your first stop on the web. <br /><br />With so many ways to save your dollars, you’ll be able to stretch the budget you have even further. The love of your life will surely wonder how you managed it all. Of course, then you have to figure out how to top yourself next year, but by then you’ll have had a whole year to plan. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author: </span></b><br /><br />Shereen Rayle is author of the blog <a href="http://www.shereentravelscheap.com/">Shereen Travels Cheap</a> and a book of the same name. For years she has been planning her own vacations using the Internet to extend her limited budget as far as possible and shares the tips and tricks she has learned, along with useful sites and products, to help others get the most out of their travel dollars. And to further inspire budget travelers everywhere, she finds terrific travel bargains and posts them each day on her <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ShereenTravelsCheap">Facebook</a> page. </div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">RECAP:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_417248646">Valentine's Special Movie Reviews: </a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-special-movie-reviews-review.html" target="_blank">Review Girl's Top 5 Favorite Romantic Movies of All-time</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_417248650">Valentine's Special Author Interview & Giveaway</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-special-author-interview_10.html" target="_blank"> with Lynda Renham</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_417248654">Valentine's Special Author Interview & Giveaway </a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-special-author-interview.html" target="_blank">with Sherryl Woods</a></span></b></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-46662667665514987312012-02-11T03:55:00.000-08:002012-02-11T03:55:18.632-08:00Valentine’s Special Movie Reviews: Review Girl’s Top 5 Favorite Romantic Movies of All-time!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.virtualbingo.org/images/valentine1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="313" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Valentine's Day Special Post @ The Review Girl</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>There were so many movies in my list of favorites that it was hard to decide which one should I leave and which should I pick and on which position. After some hard decisions, I chose these five movies, based on their romance quotient, and the ability to keep me glued to the seat providing me thorough entertainment. I have seen these movies hundreds of times as they leave me feeling energized and high-spirited. So, here are my top 5 picks! </b></span></span> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPvK-maLBhI/TzZQqxnU2UI/AAAAAAAAAqs/AgQTFQWuMu0/s1600/Dirty_Dancing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPvK-maLBhI/TzZQqxnU2UI/AAAAAAAAAqs/AgQTFQWuMu0/s400/Dirty_Dancing2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dirty_dancing/">Dirty Dancing (1987)</a> <br /><br />I am an 80’s child and this iconic movie gripped my senses since I saw it the first time, more importantly that was my first lesson in adult relationships empowered by lust and love. Such a nostalgic feeling attached to it!<br />The role of Jeniffer Grey (Baby) as a freshman who learns to do some “dirty boogie” with a handsome much-older guy, is utterly addictive and holds limitless charm. Though stereotypical, this movie possesses this cult status for making dirty boogie a winner at every dance party! Who can forget the evergreen song, "Time of my life"?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/uUTrIQPfNro/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uUTrIQPfNro&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uUTrIQPfNro&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />This movie gets its classic appeal due to the sensual dance moves which became the signature style of 80’s. The female audience could not resist the hunk Patrick Swayze (well, that includes me too!). It just serves all the romance and passion to get a stamp for being a “guilty pleasure”. For all these reasons and for churning out the best soundtracks ever, this movie sits on No.1 position in my all-time favourite collection of movies, a must-watch on Valentine’s Day!<br /><div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-piFfEe2E0do/TzZR97W11vI/AAAAAAAAAq0/WQGa5VL0WiM/s1600/officer+and+gentleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-piFfEe2E0do/TzZR97W11vI/AAAAAAAAAq0/WQGa5VL0WiM/s400/officer+and+gentleman.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/officer_and_a_gentleman/">An Officer and A Gentleman (1982)</a> <br /><br />Unlike Patrick’s role of a sensitive dude in “Dirty Dancing”, this film showcases a hero who is tough and a little cold around the heart (well, not exactly stone-hearted!). Our dashing hero Richard Gere (Zack Mayo), falls in love with a spunky and seductive girl but finds himself torn between his duties as a cadet and a lover. He finally learns to come out of his shell and becomes an absolute “gentleman” as well as an excellent cadet. If you are a die-hard Richard Gere fan (like I am!), this movie should sit on your shelf forever, for this reason alone. <br /><br />Besides delicious Richard, the concept of army life so well-portrayed, with the tussle between professional and love life, is a treat to watch. The acting by all the cast is brilliant and I just never get tired of seeing it again and again. It has got so many memorable scenes but the best is when Richard picks the girl in his arms, it is just so irresistibly sweet and sexy at the same time. The sexual scenes are choreographed artistically and do not gross me out. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/lNfyhvlVLx0/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lNfyhvlVLx0&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lNfyhvlVLx0&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />For me, this movie rates high because of its compelling and involving tale, delicately handled by the director, complemented beautifully by superb performances from its actors. Gaining No.2 spot on my list, this classic film is a must-watch for romantics who like to see some authentic action and adventure too. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pDQKvxf2QWg/TzZTB411cpI/AAAAAAAAAq8/gU6S6LHkDcI/s1600/when-harry-met-sally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pDQKvxf2QWg/TzZTB411cpI/AAAAAAAAAq8/gU6S6LHkDcI/s400/when-harry-met-sally.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/when_harry_met_sally/">When Harry met Sally (1989)</a> <br /><br />This movie presents the ultimate dilemma, can men and women be just “good friends”? What starts as a platonic relationship between friends of opposite genders, does it “always” lead to “more”? Why I love this movie? Because when I watched it the first time, I was facing this problem too (I guess, we all do, at some point in our life!). Well, this is not the only reason I selected this film as No.3 for my Top 5 chart. I love the way the story unfolds, in bits and pieces and the natural flow of dialogues. I love the girl-next-door charm and spontaneous acting of Meg Ryan. Just can’t stop laughing on that scene when she executes “fake orgasm” sitting in a restaurant. Hilarious! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/b0OeM6UUAoI/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b0OeM6UUAoI&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b0OeM6UUAoI&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />Billy Crystal’s acting as Harry is flawless! I love how average looking, just another guy on the block, the hero is. Something that I can relate to! I love the igniting chemistry between the hero and heroine, it does not start with animal sex but has something more deep and meaningful to it! This lends the movie its authenticity, its originality and makes it stand-out among other romantic movies of that time. Watch this movie, if you love someone whole-heartedly with all his/her flaws and annoying habits! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWgE7L7lS1s/TzZTdbqcXNI/AAAAAAAAArE/q3rpp4aDwSE/s1600/jerry-maguire-blu-ray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWgE7L7lS1s/TzZTdbqcXNI/AAAAAAAAArE/q3rpp4aDwSE/s400/jerry-maguire-blu-ray.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jerry_maguire/">Jerry Maguire (1996)</a> <br /><br />One of the best roles played by Tom Cruise (Oh! His infectious smile!), this movie shows how Jerry, a successful agent has a major falling down. In that time of struggle, there is no one with him, except his secret admirer, Dorothy (played by Renee Zellweger). Why don’t we get to see such original and real characters in movies, anymore? The strength of this movie lies in ordinary people placed in ordinary situations and making the best out of the worst.<br /><br />This movie made me laugh out loud when there were scenes between Cuba (arrogant football player) and Tom (as an agent trying to make him see his potential). Though the movie focuses mainly on Jerry’s career, it does not ignore the feelings of a woman who is longing for a partner that could love her unconditionally and pamper her. I think besides Tom, Renee shines in her role delivering outstanding performance. I cried like a baby when Tom and Renee meet at the end. Simply adorable! Here is my most loved scene from the movie, makes me cry every time!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/NpWAlvWNZj0/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NpWAlvWNZj0&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NpWAlvWNZj0&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />Oh! And how can I forget the cute bond of father and son between Renee’s little son and Tom. Just watch this movie if you have missed it somehow! It rates high on cuteness quotient and is filled with memorable scenes. You won’t regret it!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FgONUnjPzg/TzZUaeVkSpI/AAAAAAAAArM/mO7cOimABmc/s1600/PSiloveyouposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FgONUnjPzg/TzZUaeVkSpI/AAAAAAAAArM/mO7cOimABmc/s400/PSiloveyouposter.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ps_i_love_you/">P.S. I Love You (2007)</a> <br /><br />This movie made me believe in the eternal nature of “true love”. It made me see how “death” is not the end of everything, it could lead to a new beginning too. A young widow receives surprise letters from her dead husband telling her to move on with her life without him. With a strong plot, this movie utilizes its actors’ potential to the fullest and tests them. Surprisingly, Hilary Swank as Holly (widower) does not overplays or underplays the role, just the perfect amount of grace and sadness, occasional smile here and there. I did not notice Gerard Butler before this movie (now I do! A yummy feast for the eyes!). He definitely makes an effort to keep up with the mature acting of Hilary and does not disappoint. <br /><br />Among contemporary romantic films, this movie remains my favourite and deserves to be on the No.5 position, because of its fresh approach to the subject of undying love. Caution: get ready for a lot of tears!<br />But for now, enjoy this ultimate sweet love song from the movie!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/3bhidWDI1v8/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3bhidWDI1v8&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3bhidWDI1v8&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">So, these are my all-time favorite romantic movies. I see them every Valentine’s Day with my hubby. Well, it may sound crazy but it has developed into a kind of ritual to watch these one by one (romantic movies marathon!) curled up in sofa with a bag of tissues handy. Do tell me are any of these movies, your favorites too? What are you watching this Valentine’s Day?</span></b></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-44600736980717097642012-02-10T11:41:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:41:19.360-08:00Valentine’s Special: Author Interview & Giveaway With Lynda Renham<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ka23vb11NVQ/TzVeZzqVZhI/AAAAAAAAAqE/Pfahf38lLVU/s1600/valentine+special+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ka23vb11NVQ/TzVeZzqVZhI/AAAAAAAAAqE/Pfahf38lLVU/s320/valentine+special+banner.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">As you all know by now, I am celebrating Valentine's Day with special posts and giveaways, all over the month of Feb, so here I am today with yet another exclusive interview. </span></b><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Meet <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lynda-Renham/e/B004U1PWDU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">Lynda Renham</a>, who has a knack for writing novels injected with a punch of humour and sweet romance. Are not her books the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? I think so! :-) With an amazing success of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wedding-Turin-Romantic-Comedy-ebook/dp/B004HFRL60/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2">“Wedding Cake to Turin”,</a> she is now back with her latest novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Croissants-Jam-romantic-comedy-ebook/dp/B006IWIEQG/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2">“Croissants and Jam”.</a> Mouth-watering and delicious…right? Want to know more about her books, then read on! </span></b><br /><div><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">At the end of the post, along with the </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Valentine's</span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">special giveaway</span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"> for my readers, there is a little </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">surprise</span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"> for you too, my friend, Lynda! Hope you like it! :) Okay, let's move on to the interview now! :)</span></b><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Why did you think of becoming a writer? </span><br /><br />LR: I’ve always enjoyed writing. My mother was fond of telling everyone that I wrote a good composition. I always was a good liar. I spent most of my teenage years living in my own little world. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: You write books which can be classified as “romantic comedies”. Why did you choose to write in this genre? </span><br /><br />LR: It was a great way of expressing my quirky humour. I have a tendency to laugh at everything. I also think laughter is a great healer and a wonderful way to banish the blues. I love reading comedy also. It is a genre that gives me pleasure both reading and writing it. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: What books have you published so far and what are they about? </span><br />LR: Here is a little about my books:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.marciajkenyon.co.uk/resources/wedding%20cake%20to%20turin%20cover.jpg" width="248" /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wedding-Cake-Turin-Lynda-Renham/dp/1446663620/ref=ntt_at_ep_edition_1_1">‘Wedding Cake to Turin’</a> <br /><br />When Charlotte is sent by her boss to deliver a wedding cake to Turin little does she know what she will be letting herself in for. Torn between feelings for her boyfriend and a new man that she meets at the airport, she embarks on a journey of hilarious situations, finding herself mixing with the rich and famous and the Italian Mafia. Charlotte has to decide just how much she is prepared to do for love but does the man she love truly love her? Charley's journey to find love is both hilarious and touching. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-diary-of-rector-byrnes/18771559/thumbnail/320" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-diary-of-rector-byrnes/18771559/thumbnail/320" /></a></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rector-Byrnes-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B004U6AQH2/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3"> ‘Diary of Rector Byrnes’</a> <br /><br />The Spencer's are an affluent family. Robert is a successful solicitor with his own London practice. Gina leads a life of luxurious contentment until a tragedy strikes on their son's birthday, resulting in their move to the English country village of Millbridge. When the Spencer's arrive at Millbridge, Virginia meets Rector Byrnes, beginning an emotionally charged and passionate relationship. Jonathan Byrnes is in a vulnerable position struggling with his wife's inner demons, and his own loss of faith, and with no one to confide. Virginia is consumed with hatred towards God and a disgust of life but they find comfort in each other's weakness with dramatic consequences. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wVSYyD1HL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wVSYyD1HL.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Croissants-Jam-romantic-comedy-ebook/dp/B006IWIEQG/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2">‘Croissants and Jam’</a> <br /><br />Annabel Lewis (Bels) has two days to get to her wedding in Rome but her journey is beset with one disaster after another as fate takes its turn. Will the stranger she meets on the way get her to her wedding on time or will he change her life forever? Come with Bels on her humorous romantic journey to see if she marries Mr Right or if destiny takes her in different direction. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: If you could be one character from your books, who would you choose to be and why? </span><br />LR: I would choose to be Bels, from the novel ‘Croissants and Jam’ because Christian sounds dead gorgeous and a lot of fun and I love Italy. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Where do you get ideas for your stories and characters? </span><br />LR: Life. I watch, listen and then exaggerate :-)<br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: List 5 suggestions/writing tips for those who want to venture into writing fiction. </span><br />LR: 1) Write what you know about <br /><br />2) Be ruthless with your editing. <br /><br />3) Always be aware of what your reader wants <br /><br />4) Never even think of giving up <br /><br />5) Enjoy the experience of writing <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Do you think that book blogs play a vital role in getting the books across to readers? </span><br />LR: Absolutely. They are invaluable and I owe a lot to many book blogs. I publicly thank you. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Printed books vs. E-books. What’s your take on this?</span><br />LR: There is always room for progress and E books are the future. I love my kindle. I also love the feel of a book. I think it is great that we have both. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How much time did it take for you to complete one book? </span><br />LR: With editing, about a year. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: What was your routine for writing? </span><br />LR: I worked part time until recently, so I would get home from work, prepare some dinner and then dive into my summer house. A lovely cosy room in the summer and there I try to write a thousand words a day. Although in the summer I am easily swayed from the word processor by the lovely birds that come into the garden. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How do you balance your family life and your writing commitments? </span><br />LR: My husband is my best critic and my biggest support. It never feels like balancing but more like team work. I guess that the art of balancing is sharing. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Are you inspired by any particular author? Who is your favourite author?</span><br />LG: I have many. I love Louise Bagshaw and Ronni Cooper. I am also a big fan of Iris Murdoch and she is my inspiration. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.trashionista.com/images/2007/10/23/glamour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.trashionista.com/images/2007/10/23/glamour.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Among other author’s books, any character which you could relate to and you will always remember? What was the character about and how could you relate to it? </span><br />LR: I will always remember the character Elizabeth Quigley from Helen Van Slykes novel ‘The Heart Listens’ That book affected me deeply. The character Elizabeth was so human and infallible that you could not help relating to her. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: I believe that there are only two categories of books: good books and bad books. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a “good book”?</span><br />LR: A book that keeps you up at night. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Now, time for some fun questions: </b></span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Share with us your favourite childhood memory. </span><br />LR: Ooh, that has to be when ‘Harold Hare’ magazine published my letter about my pet rabbit. I was thrilled. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Tell us about the craziest thing you ever did in your life. </span><br />LR: Climb into the passenger seat of my husband’s microlight. He was not my husband then and I very much wanted to impress him. I was terrified the whole flight but never told him. I later came to love it, of course. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How do you relax when you have free time? </span><br />LR: Watch a movie without doubt. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Complete these sentences: </span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Love is</span>...eating a salad when you really want chips because you don’t want to get fat for the one you love. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Life is..</span>. In my case, a series of calamities. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">· Writing is.</span>..Fun, fun fun. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Thank you, Lynda for a lovely chat. It was a great pleasure having you on my blog just in time for Valentine's Day. Wish you all the best for your books and of course, since it is your birthday, here is something special for you to enjoy!:)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/103/Purple/78/57/76/mzl.fdgltosa.320x480-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/103/Purple/78/57/76/mzl.fdgltosa.320x480-75.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author: </span></b><br /><br />At the present time Lynda is an associate editor and contributor for ‘The Scavenger Online Magazine’ where she is known for her strong political features on the Middle East. The Scavenger has a readership of 20,000. Lynda also has a following on Facebook and maintains a humorous blog. Lynda contributes to other blogs and has written articles for Woman’s Own and other magazines. In addition, Lynda has taken part in BBC radio discussions on infertility and involuntary childlessness, having found herself unable to have children in her first marriage. Lynda is the founder of the ‘Childless Support’ group. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About her Books: </span></b><br /><br />‘Wedding Cake to Turin’ is a romantic comedy which was published as a paperback and on Kindle. The novel was launched in January 2011 under the name of Lynda Renham and held the number one bestseller spot for all paid Kindle books for several weeks. The novel has stayed in the top ten paid kindle humour bestsellers for over six months with readers eager for Lynda’s next offering. Following the success of Wedding Cake to Turin Lynda has written Croissants and Jam, a second romantic comedy. As Lynda has a wicked sense of humour and is a prolific writer we can expect many more to follow! Meanwhile Lynda eats tangerines at an alarming rate while craving chocolate. <br /><br />Stalk her on Facebook, Twitter and website, by following the links given below: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.renham.co.uk/">www.renham.co.uk</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/218296888246766/">http://www.facebook.com/events/218296888246766/</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/lynda.cook">http://www.facebook.com/lynda.cook</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/LyndarenhamCook">https://twitter.com/#!/LyndarenhamCook</a> <br /><br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta;">To buy her books on Amazon, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lynda-Renham/e/B004U1PWDU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1">click here.</a> <br /><br />To buy her latest book, Croissants and Jam, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Croissants-Jam-romantic-comedy-ebook/dp/B006IWIEQG/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2">click here</a>. </span></b><br /><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9jAvqsQfW8/TzVv43haujI/AAAAAAAAAqU/uYjkH9qbQUI/s1600/valentine+giveaway-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9jAvqsQfW8/TzVv43haujI/AAAAAAAAAqU/uYjkH9qbQUI/s320/valentine+giveaway-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Valentine’s Day Special Giveaway!!! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">2 (Two) Paperback Copies of “Croissants and Jam” </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Open to US/Canada/UK/ Europe </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Open till 19th Feb, 2012 </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">To enter this giveaway, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHVfS1diMnhWdjhhdmJlV091a1FDMmc6MQ#gid=0" target="_blank">CLICK HERE!!!</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">Good Luck everyone!!!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>NOTE: </u></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>The results will be drawn through Random.org. The winner will be notified through e-mail by “The Review Girl”. Thanks to Lynda Renham and her publisher for organizing this wonderful giveaway. It is the responsibility of the publisher to send the book to the two (2) lucky winners.</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">To take part in other Valentine's Special Giveaway on my blog,</span> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-special-author-interview.html" target="_blank">click here.</a></span></b></div></div></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-47441392603192723962012-02-07T08:32:00.000-08:002012-02-07T08:32:33.089-08:00Valentine’s Special: Author Interview & Giveaway With Sherryl Woods<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ-RXDym31U/TzFH0BnAnCI/AAAAAAAAApA/ryiJtZZdg5A/s1600/valentine+special+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ-RXDym31U/TzFH0BnAnCI/AAAAAAAAApA/ryiJtZZdg5A/s320/valentine+special+banner.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;">Valentine's Day Special Post @The Review Girl</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Love is in the air” with Valentine’s Day approaching, so I thought why not talk to Sherryl Woods, who writes lovely “contemporary romance” series. She is here to talk about her latest release, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Garden-Chesapeake-Shores/dp/0778313093/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">The Summer Garden</a>. It is the final installment in the “Chesapeake Shores” series. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I am pleased to announce that I also have a wonderful giveaway of this book. So keep reading till the end of this post to enter for your chance to win 1 (one) paperback copy of this book. Okay, so let’s hear it from her:</span></span><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYxkr2i1Kj4/TzFQEyOzWqI/AAAAAAAAApw/mLLQlJzfS7E/s1600/The+Summer+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYxkr2i1Kj4/TzFQEyOzWqI/AAAAAAAAApw/mLLQlJzfS7E/s320/The+Summer+Garden.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><span style="color: red;">1. Describe your book in five words or less. </span><br /><br />Satisfying finale for the O'Briens!<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">2. How did the title for your book come about?</span><br />Several pivotal scenes in the book take place in Nell's beautiful garden. For me, “The Summer Garden” evoked that setting.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">3. What was the inspiration behind your book? </span><br /><br />Luke, the last of the O'Brien grandchildren, needed his own story. I wanted to explore what it would be like to be the youngest in a family of over-achievers and, of course, all readers of the series knew he couldn't possibly end up with the manipulative Kristen Lewis. In Moira, I hope I found the perfect challenging soulmate for him. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">4. At what age did you know you wanted to be a writer? </span><br /><br />I'm still trying to figure out if that's what I want to be. I certainly didn't have an inkling it was a possibility until I was into my 30s! <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">5. Who are some of your favorite authors? </span><br /><br />I love lots of the writers who write books similar to mine -- family and community oriented stories with a distinct voice and some humor. Among my favorites are Jan Karon, Carla Neggers, Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, JoAnn Ross. I also love a number of mystery series, including those by Sue Grafton, Earlene Fowler, Earl Emerson, and most recently Louise Penny. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/arts/photos/2010/10/20/arts-louise-penny-book-2-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/arts/photos/2010/10/20/arts-louise-penny-book-2-22.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: red;">6. What are some of your favorite books? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />I suppose on my all-time favorite list I'd put Little Women and the Little House on the Prairie series, which take me back to the days when my Mom read to me. Recently I was blown away by “The Help” and sobbed my way through the closing pages of a wonderful upcoming book by Emilie Richards called “One Mountain Away”. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">7. What advice do you have for people who want to get into the writing business? </span> <br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Put your butt in a chair and write! Then be prepared to re-write. Listen with an open mind to criticism. And find one professional -- agent, editor or a fellow writer -- whose advice you trust implicitly. For me that's been my agent, Denise Marcil, with whom I've worked almost my entire career. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">8. What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it? </span> <br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Without going into details that could spoil it, I'd have to say the final scene. For me it was the perfect finale -- lots of emotion, a few chuckles, maybe even a tear or two! <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">9. Did you model any of your characters after anyone in particular? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Not that I'll ever admit to! <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">10. How do you keep your characters fresh after so many books? </span><br /><br />Whenever I'm creating characters for a new book or series, I approach them as I would a person I've just met, slowly peeling back layers and getting to know them. The world is filled with fascinating people and, as I'm constantly reminded, each one has a unique background or perspective. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">11. What are you currently reading? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Louise Penny's latest, A Trick of the Light. I just finished Lover's Leap by Emily March. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/lovers-leap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/lovers-leap.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><span style="color: red;">12. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Retired!! I've already had three other careers -- journalist and critic, hospital program administrator, and bookstore owner. I'm not sure I have a new challenge left in me. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">13. What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Actually writing the story is the easiest. I love sitting down every day and getting caught up with my characters and the world they live in. The hardest is dealing with all of the many other aspects of publishing, all of which are incredibly important to the process of getting books into the store and sold. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">14. If your book were turned into a movie, which actors/actresses would you like to play the main characters? </span><br /><br />That's a really difficult question for me. I just want to meet Kevin Costner, but I'm not sure there's a role for him in this story! <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">15. Can you tell us three things about yourself that you can't find on the Internet? </span> <br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Isn't everything somewhere on the Internet these days? If it's not, it's probably something I don't want revealed. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">16. What do you love to do when you're not writing? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />My favorite things are reading, which there's never enough time to do, gardening, which also involves the dreaded weeding, and going to the movies. I also enjoy the hard-fought Scrabble games I play with friends on various vacations. Sadly, though, I'm an easy mark. I always lose. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://digitalgallery.us/images/Scrabble-Word-Finder-digital-gallery-us-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://digitalgallery.us/images/Scrabble-Word-Finder-digital-gallery-us-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: red;">17. Is it difficult to write about another country, such as Moira's homeland, Ireland? </span> <br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />I doubt I would ever write about a foreign country if I hadn't been there. A recent trip to Ireland, though all too brief, gave me just enough of a feel for Dublin, at least, to feel totally comfortable writing about it. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">18. You often write series/trilogies. Do you prefer that to stand-alone titles? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />I absolutely love getting to create a world for a series or a trilogy and having the chance to go back and be with those characters over time. Once I've established that world and the people in it, the writing flows so much more quickly. That said, there are some stories that lend themselves to a stand-alone -- Flamingo Diner, Seaview Inn, Mending Fences to name a few. These all had serious topics that I felt worked most effectively in the stand-alone format. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">19. Who is your favorite character from the Chesapeake Shores series? </span><br /><br />I'd have to say Nell in many ways is my favorite. She's so strong and wise and non-judgmental. I've been fortunate to have some very wise older women in my life just like her. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">20. The women characters you create are usually strong, independent-minded women. Are they based on anyone in particular? </span><br /><br />Not on any one person, though I think my mom was definitely the role model for my own independent and strong-willed -- okay, stubborn -- personality, though many say I picked up a double dose of the stubborn gene from my dad. My aunt and my mom's friend -- all shared similar traits and were role models for me, as well, and perhaps for my characters. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">21. Is there anything specific you would like to say to readers while we have you here today? </span><br /><br />I absolutely love hearing from you, especially via my Facebook fan page. You can find link to that from my website -- <a href="http://www.sherrylwoods.com/">www.sherrylwoods.com</a>. You can also email me directly from the website. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">22. What do you have coming up in the future? </span> <br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />I'm so excited about the return of the Sweet Magnolias this summer. Not only will there be three new books -- Midnight Promises (July), Catching Fireflies (August) and Where Azaleas Bloom (September) -- but there will be a Sweet Magnolias cookbook in September as well. It was written with a real southern chef, Teddi Wohlford, whose recipes have my mouth watering just thinking about them. If you love to cook and have been dying to try some of the delicious dishes mentioned throughout the series, this is your chance! Mark your calendars. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jrth84morpE/TzFNW0ZLkeI/AAAAAAAAApQ/M8me0C4N_A0/s1600/Sherryl+Woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jrth84morpE/TzFNW0ZLkeI/AAAAAAAAApQ/M8me0C4N_A0/s1600/Sherryl+Woods.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author: </span></b><br /><br />Sherryl Woods is the author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, who grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers. A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. <br /><br />Her first book, Restoring Love, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series. <br /><br />To know more about her writing, visit her website: <a href="http://www.sherrylwoods.com/index.html">http://www.sherrylwoods.com/index.html</a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X8dVCXvNM-I/TzFNgOjMYKI/AAAAAAAAApY/Hr6AWLZ-ffc/s1600/The+Summer+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X8dVCXvNM-I/TzFNgOjMYKI/AAAAAAAAApY/Hr6AWLZ-ffc/s320/The+Summer+Garden.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the book:</span></b><br /><br />New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Sherryl Woods proves once more that home is always where the heart is. <br /><br />Falling for “Maddening Moira” O’Malley was the unexpected highlight of Luke O’Brien’s Dublin holiday. So when she pays a surprise visit to Chesapeake Shores, Luke is thrilled...at first. A fling with this wild Irish rose is one thing, but forever? Maybe someday, but not when he’s totally focused on establishing a business that will prove his mettle to his overachieving family. Given Luke’s reaction, Moira has some soul-searching of her own to do. Scarred by her father’s abandonment, she wonders if Luke, with his playboy past, is truly the family man she longs for. Adding to her dilemma, she’s offered and amazing chance at a dream career of her own. Deep down, though, Moira knows home is the real prize, and that love can be every bit as enchanted as a summer garden. (Courtesy: <a href="http://www.sherrylwoods.com/current.html">http://www.sherrylwoods.com/current.html</a> )<br /><br />“The Summer Garden” (release date 31st Jan, 2012), can be purchased from these websites:<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Summer-Garden-ebook/dp/B006OUAZAK/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328188137&sr=1-2">Amazon,</a><br /><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-summer-garden-sherryl-woods/1104500128?ean=9780778313090">B&N</a><br /><a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9780778313090">BooksAMillion.</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPbC5Atpgx4/TzFNuX2p4LI/AAAAAAAAApg/_iW2zkOYFRw/s1600/valentine+giveaway-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPbC5Atpgx4/TzFNuX2p4LI/AAAAAAAAApg/_iW2zkOYFRw/s320/valentine+giveaway-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Valentine's Day Special Giveaway: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>One Paperback Copy of “The Summer Garden” to the winner. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Open to US and Canada only. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Open till 14th Feb, 2012 </b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is be my follower on GFC and write your GFC name in the comment section below, along with your valid e-mail address (so I can contact you if you win!) Please note, if you are not a follower, your entry will NOT be counted for this giveaway. Only one entry per person. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Good Luck everyone!!!</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">NOTE:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>The results will be drawn through Random.org. The winner will be notified through e-mail by “The Review Girl”. Thanks to Sherryl Woods and her publisher for organizing this giveaway. It is the responsibility of the publisher to send the book to the winner.</u></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-80101915470338071252012-02-06T08:25:00.000-08:002012-02-06T08:25:33.532-08:00And the winners of "400 Followers Giveaway" are...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_AFWgEOHmxw/Ty_-GlfjUVI/AAAAAAAAAo4/yjoJDLUFEZ0/s1600/400+follower+giveaway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_AFWgEOHmxw/Ty_-GlfjUVI/AAAAAAAAAo4/yjoJDLUFEZ0/s320/400+follower+giveaway.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">to all who have participated in this giveaway and so enthusiastically kept sharing it on social networking sites. I was amazed to see more than 150 plus total extra entries earned by various participants. WOW! You guys are so awesome! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, there is a </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">GREAT SURPRISE</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> which you guys are absolutely going to love!!! Since there has been such a tremendous turn-out, I decided to ask Terra if she can add 5 more copies, so I could choose 15 winners in total. And guess what?? The ever-amazing Terra agreed. She ROCKS! :D<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, now I have chosen not 10, but 15 winners. And the names of </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">VERY VERY LUCKY 15 winners</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> are:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1<sup>st</sup> winner: Julie S. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2<sup>nd</sup> winner: Soutik<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3<sup>rd</sup> winner: Veronika<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4<sup>th</sup> winner: NatCleary<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5<sup>th</sup> winner: Barbara Blanton<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6<sup>th</sup> winner: Rea<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7<sup>th</sup> winner: Susan M<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8<sup>th</sup> winner: Mykayla<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">9<sup>th</sup> winner: Ashlee Bee<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<sup>th</sup> winner: Cristina B<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">11<sup>th</sup> winner: Diana Dimovska<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">12<sup>th</sup> winner: Christina Prasetya<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">13<sup>th</sup> winner: Lamara Meriem<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">14<sup>th</sup> winner: Thilde Koll<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">15<sup>th</sup> winner: Lori Zelwaski<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Congratulations to the lucky fellas!!! Even bigger congratulations to the 5 winners added at the very last minute! (Thanks to superb Terra!) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To claim their prize, all winners must respond to my email in next 48 hours. Otherwise, alternate winners will be chosen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stay tuned in for Valentine’s giveaway coming soon! </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana;">NOTE: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana;">The winners have been chosen through Random.org. All the winners have been notified through email. Thanks to the lovely author Terra Harmony for very generously providing 15 copies of her book for this giveaway. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-38493101732133393892012-01-31T07:30:00.000-08:002012-01-31T07:30:15.537-08:00Book Review: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://www.tesco.com/tescobooks/ProductAssets/Books/Books/Large/9781847562104_PI.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? </span></b></div><b></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Genre: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_lit" target="_blank">Chick Lit </a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Author: Claudia Carroll </span></b></div><br /><span style="color: magenta;">Cover Critique: </span></span></b><br /><br />Very sparkly and girly cover, apt for a chick lit. I HEART it! <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Book Blurb: </span></b><br /><br />Absence makes the heart grow fonder…doesn’t it? What happens when two people decide to take a year off…from each other? Annie and Dan were the perfect couple. But now the not-so-newly weds are feeling more like flatmates than soul mates and wondering where all the fun and fireworks went …When Annie lands her big break in a smash-hit show…that’s heading for the bright lights of Broadway she’s over the moon. Goodbye remote Irish village of Stickens and hello Big Apple! But with their relationship already on the rocks, how will Annie and Dan survive the distance? They’re hitting the pause button on their marriage. One year off from each other – no strings attached, except a date to meet at the Rockefeller Centre to decide their fate. Will they both turn up? Or is it too late for love? (Courtesy: Amazon.com) <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Review: </span></b><br /><br />Just like the bubbly cover and the witty title, I was expecting the novel to be full of laughs and a gripping read, as suggested by many reviews I read on Amazon (Now after finishing the novel, I am wondering how it got so many rave reviews). I bought this book in paperback thinking it would stay up on my shelf in the corner where I keep the books I like to read and savour again and again. But after reading the complete novel, I have to say I was disappointed to an extent. This is the first book I read of this author and it failed to impress me in a sense that I may not be impulsively buying any other novels of her. <br /><br />It would be wrong to say that it is a total crap or utter waste of my time. I did enjoy the way she introduced the characters in the first chapter, putting a hilarious spin on a not-so-good situation: that Annie’s husband Dan does not give her the attention and affection which she deserves and demands. Since the novel is written from Annie’s point of view, you get the feeling that it does get boring after the second chapter, with her constant whining and grumbling about Dan’s time-crunch and workaholic attitude along with her complains that their in-laws who interfere a lot in her house, where she thinks that she should be the boss. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">After the author establishes the basic plot, she does not take it further, her witty jokes and impulsive heroine are not enough to save the story from getting redundant in the middle and then utterly predictable near the end. The theme of long-distance relationship, was good to begin with but sadly, the writer did not fully explore it through Annie’s story. A mediocre read which lacked the depth and maturity of a skilful writer. </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />As far as the other characters are concerned, none of them were so unique or affable so as to stay with me after I finished the book. The only character which I found likable was of Jules, her sister-in-law, who in a way is Annie’s true friend. In my opinion, she is the only fully-sketched genuine character that left an impression on me, with her heart of gold, her immature but lively attitude and her quirks and flaws. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">There are annoying slang words which the author keeps on using every third paragraph in the novel. I do not understand why she twists their spelling, for example, instead of “fuck off”, she uses, “feck off”, for the word “shit”, she writes “shite”. Does it have anything to do with the fact that Annie has Irish accent? Then there is the irritating recurring use of the words “anyway” and “anyroadup”, which spoils the reading fun and pissed me off totally! </span><br /><br />I personally did not find the repeated mention of “constipated goat” and other aweful diseases (in relation to Dan’s work as a vet), to be pleasant. Maybe because I am not too fond of a hero who is a vet or to be honest a doctor, but that would be my personal choice, other readers may find it completely tolerable and even fun. <br /><br />Overall, it was a mixed experience for me but since minuses outweigh the plus points of this book, I would have to say, it is<b><span style="color: magenta;"> not my cup of tea</span></b>. I would prefer a Jill Mansell any day of the week for a quick session of light humor coupled with a strong grip on the story, than opting for this! <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Review Girl Rating: 6/10 </span></b><br /><br />If you want to buy it and make your own opinion, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Will-Still-Love-Tomorrow-ebook/dp/B0055P364W/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328016861&sr=1-3">click here.</a> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">If you have already read this book and have a different view, feel free to share. </span></b><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Not to mention, if you agree with me and enjoyed this review, make sure you let me know through your comment.</span></b></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-26075507387408482902012-01-27T08:26:00.000-08:002012-01-27T08:26:18.474-08:00Book Review: Widow on the World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--CG4oNGhTF8/TyLKvh1NylI/AAAAAAAAAoU/fiGjq3wVax8/s1600/widowontheworld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--CG4oNGhTF8/TyLKvh1NylI/AAAAAAAAAoU/fiGjq3wVax8/s400/widowontheworld.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Widow-World-Transita-Pamela-Fudge/dp/product-description/1905175221/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books">Widow on the World</a> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Genre: Women’s Fiction / Contemporary Fiction </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Author: <a href="http://www.pamfudge.co.uk/novels.html">Pamela Fudge</a> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Cover Critique: </span></b><br /><br />I admit that I bought this book in a split second, because of the <span style="color: magenta;">cute egg faces</span> on the cover. Those who read my blog should know by now, I am a sucker for cuteness! *smiles* Can you believe I did not even read the blurb before buying? Now, that is the selling power of a good cover!<br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Book Blurb: </span></b><br /><br />Widowed at 45, Denise has come to the end of that first year alone and survived. It's time to get back out in the world and live her life. However, life, and particularly her own family, seems to have other ideas as first her mother and then her daughter move into a house that is suddenly bursting at the seams. A battle of wills ensues, but it is a battle that Denise is determined to win by fair means or foul, because only when she has sorted everyone else's lives out can she finally get on with her own. Romance doesn't figure anywhere in her calculations but Denise, of all people, should know that life doesn't always go according to plan. (Courtesy: Amazon.co.uk) <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Review: </span></b><br /><br />When I read the blurb, I thought that since this book is about a widow, it is going to be depressing and I might need a box of tissues handy for tears, but I was so wrong! In spite of the fact that this book deals with many serious and grim topics, the tone of the novel is not at all harsh or repulsive. As a matter of fact, at some points in the novel, I felt that it was written more like a <span style="color: magenta;">“comedy of errors”</span> than a gloomy piece for dramatic effect. <br /><br />The main character of Denise comes out as that of a strong and powerful woman who manages not only her own problems but also straightens the life of her teenage daughter (Bobbie) and directionless mother (Elaine) who throw their load of trouble her way. Both of them suffer from selfishness and simply ignore to acknowledge how much inconvenience they cause to Denise. If that was not enough, her daughter’s boyfriend (Jason) who is a rotten egg - basically “pain in the ass”, also comes to live with them uninvited. What follows is a series of disasters. Curious to know more? Read the book to know the rest of the story. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">The author’s style of writing is bold and blunt. With years of experience on her hand, Pamela writes with confidence and skill of a veteran, creating a fine balance between the vulnerability and strength of characters portrayed in this beautiful novel. The characters come to life and the reader is immersed in their world. </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Apart from the female characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of male characters introduced in the novel: Sam, Adam, Jason, Petie and Denise’s Dad. The story ends on a predictable note, I am not too fond of it, maybe because I was expecting the story to be left open-ended and upto reader’s imagination. But nonetheless, it was wrapped up nicely. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">If I were to dissect this novel in terms of the themes that are explored throughout, they would be: <br /><br />- Dealing with death of a closed one (i.e. partner, in this case scenario) <br /><br />- Coming to terms with reality and the practical aspect of life <br /><br />- Making the best out of life, whatever it throws towards you <br /><br />- Parenting in modern times <br /><br />- Family bonding <br /><br />- Mother-daughter relationship <br /><br />- Teenage rebellion <br /><br />- Adult relationships (love, sex, marital affairs, emotional blackmail) <br /><br />- The needs and desires of modern woman which is subsequently changing the role of woman as wife, mother and daughter in the society. </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />As said in one of <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/p/review-index.html" target="_blank">my previous reviews</a> as well that the books I like the most are the ones that enrich my life with valuable words of wisdom. This is not a self-help book but it certainly has some powerful messages to convey that can improve one’s life a lot. According to my understanding, these would be: <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">- Whenever taking U-turns in life, one should try to make sound, rational and logical decisions <br /><br />- As they say, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. <br /><br />- Do not give up on yourself no matter what happens! <br /><br />- Believe in yourself and your abilities. <br /><br />- Sometimes, you need to bring your nerves of steel to handle the complexities of life. <br /><br />- Life does not give you “second chances”, once it’s done, it cannot be undone. In other words, there is no rewind button!</span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />Since many of the themes are of universal nature, this book will appeal to everyone in some way or the other. Especially if you are a woman, it does not matter whether you are in your teens or fourties or even seventies, this book will make you happy with its sheer honesty and optimism. <br /><br />I read the book in parts, some on the train when I was coming back from my weekend break, some while sipping evening tea, and I am sure I would not have enjoyed it as much if I had read it in single sitting. It is the kind of story you like to read when you are relaxed and have time to ponder and contemplate the various situations (there are many!) happening in the book. Read this book, I can guarantee it is not a waste of time. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Review Girl Rating: 9.5 / 10 </span></b><br /><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">To buy this book,</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Widow-World-Transita-Pamela-Fudge/dp/product-description/1905175221/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books">click here.</a></span> </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YCg_GQNTjwY/TyLOXj_qHbI/AAAAAAAAAok/uGM8rWGX8cc/s1600/Pamela+Fudge+Author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YCg_GQNTjwY/TyLOXj_qHbI/AAAAAAAAAok/uGM8rWGX8cc/s200/Pamela+Fudge+Author.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b style="font-size: x-large;">About the Author:</b><br /><br />Pamela Fudge was brought up in Poole, Dorset. She wrote poetry, mainly for her family, and then discovered a talent for short fiction, which has been published by most of the national magazines over a period of twenty years. A creative writing tutor for 11 years <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Widow-World-Transita-Pamela-Fudge/dp/1905175221/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327673868&sr=8-3">“Widow on the World”</a> is her third published novel. Having been widowed not once, but twice in recent years, Pamela is well qualified to comment on the adage that life goes on. To know more about her writing, visit her website: <a href="http://www.pamfudge.co.uk/novels.html">http://www.pamfudge.co.uk/novels.html</a> <br /><br /></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-77324259578828591952012-01-25T08:49:00.000-08:002012-01-25T08:51:34.958-08:00BE MY GUEST: Author Interview: Darian Wilk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BQaqKQvD6V0/TyAd818k8AI/AAAAAAAAAno/xzEhtsfiZAU/s1600/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BQaqKQvD6V0/TyAd818k8AI/AAAAAAAAAno/xzEhtsfiZAU/s400/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">In conversation with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darian-Wilk/e/B005WUYHF2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">Darian Wilk</a>, the amazing and talented author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unfinished-Darian-Wilk/dp/0615484050/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4">“Love Unfinished”</a> and “Reinventing Claire”. She is definitely a woman of substance and has some interesting stories to share about her childhood. So, join us in the fun as we talk about writing, books, characters and life in all its beauty. Smile is guaranteed!</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freewebby.com/smiley-face/smiley-face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.freewebby.com/smiley-face/smiley-face.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Why did you think of becoming a writer? </span><br /><br />When I was a child I always wanted to be a writer, it is what I loved, what I knew. But as an adult, due to pressure to have a stable, normal career, I forgot that dream. But in 2009, a few months before my mom passed away, I learned by her unfinished life that our time is too short to not do what we love for the sake of someone else’s ideals. I did not want to waste the rest of my life trying to be something I wasn’t, so I became a writer. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Why did you choose to write in this genre? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span>Because I love this genre as a reader and a writer. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_fiction" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Women’s fiction</span>,</a> to me, blankets so many beautiful stories, so many strong characters, characters that are real women just like the women buying the books. Women’s fiction has a little bit of all of us in it, which gives me the chance to connect with readers on so many levels not many genres can. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpR_rbewFgc/TxC9_xN3RrI/AAAAAAAAQp4/4Qk1_Y17BK4/s240/141617978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpR_rbewFgc/TxC9_xN3RrI/AAAAAAAAQp4/4Qk1_Y17BK4/s240/141617978.JPG" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Tell us about your book, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unfinished-Darian-Wilk/dp/0615484050/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4">Love Unfinished</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unfinished-Darian-Wilk/dp/0615484050/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4"> Love Unfinished</a> is my first published book, my baby! It’s the story of soul mates, torn apart on their wedding day by a tragic accident, but are destined to meet each other again in new incarnations. Only she has married someone else, and he has vowed to never love again. Are they fated to fulfill their love, or will they once again, leave love unfinished? It falls under the umbrella of "Paranormal Romance".<br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://darianwilk.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/2/6/8226459/3768545.jpg?204" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://darianwilk.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/2/6/8226459/3768545.jpg?204" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Can you give us a sneak peek into your second novel, Reinventing Claire?</span><br /><br />My second novel, which should be out in late spring of 2012, is Reinventing Claire. People get divorced, but that is what is supposed to happen to other people. That’s what Claire thought anyway, until her husband, Charlie, tells her he wants a divorce. Armed with her dating dunce cap, and her loud, suffocatingly sweet family by her side, Claire faces the question she has no idea how to answer, who is Claire without Charlie? <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: If you could be one character from your books, who would you choose to be and why? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />Good question! Only one character, phew that’s tough! I think from Reinventing Claire, I would want to be Claire. I love fresh starts, they’re exciting to me regardless of how you came to find yourself needing one. Starting over is a challenge, and I love a good challenge. And I like her spunk, her dorky coolness that I think is hidden in a lot of us. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Where do you get ideas for your stories and characters? </span><br /><br />From curiosity really. I wonder, asks questions, a lot. I am always wondering about people, situations, how something came to be that way or what would happen if something were to change. It’s that curiosity that leads me to a question I must answer. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c91ONSTLwZc/TyAoAmJm_nI/AAAAAAAAAn4/HtTNDSYRzNA/s1600/writing+tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c91ONSTLwZc/TyAoAmJm_nI/AAAAAAAAAn4/HtTNDSYRzNA/s320/writing+tips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: List 5 suggestions/writing tips for those who want to venture into writing fiction. </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Interview your characters.</span> I think for characters to feel real, you have to know them well. Taking the time to learn about them, about the things in their life that will never hit the pages of your book, makes them come alive and your readers will feel that. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">As James Scott Bell says, write hot, edit cool. </span> Get that story on paper, let the thoughts fly without worry of misspelled words or the compulsion to read over what you just wrote. Write while the story is hot. Then, edit cool. Take some time off, let the story cool down, forget it. Waiting allows you to come back to edit it with fresh eyes. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Don’t give up.</span> A lot of writers find the first few chapters come faster than they can get the words onto paper. Then they hit the middle of the story and find themselves staring at a blinking cursor. Don’t give up on your story, or yourself, keep pressing on. Every step you have taken is one farther than someone else did. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Read while you write</span>. Writers write better when they read good books. It keeps your imagination fresh, always going. Sometimes nothing will make you want to run to your story faster than reading a good book. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Have someone else read your book,</span> someone who won’t sugar coat their opinion, and someone who will. You need the hard advice to better your craft, and the sugar coated encouragement for motivation when you’re down. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Do you think that book blogs play a vital role in getting the books across to readers? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />Absolutely. Book blogs can reach out to thousands of readers you might never reach otherwise; it’s the modern day word-of-mouth on Redbull. It’s an amazing way to connect, the world is literally at your fingertips. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INGAGVyQ4Ao/TyAv1PaHKXI/AAAAAAAAAoI/1GqaMCDN8aM/s1600/eBook-Standard-Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INGAGVyQ4Ao/TyAv1PaHKXI/AAAAAAAAAoI/1GqaMCDN8aM/s1600/eBook-Standard-Image.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Printed books vs. E-books. What’s your take on this?</span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />I think E-books will be commonplace for the next generation, but print books will stay alive because of previous generations like me. There are few things more exciting to me than the feeling of a new book in my hands, but I had to ask my 3yr old son how to turn on my husband HP Tablet. I think E-readers will become apart of households like cell phones have, but printed books are classic, timeless, something people will always see a need for. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: I totally agree with you! With traditional people like us, who love holding a book in hand, instead of a sleek gadget, paperbacks are going to stay for sure! At the same time, I cannot deny that e-readers are going to get popular day by day. How much time did it take you to complete one book? What was your routine for writing? </span><br /><br />That is something I have to estimate, because while writing my first book I was a full time caregiver for my mom; my writing time was based around the amount of care she needed, and I took several months off after she passes away. I would guesstimate <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unfinished-Darian-Wilk/dp/0615484050/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4">Love Unfinished</a> took around ten months. <br /><br />My writing routine then was the same as it is now, I write while my son naps and my daughter is at school. Those two hours while my son sleeps are mine and mine alone. The laundry waits, cleaning waits, everything waits until he is up and my time is over. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How do you balance your family life and your writing commitments? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />It is hard, and it takes a lot of adjustment and flexibility. My family comes first, always. To keep both going, without dipping too much into the other, I have to stay organized and schedule my ‘writer’s life’ at least two weeks in advance. It keeps me on track, which makes my family life and writing life flow smoother. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Are you inspired by any particular author? Who is your favourite author? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Tyler" target="_blank">Anne Tyler</a>, love her! I aspire to create characters like she does, so vividly real to a reader, flawed yet exceptional. It doesn’t take long when reading one of her books to forget that you’re reading, and it feels as if you’re spying on someone’s life. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://j.livelib.ru/boocover/1000315612/l/261f/Anya_Seton__Katherine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://j.livelib.ru/boocover/1000315612/l/261f/Anya_Seton__Katherine.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Among other author’s books, any character which you could relate to and you will always remember? What was the character about and how could you relate to it?</span><br /><br />I think that would come from one of my favourite books, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_(novel)" target="_blank">Katherine</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anya_Seton" target="_blank">Anya Seton</a>, a historical novel. Katherine, slated to marry a knight, finds herself falling for a powerful Duke, married to a Duchess Katherine admires; for her beauty and gentle personality. I think it’s not Katherine’s choices I can relate to, I’ve never cheated, never watched my husband be murdered so I can love a married man; I think it’s her simplicity and craving for passionate love. I am a very simple woman at heart, very old school some might say. I enjoy staying home with my kids, I enjoy being Kat Von D meshed with June Cleaver, but I crave passion, the rush of strong love. I think, untamed, the craving could lead anyone to bad decisions, like Katherine had made. I remember her for that, to keep passion alive, but keep a hold onto it so that I control it; not it controlling me. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: I believe that there are only two categories of books: good books and bad books. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a “good book”? </span><br /><br />There are a lot of things to consider; I think for me to call a book good, it has to pull me in, whether through the characters, plot, or a relatable story. Did it draw me in to the point that I no longer thought about prose, if the author was adverb happy, if I accidently let my dinner burn because I just HAD to finish that chapter? If a book can pull me, so that I forget it’s only a book and not a real story, that the characters are not real, that I have a life to live and need to put the book down, then I consider it a good book. <br /><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Now, time for some fun questions: </b></span><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Share with us your favourite childhood memory. </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />I cannot hear <span style="color: blue;">Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog</span> without thinking of my childhood. My father was a truck driver, gone for days or weeks at a time, so much of the time it was just mom, my brother and me. Mom would put her record on the turntable; I would be in my best rocker chic clothes, my vacuum microphone in hand. My brother would be armed with his tennis racquet air guitar, ready for a solo, and mom was ready to dance or beat on the couch cushion drum set. We’d sing and dance all day, listening to one record after another. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Okay Darian, here you go then! :) Rewind those joyful times in your head and dance to the tune!</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/6xB4W8thG28/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6xB4W8thG28&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6xB4W8thG28&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Tell us about the craziest thing you ever did in your life. </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />In my younger years, you know, pre-mommy days, I used to drag race – illegal street racing, and lost my license for a time because of it. I love the rumble of horsepower, it’s thrilling and irresistible to me. I would be out at ridiculous hours, racing other cars until the sun rose. Looking back it’s insanely stupid, I could have crashed and died, or killed someone. But to this day, every time I see a gorgeous fast car, I want to drive it and see just how fast it can really go. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.autopictures.com/mclarren/pictures/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.autopictures.com/mclarren/pictures/002.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">Darian, will something like this catch your fancy? *wink*</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How do you relax when you have free time? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />If I were rich I would shop, I love shopping. Shopping for clothes, shoes, accessories for the house, I just love to shop! But, seeing how I’m not famous or a millionaire, typically watching a movie or TV show with my hubby and kids is just what I need to relax. Give me some cuddling, a bowl of popcorn, and I forget whatever it was that had me all stressed out to begin with. Or, I wash my car. Sounds weird I know, but there’s something about washing my car and cleaning out the interior that is calming to me. Hey, I never claimed to be a normal lady! <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Complete these sentences: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">· Love is...</span>ever-changing over the years. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">· Life is...</span>opportunity at my feet every day. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">· Writing is…</span>fulfilment on paper. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Thank you for your interview. It was so much fun chatting with you. Wish you all the best for your current and upcoming books.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su3lNPg1vok/TyAsdQL4noI/AAAAAAAAAoA/LNJTD7S3PxI/s1600/Darian+Wilk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-su3lNPg1vok/TyAsdQL4noI/AAAAAAAAAoA/LNJTD7S3PxI/s200/Darian+Wilk.jpg" width="107" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author: </span></b><br /><br /><a href="http://darianwilk.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Darian Wilk </a>is a women’s fiction writer, and the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unfinished-Darian-Wilk/dp/0615484050/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4">Love Unfinished</a>, released in October. She has a Fan Page on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Darian-Wilk-Fan-Page/154692967912957?sk=app_106171216118819">Facebook</a>, and is also on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/DarianWilk">Twitter</a>. Please visit her <a href="http://darianwilk.weebly.com/index.html">website</a> to read more about her debut novel, to read her <a href="http://darianwilk.weebly.com/view-blog.html">blog</a>, or enter the <a href="http://darianwilk.weebly.com/giveaways.html">current giveaway</a>. <br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Unfinished-ebook/dp/B005WL8H48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327506941&sr=8-1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czo9c9voTwo/TyAlIkLeqvI/AAAAAAAAAnw/I7PpHDrBBlc/s1600/love+unfinished.jpg" /></a></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book:</span></b></div><br />Soul mates from the past leave their love unfinished when a tragic accident ends their lives on their wedding day. Yet they are destined to meet again to fulfill that love in new incarnations, leading vastly different lives. <br /><br />Emma thought she had chosen the right path, but too late does she realize her mistake as her husband reveals the monster behind his smile; morphing their fairytale image with loveless obligation. Trapped in a broken marriage to a powerful, abusive husband, she knows this is not the life she was destined to live. As her hope for love withers, she meets James, her love from a lifetime ago. <br />Emma cannot deny the love pulling her toward James, but courage to abandon her marriage wavers and unknowingly puts her love on the line. If Emma has any hope of life and love, she must trust the bond with James and be with the man destiny has spent two lifetimes guiding her toward. Are they fated to fulfill their love, or will they once again, leave love unfinished? (Book Blurb Courtesy: Amazon.com)<br /><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Purchase Links:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: magenta;">"Love Unfinished"</span> is available through Darian’s <a href="https://www.createspace.com/3591785">website</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unfinished-Darian-Wilk/dp/0615484050/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319199442&sr=1-11">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-unfinished-darian-wilk/1102187264?ean=2940013301252&itm=3&usri=love%2bunfinished">Barnes & Noble</a>, and <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97145">Smashwords</a>. You can also download free sample chapters of her book, by <a href="http://darianwilk.weebly.com/sample-chapters.html" target="_blank">clicking here.</a><br /><br /></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-69698377940993378282012-01-18T06:09:00.000-08:002012-01-18T06:09:35.682-08:00Book Review: Life Swap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7pueWCqIMs/TxbL1JeLRUI/AAAAAAAAAm0/Yc-yFxRGul4/s1600/Jane+latest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7pueWCqIMs/TxbL1JeLRUI/AAAAAAAAAm0/Yc-yFxRGul4/s400/Jane+latest.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Book: Life Swap (US Title: Swapping Lives) </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Fiction </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Author: <a href="http://www.janegreen.com/" target="_blank">Jane Green </a></span></b></div><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Cover Critique: </b></span><br /><br />These days, with easy-to-use softwares that can produce amazing graphics, there is an abundance of beautiful covers in the market. So, quite tough to grab reader’s attention with something unique which can stand out among other books sitting on stands. In this case, the superb quality of what’s inside the book, does not match with what’s outside, i.e. the cover! <br /><br />There have been so many covers over the years due to re-print and new editions of the book (as you can see below!). I like the latest one which I posted at the top, though I think it can be made a lot more attractive with better graphic skills. Since, this is not a judging factor as to how well the book is written, I will not cut any points because of a slightly let-down cover. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7qBkAfLcDc/TxbMgWooEuI/AAAAAAAAAm8/NAywxBkxzb4/s1600/Jane2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7qBkAfLcDc/TxbMgWooEuI/AAAAAAAAAm8/NAywxBkxzb4/s1600/Jane2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0615wzUG07Q/TxbMrCkYfMI/AAAAAAAAAnE/rFE4-awa8so/s1600/Jane1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0615wzUG07Q/TxbMrCkYfMI/AAAAAAAAAnE/rFE4-awa8so/s1600/Jane1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2oMkDOAYUg/TxbM9K3Op6I/AAAAAAAAAnM/g6rIL0_wFoM/s1600/Swapping+Lives+by+Jane+Green1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2oMkDOAYUg/TxbM9K3Op6I/AAAAAAAAAnM/g6rIL0_wFoM/s320/Swapping+Lives+by+Jane+Green1.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Book Blurb: </span></b><br /><br />From the outside Vicky Townsley would appear to have it all. Features Director of the hugely successful Poise! magazine, she lives alone in London, is single and seriously successful. But she'd give it all up in a heartbeat for marriage, children, and a house in the country. Amber Winslow on the other hand, has exactly what Vicky Townsley wants; a huge stone mansion in Connecticut, children and a busy charitable commitment for the local Women's League. <br /><br />But Amber isn't happy either. She hasn't found quite the fulfilment she had expected from being a full-time wife and mother, so when she spots a double page spread in Poise! magazine asking married readers to life swap with a glamorous, single journalist in London, she sits down and writes a letter. But she never expects to be picked... (Courtesy: Amazon.com) <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Review: </b></span><br /><br />While browsing through local bookstore, I picked up this book and what a gem I discovered! This is the first book I read from Jane Green (I am surprised I did not know about this best-selling author before!). I am looking forward to reading her upcoming release, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Patchwork-Marriage-Jane-Green/dp/0718154568/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I10SDXPUUVMR9G&colid=3H5LB4XAYYMN3">“The Patchwork Marriage”</a> (already put it in my Amazon Wish List so I can buy it as soon as it releases!). <br /><br />This book tells the story of two women who are desperately wishing for something that they do not have. As you can easily figure out from the blurb, Vicky is a thirty plus single woman from London, who wishes to have a married life with a loving husband, beautiful kids, big house and a cute dog. On the other side of the Atlantic, there lives Amber whose life includes all these above-mentioned things but she is still not satisfied emotionally and longs to fill the void inside her. <br /><br />Both women wonder as to what it is like to live their dream-life but when they are given the opportunity to step in other person’s shoes, they realise how difficult it is and it turns out to be a journey for them to rediscover themselves and figure out what they actually want from life. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">Whether you are single or married, this book will touch your emotional chords in many ways. With Jane’s addictive and inspiring writing, your thoughts will keep circling around these two women and you will be turning pages swiftly to know what will happen until the end of the book. I myself read those 480 pages in one sitting, because I just could not seem to get Jane’s heroines out of my mind. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">Unlike most chick-lit novels having plastic heroines, Jane has created life-like, real characters that you can easily empathize and sympathize with. They make you think if this situation happened to you, you may have reacted the same way. I love to read about characters who are flawed and imperfect, having quirks and madness that we can all relate to and this book did just that! </span><br /><br />Among the supporting cast, I loved how the character of Richard changed from being the embodiment of all-perfect to vulnerable and messed up. My most favourite character has to be little Grace, who in many ways is the real-Amanda - a reflection of what she used to be before she became “the desperate social climber itching to get out”. I was so glad to see that Jane did not chose the predictable ending but left it open-ended though on a positive note. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">By constructing a modern and realistic story, showing how the dynamics of relationships have changed over the years, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Swap-Jane-Green/dp/0141021721/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">“Life Swap”</a> is a well-crafted and mature novel written in the most heart-warming manner by Jane Green. It is an indirect commentary on the social skills such as dating, marriage, love, sex and parenting and yet manages to stay engaging and exciting with the right amount of humour and a touch of glamour here and there. </div><br />One of my favourite books are those which <span style="color: magenta;">enlighten</span> me and <span style="color: magenta;">entertain </span>me at the same time and this book did both skilfully! I would love to quote a beautiful line from this book which is so uplifting. I know it has been said before many times but some things should be reminded in life again and again, so here it is: <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>“It’s not what you think about that matters in life, it’s what you actually do about it”. </b></span></div><br />Do I still need to tell you that you must read this book if you have a mature taste that goes beyond pretty shoes and pink nails? <span style="color: magenta;">Highly recommended</span> for those who have ever considered “the road not taken”. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Review Girl Rating: 10/10 </span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">To purchase this book,</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Swap-Jane-Green/dp/0141021721/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">click here.</a></span></b> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fM7QcUA6vxw/TxbOqz9hmPI/AAAAAAAAAnU/DXegbPRrbi0/s1600/jane-green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fM7QcUA6vxw/TxbOqz9hmPI/AAAAAAAAAnU/DXegbPRrbi0/s320/jane-green.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author:</span></b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.janegreen.com/" target="_blank">Jane Green</a> is a former journalist who gave up her job on the Daily Express to write a real woman's account of being single in the city. That account became Jane's first novel, Straight Talking. A huge success, Straight Talking was followed by ten more bestselling novels: Jemima J, Mr Maybe, Bookends, Babyville, Spellbound, the Other Woman, Life Swap, Second Chance, The Beach House and Girl Friday. Jane lives with her husband and children in Connecticut. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">Here is an interesting latest interview I found of her and thought her fans would love to listen to it. Enjoy!</span><br /><br /><object height="288" width="470"><param name="movie" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" value="http://www.wcnc.com/v/?i=97076464" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.wcnc.com/v/?i=97076464" AllowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" height="288" wmode="transparent" width="470"></embed></object><br /><br /></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-57426210500937529482012-01-16T06:31:00.000-08:002012-01-16T06:31:15.279-08:00BE MY GUEST: Author Interview: Michele Gorman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sgkPYCyqPw0/TxQfmeWdO-I/AAAAAAAAAl8/qbjVJg8ULa8/s1600/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sgkPYCyqPw0/TxQfmeWdO-I/AAAAAAAAAl8/qbjVJg8ULa8/s400/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">“Is Chick-lit “fun and romance” or about “chicks” who are “beauty with brains”? How do you think it is different from regular women’s fiction?”</span><span style="color: magenta;"> Join me as I ask Michele Gorman, this and many other intriguing questions about the genre of chick-lit, her best-selling book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-City-Michele-Gorman/dp/0141048263" target="_blank">“Single in the City”</a>, her decision to self-publish in the U.S. after getting launched by Penguin in the UK and things about writing and life in general. Enjoy reading! </span></span></b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Why did you think of becoming a writer? </span><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div>I wanted to get paid for what’s inside my head without having to go into an office… and I loved the idea of making a living in my bathrobe. I figured that because I love to read, I could be a writer, but it took many years for my ability to catch with my ambitions! <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Why Chick-lit? </span><br /><br />I turned to chick lit out of spite. My writing background is in literary fiction and I’d just given my 3rd book to my (ex) agent, who said she didn’t like it and wouldn’t put it out to publishers. That announcement coincided with my buying my very first chick lit book. It was an international best seller. It was terrible! Frustrated, I wondered if I could do a better job, and the idea for Single in the City was born. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p3gqoLZIYBI/SBy6gnFpFdI/AAAAAAAAAFo/_OMpoHLIa54/s400/ChickLitChallenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p3gqoLZIYBI/SBy6gnFpFdI/AAAAAAAAAFo/_OMpoHLIa54/s320/ChickLitChallenge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;">RG: Is chick-lit “fun and romance” or about “chicks” who are “beauty with brains”? How do you think it is different from regular women’s fiction?</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />To me, chick lit is an extension of the relationships we have with our friends. The early chick lit writers captured an important part of our lives in prose, giving us characters we cared about because we “knew” them. They are our sisters, friends, cousins, mothers, daughters and friends and enemies. They amuse us and frustrate us and show us their flaws and their triumphs. The genre has grown around this kind of character. <br /><br />Now there is a blurring between chick lit and women’s fiction in terms of how they are marketed. In the UK, most fiction written by women is marketed with illustrated pastel colours (which gets many writers mad). In the US, women’s fiction and chick lit seem to be marketed with photographic covers, so I am not sure how readers are supposed to differentiate between the two. I think it is confusing. To me chick lit and women’s fiction are different – chick lit is a sub-genre within women’s fiction. I think it’s supposed to be light and fun, although maybe I just think that because that is what I write! I would like to see clearer branding, so that we can tell the two apart. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: In majority of chick-lit, the character of hero is limited or sometimes half-sketched, do you think it affects the overall depth of story or it is no biggie? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Since chick lit is not meant to be <span style="color: magenta;">character-driven fiction</span>, you would not expect a lot of deep description about the characters. It is <span style="color: magenta;">plot-driven fiction</span> and is meant to race along. For this reason, I do not put a lot of character description into my books. But, and this is a big but, as writers we have an obligation to give the reader a fully-formed character. This is true in any genre, not just chick lit. That may manifest in deep description as you find in character-driven fiction. In the case of my books, I write an entire character study for each character before I start the book. I know what their home life was, what foods they like/hate, when they first fell in love, which books the like, etc. Most of this never gets into the book explicitly but it’s necessary so that I know how the character will react in the situations I put her in. That way I ensure that she never acts out of character. So the formation of characters in chick lit is more subtle. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbDnKRNEgHA/TxQvPqwcsMI/AAAAAAAAAmU/mpkkjI5zofg/s1600/Monday+cover+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbDnKRNEgHA/TxQvPqwcsMI/AAAAAAAAAmU/mpkkjI5zofg/s400/Monday+cover+2.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: What is the book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-City-Michele-Gorman/dp/0141048263" target="_blank">“Single in the city”</a> about? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />"Single in the City" is about Hannah, a 26-year-old American who moves to London on a whim, only to find that she’s completely ill-equipped to live there. She faces constant cultural misunderstandings as she tries to build the new life she is dreaming of. It’s a universal story, a fish-out-of-water tale about trying to fit into a new place, and we’ve all been in Hannah’s shoes, whether moving to a new city, or country, starting college, a new job or trying to fit in with a boyfriend’s (sometimes odd) family! <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: If you could be one character from your books, who would you choose to be and why? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Many would argue that I am Hannah, since I moved to London 15 years ago and faced many of the same funny situations. But I’d probably be Sam in “Single in the City”. His personality is much closer to mine than Hannah’s. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Where do you get ideas for your stories and characters? </span><br /><br />I always say that everyone and everything is fair game! The ideas come from things I see, do, read about and experience. I might take one person’s nose, another’s hair, and a third person’s optimism to create a character. <br /><br />In terms of the storylines, they come straight from my imagination, though often a spark of something in real life will kick them off. As a child I was accused of lying because I rarely saw a situation that I could not embellish – now I get to call that fiction writing.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: How was it to get a publishing deal from Penguin for UK? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />It was wonderful! My agent here in London is superb and worked very hard to get Single in the City in front of the right editors at all of the big publishers. My editor at Penguin <span style="color: magenta;">(Lydia Newhouse) </span>fell in love with the book and made an offer within 48 hours, which is very fast. I had a great experience with Penguin, from the acquisition right through to the distribution and marketing. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Can you give writers some tips on how they can pull in big publishers and a nifty deal for their book? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />It’s all about timing. You’ve got to have the right “product” in front of the right editor at the right time in the market. The book has to be as perfect as you can make it before you submit to publishers, because you’re only going to get one chance to get it read by the editor. The editor has to be looking to acquire new books and she’s got to love your writing style and clearly see how your book can be successfully marketed (this is where an excellent cover letter is necessary). And it’s got to be the right time in the market for your genre and story. <br /><br />In some ways it’s a numbers game. My advice is to keep at it, don’t let rejections stop you because all of the things I just mentioned have to be right for a book to be acquired. Often a rejection isn’t a judgment about your book’s quality, it’s because of one of the other factors. And in terms of the big publishers, a good agent is usually necessary. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: What role do you think </span><span style="color: magenta;">a good agent </span><span style="color: red;">can play in making right decisions about marketing/publishing of a book? </span><br /><br />A good agent is your writing partner. Her role goes way beyond just putting your book in front of publishers. For example, my agent and I make decisions together about what I write next, and how my stories develop. This is because she’s got the commercial perspective and I have the creative one (although she’s creative too and is instrumental in helping me develop storylines). <br /><br />My advice to all aspiring writers is to get a good agent. And by ‘good’ I mean one who loves your writing and believes in it, who will help you develop your writing and your career, and one who you can see yourself being with for the rest of your writing life. It’s a lot like a good marriage! <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Why did you decide to self-publish your book in US? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />"Single in the City" was <span style="color: magenta;">a best seller</span> in the UK, with much thanks to Penguin’s excellent sales and marketing teams. I thought that the story, about an American moving to London would be an easy sell to a US publisher. But the publishers we approached didn’t think that American chick lit fans would ‘get’ the humour because the book was set outside the US. I disagreed with this judgment, which I saw as much about American chick lit fans as about the book. Trying to fit into a new situation, and the cringe worthy humour that entails, is something we’ve all faced. So my agent and I decided to self-publish in the US, to bring the book to American chick lit fans. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Do you have any upcoming books/projects? Will it be chick lit or some other genre? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />I’m glad you asked, because I’m very excited about the next project! Without spoiling "Single in the City" for those who haven’t yet read it, I’ll be writing a follow up to Hannah’s adventures. But the really exciting part is that I’m asking readers to help me. I want to write an interactive book in which readers get to help decide where storylines go and how characters develop.<br /><br />I want to connect with as many readers as possible, so I am asking everyone to send me a facebook request (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/michele.gorman3">www.facebook.com/michele.gorman3</a>) or get in touch on twitter (@expatdiaries) or through my website (<a href="http://www.michelegorman.co.uk/">www.michelegorman.co.uk</a>) because in the next few months I’ll start posting parts of the sequel as I write it and ask readers for feedback. I hope everyone will join me! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPkt1QhLfxY/TxQvpLmHzhI/AAAAAAAAAmc/uO_pDnxP_AQ/s1600/writing+tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPkt1QhLfxY/TxQvpLmHzhI/AAAAAAAAAmc/uO_pDnxP_AQ/s320/writing+tips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: List 5 suggestions/writing tips for those who want to venture into writing fiction.</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Be able to summarize your book in a sentence. This is the 30-second pitch and if you want to get published, you’ll be asked for this over and over. <br /><br />Start writing the synopsis before you write the book, and develop it as the book develops. We all hate doing this, so you are not alone, but like the 30 second pitch, it is necessary to publish and if you don’t do it you could write a book with no storyline. This sounds implausible but believe me it happens. I know because I did it with my first book. Important lesson learned! <br /><br />Have fully-formed characters that the readers care about – they can love them or hate them, but they must care what happens to them and wonder whether it will all turn out okay in the end. Dramatic tension is critical, even in light and fun chick lit. <br /><br />Write even when you do not feel like it. It is better to have 500 words that aren’t great (you can always edit) than to stare at a blank page. <br /><br />Let others read your work before sending it to agents/publishers. As writers, we are very close to our books, often too close. An outside perspective will help you see where the story is weak so that you can fix it. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Do you think that book blogs play a vital role in getting the books across to readers? </span><br /><br />Absolutely – blogs are the book-loving friends who help us decide what to read next. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Printed books vs. E-books. What’s your take on this? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />There is a market for both. Despite having just launched “Single in the City” as an eBook in the US, I do not yet have an eReader! I like paper books, although I see a Kindle in my near future. The rise of the eBook market has allowed self-publishing to take off, and that is a very good thing because it gets lots more books out to people who may like to read them. This is where blogs are important too – with all the books now being published, they can help point to books that might otherwise get lost in the crowd. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: How do you balance your family life and your writing commitments? </span><br /><br />Around 9 years ago (after writing my first book… with no storyline) I decided that if I wanted to be a writer I needed to devote some work days to it, so I went part-time at my job. I still work 3 days a week for a company, and write 2 days a week. This makes it (relatively) easy to balance writing and social time, because I see writing as a 9-5 job. It just happens to be a job that I love. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Among other author’s books, any character that you could relate to and you will always remember? What was the character about and how could you relate to it? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Those are two different questions! I relate to the characters that India Knight creates. She creates accessible characters with a constantly running internal dialog. I usually have an internal conversation going on about what I am doing or seeing, so I relate to this. But I’ll always remember John Irving’s characters. They are weird and complex and stick in your mind. Owen Meany and Garp are two such characters. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: I believe that there are only two categories of books: good books and bad books. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a “good book”? </span><br /><br />I agree, and that judgment is so individual! To me a good book is one that serves its purpose. If you want a book for escapism then fast-paced funny chick lit often does it, or a thriller if that’s your thing. If you want to be informed then maybe it’ll be a biography. For a book that makes you think then weightier women’s fiction or literary fiction might do the trick. <br /><br />In all cases though, a good book pulls the reader along, has well-formed characters and is one that is remembered long after you finish it. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Now, time for some fun questions:</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1E7uIL3KJk/TxQz9P_wlSI/AAAAAAAAAms/JjLZcdjilVk/s1600/fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1E7uIL3KJk/TxQz9P_wlSI/AAAAAAAAAms/JjLZcdjilVk/s320/fun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red;">RG: Share with us your favourite childhood memory.</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />Teaching my best friend, Jim, to ice skate using his mother’s skates stuffed with newspapers, so that he could play hockey with the older boys without getting laughed at. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Tell us about the craziest thing you ever did in your life. </span><br /><br />Deciding after a weekend’s visit to Chicago to quit my job in Hartford and convince my friend (and her 3 cats) to move with me, though I had no job there. We rented a 35 foot UHaul truck, loaded it (in NYC during rush hour) with our worldly belongings including a piano, her car and the aforementioned cats, and drove through the night to Chicago. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: How do you relax when you have free time? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />I spend free time with my boyfriend and friends, cooking lovely meals (I’m a big food fan!) or seeing films, theatre, exhibits, having walks or little cycle rides, going to the pub. The nice thing about London is that you can do anything you want here. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: After coming from US, you have lived in UK for a long time now...which one is ultimate fun place for a single girl: US or UK? </span><br /><br />I think the question needs to be narrowed to cities rather than countries. London is wonderful although you have to get used to the fact that English men rarely approach you (this is a cultural difference), so in terms of meeting people, cities in the US are a bit easier. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Complete these sentences: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">· Romance is..</span>. elusive, but wonderful when you find it <br /><br />·<span style="color: magenta;"> Life is...</span> about enjoying all that you have and not worrying too much about what you don’t <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">· Chick lit is... </span>very fun to write and hopefully fun to read! <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">RG: Thank you for your interview. It was a pleasure having you on my blog. Wish you all the best for your book. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4yXCfJjiGY/TxQwOv-WNZI/AAAAAAAAAmk/aJvW7NNQb9M/s1600/Michele+Gorman+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4yXCfJjiGY/TxQwOv-WNZI/AAAAAAAAAmk/aJvW7NNQb9M/s1600/Michele+Gorman+photo.JPG" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author:</span></b><br /><br />Michele is the best-selling author of “Single in the City”, launched by Penguin in the UK in 2010. In October 2011 she self-published the book in the US, after American publishers judged that chick lit fans here wouldn’t ‘get’ the humour in a book set outside US borders.<br /><br /><br />To know more about her and her writing, visit her website: <a href="http://www.michelegorman.co.uk/Welcome.html">http://www.michelegorman.co.uk/Welcome.html</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-City-Michele-Gorman/dp/0141048263" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41vKVNdtU2L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book:</span></b><br /><br />It's official. Hannah has left her friends and family in the US behind and is following her dream. To live in London. Unfortunately she's completely unprepared for what's in store. <br /><br />She's going to find: <br /><br />1. Her dream guy. A prince or Hugh Grant would be nice. Or does she have to settle for her half-naked Australian housemate or an "English gentleman" with terrible hygiene habits? <br />2. Her dream job. Something fantastic in fashion. So how has she ended up being the mini-me for an evil party planner who doesn't even trust her to arrange the paperclips? <br />3. Her dream friends. But everyone in London seems to have known each other for years and Hannah's having trouble getting to know nice people. Who's she going to have fun with? <br /><br />Dream life? Should Hannah just dream on? Maybe it would have been simpler and cheaper to just get a new haircut. Was she mad to move 3,000 miles away from everyone she knows? Will she ever find love and her perfect life in England? (Blurb Courtesy: Amazon.com) <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">To purchase Single in the City, click on the links given below: </span><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />Amazon US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Single-in-the-City-ebook/dp/B005Y11DAQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319563224&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/Single-in-the-City-ebook/dp/B005Y11DAQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319563224&sr=8-1</a><br /><br /><br />Amazon UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-City-Michele-Gorman/dp/0141048263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321908918&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-City-Michele-Gorman/dp/0141048263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321908918&sr=1-1</a> <br /><br /><br />Barnes and Noble: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/single-in-the-city-michele-gorman/1106848799?ean=2940013291126&itm=1&usri=michele%2bgorman">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/single-in-the-city-michele-gorman/1106848799?ean=2940013291126&itm=1&usri=michele%2bgorman</a> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Discussion Topic: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Do you love to read chick-lit books? If yes, who have been your all-time favourite chick-lit writer / writers? There can be many writers which you enjoy but answer this: Which is your all-time favourite chick-lit book? Why do you like it so much; is it because of the story or the main character? Feel free to share your thoughts on these questions in the comment section below.</span></b></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-58979552864314098762012-01-10T06:11:00.000-08:002012-01-10T06:11:33.540-08:00400 Followers Giveaway!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ezdNqSnP74k/TwxDyua7ScI/AAAAAAAAAlg/kmDqgd202AA/s1600/400+follower+giveaway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ezdNqSnP74k/TwxDyua7ScI/AAAAAAAAAlg/kmDqgd202AA/s320/400+follower+giveaway.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As a HUGE THANK YOU for all the support from my wonderful, amazing, simply superb readers and followers, I am having this superb giveaway. I am so thrilled to announce the prize!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hold thy breath! </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As I tell you that not one or two, not five, but </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: red;">TEN (10) winners</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> will be chosen!!!! </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;">Yeah! You heard that right! Drooling, anyone? Okay, enough with the surprise face, you can shut your mouth now. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt;">J</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Each winner</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"> will get this superb book as a prize!!! </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">YAY!!! </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">J</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rVE2uDyVyU/TwxED7waDxI/AAAAAAAAAlo/-bEsQqKNmtc/s1600/Water+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rVE2uDyVyU/TwxED7waDxI/AAAAAAAAAlo/-bEsQqKNmtc/s400/Water+book.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tempting, right?? Then, why waste time? Hurry up and enter now!!!</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-size: 14pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 20.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-size: 14pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 20.0pt;">To Enter:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-size: 14pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold"; font-size: 36.0pt;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHVfS1diMnhWdjhhdmJlV091a1FDMmc6MQ#gid=0" target="_blank">CLICK HERE!!!</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="color: magenta; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: magenta;">Good Luck everyone! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: magenta;">A HUGE THANK YOU to the lovely and amazing Terra Harmony for providing so many copies for this giveaway. She has got some great reasons as to why an author should blog, coupled with her great sense of humour. To read the article and follow her,</span> <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/be-my-guest-why-should-authors-blog-by.html" target="_blank">clickhere.</a></span></div><div align="center" style="color: magenta; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "\0027Arial Rounded MT Bold\0027"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></u></div><div align="center" style="color: magenta; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "\0027Arial Rounded MT Bold\0027"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This giveaway is international. TEN (10) winners will be chosen through Random.org. <o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div align="center" style="color: magenta; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "\0027Arial Rounded MT Bold\0027"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">They will be notified through email from “The Review Girl”.</span></u><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-size: 14pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-21427445347592079432012-01-06T06:19:00.000-08:002012-01-06T06:19:45.641-08:00BE MY GUEST: Why Should Authors Blog? By Terra Harmony<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wwEKoCY9qBY/Twb9zGhg6pI/AAAAAAAAAkk/nNaw3n_F3r0/s1600/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wwEKoCY9qBY/Twb9zGhg6pI/AAAAAAAAAkk/nNaw3n_F3r0/s400/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">These days, it seems like everyone has a blog! Most of the book bloggers (like me!) read and review books and like to promote “Indie” authors by spreading the word about their books through interviews, guest posts and giveaways. But is it enough for an author to market his/her book to the readers? Maybe not! That is why, more and more authors are plunging into the realm of blogging and love to interact with their customers/readers directly through daily blog posts, building fan base much quicker than before! <br /><br />So, should writers blog? Is it important for authors to have a blog if they want to be “noticed” and survive in this harsh competitive publishing industry where a new writer is born every minute? This is the question I asked Terra Harmony, a debut “Indie” author who blogs about her self-publishing experience. Read what she has to say on this topic. You can always be a part of the discussion by adding comments! </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Authors: To Blog or Not to Blog? </u></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>By Author: Terra Harmony </u></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--VIm9bdzaK0/TwcCzwvAYzI/AAAAAAAAAlM/YeVxucppgDM/s1600/Blog+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--VIm9bdzaK0/TwcCzwvAYzI/AAAAAAAAAlM/YeVxucppgDM/s320/Blog+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>That is not the question. The question should be more like: Do I start now or five minutes from now? Do I use Wordpress or Blogspot? Do I take the time to put on pants before I set up my blog? Of all the social media tools available to authors, blogging: <br /><br />- is free <br /><br />- is easy <br /><br />- keeps you writing <br /><br />- gets you networking <br /><br />- gets you feedback <br /><br />The first step is to establish your blog's purpose. Does it exist solely to promote your work? Do you plan to join the writing community by blogging the 'how-to's'? Do you intend to share your experiences with writing? Of course, you can do some cross-over, but sticking to the purpose of the blog will result in a steady base of subscribers. <br /><br />I blog about the self-publishing process. Spawned by the realization that I have a bad memory, I use it to keep track of each step so when I repeat the process, I refer to the blog. As I became aware of the incredibly supportive indie author community, I wanted to contribute. My blog now consists of formatting manuals for Smashwords, Kindle, and Nook, a list of fantasy book review blogger sites, sample contracts for cover artwork, helpful twitter links, instructions on sending out review requests, how to garner attention on reader sites and other creative marketing ideas. When I published my second ebook and what will soon to be my third, I find myself constantly referring back to my blog for information, and hope others do too. <br /><br />Of course, it would be a wasted opportunity not to at least mention my books, so I keep the cover art and links in a conspicuous place. I have also found keeping links to blog hops toward the top of the site increases subscribers on my blog as well as my book sales. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>List of things writers "must" take care of while blogging: </b></span> </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span><br />- Be engaging. Give your readers a reason to participate, respond, and react. <br /><br />- Be responsive. If readers take the time to make a comment; take the time to acknowledge them. Even a quick, 'hey – thanks for the comment' will go a long way. <br /><br />- Be available. Include information on how to get in touch with you. Give them a way to contact you via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, etc. <br /><br />- Be helpful. Readers (unless they are completely infatuated with you), don't want to constantly hear about how much coffee you drank to stay awake to finish that chapter or how cute your cat is. They want information they can use – like links to great giveaways, news about the industry or how to resolve all those pesky e-pub error codes (a planned future blog post of mine by the way). <br /><br />- Be entertaining. Visiting your blog shouldn't be a chore, even if your readers are all business. Make it fun for them! <br /><br />So, have you signed up for a blog yet? Remember, pants are not a requirement. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcV1v56_-9o/TwcA3mImLgI/AAAAAAAAAk0/SPM6cyG2Zzc/s1600/Terra+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcV1v56_-9o/TwcA3mImLgI/AAAAAAAAAk0/SPM6cyG2Zzc/s320/Terra+002.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author: </span></b><br /><br />Terra is a debut author with one novel, 'Water', a contemporary eco-fantasy, self-published as an e-book. Its sequel, 'Air', will be published at the beginning of 2012, followed by three more novels to complete the Akasha Series. Terra also currently has one short story, Gleaming White, a vampire paranormal romance, self-published as an e-book. The prequel, Streaks of Red, will be published in November 2011, followed by three more short stories to complete the Kindred Curse Anthology. <br /><br />Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia. Terra has served more than 5 years enlistment in the Marine Corp. She presently runs the language services division of a small business.<br /><div><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><b>Connect with Terra:</b></span> <br /><br />E-mail: <a href="mailto:terra.harmony11@gmail.com">terra.harmony11@gmail.com</a> <br /><br />Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/terraharmony">http://facebook.com/terraharmony</a> <br /><br />Blog: <a href="http://harmonylit.wordpress.com/">http://harmonylit.wordpress.com/</a> <br /><br />Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/harmonygirlit">http://twitter.com/harmonygirlit</a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ly4eZgsQ-JA/TwcBPPp8M9I/AAAAAAAAAk8/Qwv58VNXa6s/s1600/Water+Cover+Image_Final.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ly4eZgsQ-JA/TwcBPPp8M9I/AAAAAAAAAk8/Qwv58VNXa6s/s400/Water+Cover+Image_Final.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Book: </span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta;">WATER: </span></b><br />Elemental powers in the palm of her hand…and it won't be enough to save her. When Kaitlyn Alder is involuntarily introduced to a life of magic, she becomes part of an organization hell-bent on saving the Earth. Just as her newfound life holds promises of purpose, romance and friendship, the organization divides and a rogue member holds Kaitlyn hostage. Now one of the most terrifying men the human race has to offer stands between her and Earth's survival. </div><div><br /><b><span style="color: magenta;">Links to purchase the book:</span></b><br /><br />Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Water-The-Akasha-Series-ebook/dp/B005PY2U8Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317477359&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/Water-The-Akasha-Series-ebook/dp/B005PY2U8Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317477359&sr=8-1</a> <br /><br />Smashwords: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92109">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92109</a> <br /><br />(Please ensure the 'adult filter' at the top right hand corner of the screen is turned off). <br /><br />B&N: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water-terra-wathen/1105957997?ean=2940013322226&itm=1&usri=water%2bterra">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water-terra-wathen/1105957997?ean=2940013322226&itm=1&usri=water%2bterra</a> <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Discussion: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Are you an author (published/struggling/aspiring)? Do you blog? How has it added to your overall writing experience? Do you think you sell more books if you have a wider fan base on your blog? Have your say in the comments section below! </span></b></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-19141619571317808182012-01-03T06:52:00.000-08:002012-01-03T06:52:58.613-08:00And the winners of "Reading a Writer's Mind" are...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg4t5ZCQdX0/TwML1H-Z0kI/AAAAAAAAAjs/upthMVohhNY/s1600/Reading+a+Writer%2527s+Mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg4t5ZCQdX0/TwML1H-Z0kI/AAAAAAAAAjs/upthMVohhNY/s320/Reading+a+Writer%2527s+Mind.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks to all who participated in the discussion about writing and entered this giveaway! </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I loved hearing about your writing adventures. Hope that this book will help you utilise your writing abilities to the fullest. Happy writing in 2012! </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Here are the names of the winners:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1<sup>st</sup> winner: Jodi Aman <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2<sup>nd</sup> winner: Donna McBroom-Theriot<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3<sup>rd</sup> winner: Georgia Gaudette<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4<sup>th</sup> winner: Silvana Velickovska<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5<sup>th</sup> winner: Larissa Hinton<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Congratulations to the lucky fellas!!! </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To claim their prize, all winners must respond to my email in next 72 hours. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stay tuned in for more giveaways coming soon! </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">NOTE: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The winners have been chosen through Random.org. All the winners have been notified through email. Thanks to Linda Acaster for generously providing 5 copies of her book for this giveaway.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-37778174098093863092012-01-01T07:40:00.000-08:002012-01-01T07:40:36.467-08:00Blogging: Embracing New Year with New Aspirations!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAPHLAuYgM0/TwB5Ib2F2VI/AAAAAAAAAiw/QEHOkYQ9ugQ/s1600/blogging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAPHLAuYgM0/TwB5Ib2F2VI/AAAAAAAAAiw/QEHOkYQ9ugQ/s320/blogging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><u><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Blogging in 2011: Retrospection</span></u></div><div><br /></div>When I started blogging in April 2011, I wanted to “read” more books and “reviewing” them was a way to get back into the habit of frequent “reading”, the way I used to do when I was in college (Ahh! Good old times!). I LOVE to read, but after getting married and having quite many ups and downs in my life, I simply could not keep pace with the idea of sitting down quietly for a few hours, having some time of my own and sipping a cup of tea while browsing through the pages of a delicious book. So, the decision to start this blog came as a breath of fresh air! <br /><br />The other idea was to polish my writing skills. If there is one passion I have apart from reading, is “writing”! I have been penning my thoughts down as long as I can remember, it has become my second nature. Some people express themselves better through “speech”, in other words, “talking”. But being an introvert, I prefer communicating through “written words”. I am more comfortable chatting with likeminded people in the virtual world than actually going out and making friends with total strangers who may share the same interests as me. <br /><br />That is where, my blog essentially helped me in finding people who love to “read” and “write”. I know so many new writers now, so many bloggers whom I love to interact with, so many forums and communities which make me feel that I am not the only one who has the same questions on blogging/writing. I would like to especially mention two sites, which I think every writer/blogger should join! <br /><br />1. If you are new to the blogging world, make sure you join this site! <a href="http://bookblogs.ning.com/">http://bookblogs.ning.com/</a> <br /><br />2. If you are an aspiring/struggling/published/unpublished writer, this site offers great help! <a href="http://www.shewrites.com/">http://www.shewrites.com/</a> <br /><br />The day I started this blog, these two sites have become “the most essential” for gaining knowledge of what’s happening in blogosphere and writing industry and they are great to build contacts! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5249427-review">Goodreads</a> is one site which I joined but never actually realized how good it is until a few weeks ago. But in 2012, I am planning to build my <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5249427-review">Goodreads profile</a> by utilizing this forum to the fullest. It is amazing to know what your friends are reading, you can compare books, recommend, post reviews! You do not have to be a blogger to join, anyone who enjoys a good book, can be a part of this amazing community. I am still discovering it, so I may be missing out a few things, but nonetheless it is “good”. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwP0IueTcU0/TwB6zyZs9bI/AAAAAAAAAjI/P3u5SO_BjLw/s1600/I+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwP0IueTcU0/TwB6zyZs9bI/AAAAAAAAAjI/P3u5SO_BjLw/s320/I+blog.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />Okay, so where was I ? Yes! Blogging in 2011! It has been the most exciting, thrilling, mindblowing, incredible venture for me! Even though sometimes, I felt the pressure and thought I may not be able to sustain it for long, but hey! I survived! YAY! :) I have 71 posts and 400 plus followers at the end of the year, pretty good! Nothing makes me more happy than to see an ardent followership and readers building and growing day by day! :)<br /><br />During blogging, I not only read amazing books but also discovered debut and indie authors and I especially loved every bit of interviewing writers/bloggers. I received soooooooooooo many comments on my review/discussion posts, which was simply marvellous! I came to understand the new marketing and publishing trends in the book industry, which was so overwhelming! It is so great to be part of the digital age and see the transition happening! <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><b>I also learned some valuable lessons: </b></span><br /><br />Do not forget the main reason to blog: ENJOY while I do it! If the pressure around is making me unhappy and burdened, then it is just useless to even continue it! It does not matter what everyone else is blogging about, how many challenges they have, or how many reviews they are posting; it is not a race, darling! Yes, I knew this when I started to blog but people forget (sigh!), stupid me! There was a time when I was obsessing over posting as many reviews as I can, reading day and night, without realising that in spite of posting so much, I felt like quitting it! ThankGod, I am over that phase. <br /><br />Having said that, this blog is definitely staying and there will be review posts, but I am not a genie or a nerd who does not have a life besides blogging, so posts will be published as soon as I will get a minute from my personal life: which does include family, friends and chores! <br /><br />When my parents came to meet me all the way from Pakistan (after 4 years!), I was ecstatic, but at the same time, I was worried as to how I will continue blogging. I kept on posting, but could not keep up with my routine schedule. They went back in November and by that time, I was way behind, had my inbox overflowing with e-mails from authors. Now, I realise I should have posted about my being busy and the actual reason, in that way, my readers would have known why I was not posting as usual, instead of wondering about it. Okay, that’s another lesson learnt! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdJUcvwL5NE/TwB7QtX5ygI/AAAAAAAAAjU/BnrxWkIlITU/s1600/Blog-writing-project+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdJUcvwL5NE/TwB7QtX5ygI/AAAAAAAAAjU/BnrxWkIlITU/s320/Blog-writing-project+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><u><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Blogging in 2012: Aspirations</b></span></u><br /><div><br />Moving on to embracing the New Year with New aspirations: <br /><br />1- Read more books. <br /><br />2- Go to local library more often and discover new reading/writing groups/ workshops <br /><br />3- Organize posts in advance <br /><br />4- More emphasis on social networking sites, such as <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/thereviewgirl">Twitter,</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/review.girl/">Facebook</a> to spread a work about my blog. <br /><br />5- “Do” more from my enormous To-Do-Lists (Yes, It’s plural! I have got dozens of them!) <br /><br />6- Stop procrastinating and start my pending writing project. (It’s time!) Maybe open another blog for this purpose alone (Phew! the final nudge/motivation to get me going). <br /><br />7- Join more writing forums/sites to find friends with whom I can interact/share/discuss my work on one-on-one basis. If any beta readers (chick lit, short story, memoir) are reading this, do contact me <a href="mailto:mediajerks@yahoo.com">here</a>. <br /><br />8- Give time to family and friends. They keep complaining that I have ignored them since I started this blog…oops! Well, in my defense, blogging is not just posting, it also means checking and replying to dozens of emails daily, scheduling future posts, reading books, posting on different forums (like every day) about my latest posts (which I think takes most of the time!) to increase traffic. Not to mention, read other blogs, reviews, articles on writing and the list is endless! Phew! And it’s not like I am getting paid to do all this! (now that is what makes my folks more furious! *frowns*) <br /><br />9- Stop the habit of getting “distracted” so easily. Hee hee! Now, that is more like a syndrome in my case, which eventually I think I WILL learn how “Not-to-get-distracted”, one day… somehow… hopefully (I am positive!) Maybe there is a book or something which can help me with that. *wink* <br /><br />10- Do more eclectic posts and discussions to interact more with my readers/followers. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year to all of you! </span></b></div><span style="color: magenta;"><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy reading/blogging/writing in 2012! </span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-weight: bold;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">May this year bring the best for all of us and may our dreams and aspirations come true! Cheers! </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtXBc-FVHtY/TwB9jSXzU-I/AAAAAAAAAjg/Z_MPfXS1iTA/s1600/New-Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtXBc-FVHtY/TwB9jSXzU-I/AAAAAAAAAjg/Z_MPfXS1iTA/s400/New-Year.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: 800;"><br /></span></div></span></span><u></u><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><u><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Do you have a blog? What are your plans for this year on blogging/writing/life in general? </span></b></u></u></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Are some of your aspirations, same as mine? Share with me through comments section below! </span></b></u></div><br /></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-62854738172081710502011-12-26T10:13:00.000-08:002011-12-26T10:13:24.630-08:00Christmas Special: Book Review: It Started With A Kiss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ncp7CCA3bws/TvitxPi_GXI/AAAAAAAAAiY/F7HurGmVFQ0/s1600/bestshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ncp7CCA3bws/TvitxPi_GXI/AAAAAAAAAiY/F7HurGmVFQ0/s400/bestshot.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My gorgeous copy - on my bed-side table!</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Book: It Started With A Kiss </span></b></div><b></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Genre: Chick Lit / Romantic Comedy/ Contemporary Fiction </span></span></b></div><span style="color: magenta;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Author: Miranda Dickinson </span></span></b></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: magenta;">Cover Critique:</span> </span></b><br /><br />The cover looks fabulous, definitely one of my favourite covers of this year! With little twinkling stars on the pink and white background, the packaging has a magical feel to it, just like the story inside! I LOVE it! <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Book Blurb: </span></b><br /><br />From the author that gave you the Sunday Times top 10 selling title, “Fairytale of New York”, join our heroine Romily as she discovers how far she will go to find the man of her dreams. <br /><br />As the singer in a wedding band, Romily Parker has seen her fair share of happy endings, even though her own love life isn't quite as simple. <br /><br />On the last Saturday before Christmas, (shortly after disastrously declaring her love for best friend Charlie), Romily has a brief encounter with a handsome stranger whose heart-stopping kiss changes everything. <br /><br />Determined to find him again, Romily embarks on a yearlong quest, helped (and sometimes hindered) by enthusiastic Uncle Dudley, cake-making Auntie Mags and flamboyant Wren. Will she find the man of her dreams? Or could true love be closer than she thinks? <br /><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Review: </span></b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">While browsing for books to read in the wintry Christmas time, I saw this book in WHSmith, as the pretty cover and the title grabbed my attention, I picked it up to get a glance of what’s inside. There and then, ignoring the other shopkeepers looking at me, I found myself totally enveloped by the story as I read the first two chapters standing in front of the book shelf. Unfortunately, it was closing time and I could not get to the billing queue. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">Anyways, I came home and desperate to read the rest, ordered it from Amazon. The moment it came, I curled up with the book and finished it in one sitting! Before you hear my final verdict, let me give you a glimpse of how it begins</span>. <br /><br /><span style="color: red;">The story starts with Romily confessing love to her long time best friend, Charlie. To the heroine’s dismay, the guy does not take it the way she thought he would, when he tells her that he does not feel the same way. Feeling utterly embarrassed and humiliated, she runs away from him. While riding on this emotional “high tide”, she bumps into a Christmas Stall in the market area. </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;">But something wonderful just happens; a mysterious passer-by (who happens to be a very handsome looking fella!) ends up kissing her in the next few moments. Shocked and surprised by this sudden acknowledgement of her “beauty” by a stranger, Romily finds herself “clean-bowled” by that guy’s charm! (Yes, we are talking about the same girl who had strong feelings for another guy only a few minutes ago! Strange, right?) But as they say, “love is blind”. So let’s not be so judgemental here and cut her some slack! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">The book has got a superb storyline and I think that there could not have been a better beginning than the way Miranda (the author) wrote it. Her witty overtures and interesting narrative is brilliant! It made me want to know what will happen next? Will she long for Charlie or will she keep on going in her quest to find that “phantom kisser”? </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;">The author throws in the rest of the cast to help Romily in her search for the “mystery man”. It includes her BFF, Wren, her Uncle Dudley and Aunt Mags, and the rest of her wedding band members, Jack, Tom and Soph. </span><br /><br /><b>I especially loved the character of Wren. She is always supportive, caring, makes fast decisions and most of all, cracked me up with her jokes and one-liners! She is like a “genie” from a bottle who knows how to get things done and solve problems. The author beautifully highlighted the importance of having great friends through Wren’s character. </b><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">All the supporting characters are well-sketched and brilliantly portrayed by the author. While I enjoyed the gigs and events by the band, “The Pinstripes”, I think that they covered a lot more space in the book than was required as they did not do much to progress the story. Some events were not of any significance to the main plot. The middle of the book could have benefited with some editing to save it from getting repetitive. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Other than that, I liked the idea of using blog posts, facebooking and getting an article published about her hunt, to give the story a modern and fresh approach. My favorite part in the book would be when Romily places an ad and a crazy guy named “Sebastian” responds. The situation gets so funny when he turns up at the meeting place and tries to convince her that he is the same guy she is looking for. </span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;">The ending took me by surprise and was a perfect way to finish the story. Overall, an enjoyable read for Christmas. Though, the book can be read any time of the year as it does not carry the theme of Christmas throughout the story. But nonetheless, it has lots of romance, comedy and magical moments to keep you entertained. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. If you loved movies like <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Serendipity-DVD/dp/B004UGANCU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324919110&sr=8-1">“While you were sleeping”</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Serendipity-DVD/dp/B004UGANCU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324919110&sr=8-1">“Serendipity”,</a> then you will definitely love this book! </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Review Girl Rating: 9/10 </span></b><br /><br />To buy this book on Amazon, <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Started-Kiss-Miranda-Dickinson/dp/1847561675/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324914034&sr=1-2">click here</a>. </span></b><br /><br />To know about the author, visit Miranda's website <a href="http://www.miranda-dickinson.com/">here.</a> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Hope you enjoyed my "Christmas Special" book review. Please leave your comments to let me know which books you are loving this Christmas and which ones are on your "to-read" list for 2012.</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>To read my previous "Christmas Special" book review, <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-special-book-review-night.html" target="_blank">click here. </a></b></span></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">To take part in the third installment of "Holiday Season Giveaways", <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-special-author-interview.html" target="_blank">click here.</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Holidays everyone! </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpcfLKrqM94/Tvi4uqM2mjI/AAAAAAAAAik/wWw4RS23WqY/s1600/ice+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpcfLKrqM94/Tvi4uqM2mjI/AAAAAAAAAik/wWw4RS23WqY/s320/ice+tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-89997807937883240552011-12-22T08:52:00.000-08:002011-12-22T08:52:33.441-08:00Christmas Special: Author Interview & Giveaway with Linda Acaster<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VyEBJFpewBY/TvJEAlLn5ZI/AAAAAAAAAhc/iQxV3LyTsDI/s1600/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VyEBJFpewBY/TvJEAlLn5ZI/AAAAAAAAAhc/iQxV3LyTsDI/s400/Be+my+guest+current+banner.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">It is my honour to introduce special guest, Linda Acaster on <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/">“The Review Girl”.</a> She is not an amateur player but a veteran in the writing industry with more more than 70 short stories published in print as well as many stand-alone novels in not one, but many different genres. Not only this, she has also written a guide book for aspiring writers, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L4KY4W">“Reading a Writer’s Mind”.</a> Today, she is here to tell us why she felt the need to write a helping book for beginners and how has been the journey of writing so far. So let’s welcome her! </span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.librarything.com/picsizes/d4/75/d4758ced585892663764e6841674331414f6744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://pics.librarything.com/picsizes/d4/75/d4758ced585892663764e6841674331414f6744.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Tell us about yourself.</span><br />I live on the Yorkshire coast, five minutes from the beach. I'm interested in how beliefs emanating from Dark Age history and beyond permeate modern lives without us realising. I write in a number of genres, and generally find odd bits of information fascinating. Sounds boring, but I think it's a writer's job to turn the dusty ore into a sparkling gem. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Why did you think of becoming a writer? Did some person or incident in life inspire you? Or you thought you had the germs to be a writer?</span> <br /><br />I'm not sure why, but it was while in secondary education that I realised I had a knack with words. Composition I found easy and I thought that was normal, until it became obvious that I was writing reams while others were struggling to fill half a page. Perhaps it was because I led a mundane, and fairly timid, early childhood and enjoyed living through my imagination. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: What books (fiction) have you published so far and what are they about (name of book and brief synopsis)? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />I had two Historicals print published some years ago, now reissued as ebooks: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beneath-The-Shining-Mountains-ebook/dp/B003VTZZNO/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_6">'Beneath The Shining Mountains'</a> has a Native American setting, 1830s among the Apsaroke/Crow on the northern plains. I used to be a re-enactor, and we lived in a tipi for holidays with a group of other mad... er, like-minded people. I found the hands-on experience with replica tools, etc, really informed the book-reading research, and thus my writing. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hostage-of-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B003MNH4BA/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4">'Hostage of the Heart'</a> is a sweet Mediaeval romantic suspense set on the English/Welsh borders in 1066 when the balance of power is upset by the northern invasion of Norse. It explores the lot of battle hostages. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theindiespotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Torc-Moonlight-SE-2x3ins-100dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.theindiespotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Torc-Moonlight-SE-2x3ins-100dpi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Torc-Moonlight-Linda-Acaster/dp/1906558752/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1">'Torc of Moonlight'</a> is my latest, the first in the Celtic Goddess trilogy of supernatural thrillers set in university cities close to the North York Moors. Ever thrown coins into a wishing well? So who are you expecting to answer? It's a rite over 3,000 years old, supposedly suppressed by Christianity – an All Saint's church is a good indication of an early site – and is tied into what we now call Halloween. This book is set in Hull and available in paperback and as an e-book. <br /><br />The second book, 'The Bull At The Gate', which I'm working on at the moment, is set in York, and explores a different historical thread under the umbrella of 'states of reality'. What can I say? I like to make life difficult for myself. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PUbW2MdpoPw/TTCYhW7SfHI/AAAAAAAABYU/iLdVzVdM30M/s1600/Cont+Mankind+%2526+others+2x3+100dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PUbW2MdpoPw/TTCYhW7SfHI/AAAAAAAABYU/iLdVzVdM30M/s1600/Cont+Mankind+%2526+others+2x3+100dpi.jpg" /></a></div><br />There is also a Western kicking about that I'm trying to get the rights reverted, and I have produced a collection of short speculative fiction as an ebook <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Contribution-Mankind-other-stories-ebook/dp/B004FGLOJQ/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_7">'Contribution to Mankind and other stories of the Dark'</a>, as well as having 70+ short stories print published in genres as disparate as Horror, Romance, Fantasy and Literary. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: You have written books in so many different genres which is commendable. It is not impossible but certainly a difficult task to shift your state of mind from one genre to another, so how do you manage to do justice to each genre?</span> <br /><br />I immerse myself in the time period, the backgrounds, and the people. The people are important. I don't write “about” them. I'm a Show writer, and I spend a lot of time planning my characters prior to starting a novel. If I'm writing in multi-viewpoint, which I usually do, having chosen a viewpoint character for a scene I become that character and then write. Think of it akin to being in a virtual reality suit. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: If you could be one character from your books, who would you choose to be and why? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />LOL. None. To put it in context, when I was at the Jorvik Viking week at York I was handling replica weapons to test for weight (research) and a starry-eyed visitor beside me was wishing to go back in time to witness the Battle of Fulford Gate (1066, Norse won) “not to be a part of it, just to witness it”. So speaks someone who has done very little research about the life and times, nor can read the implications behind current television news reports. I'm grateful for hot & cold running water, knowing where my next meal is coming from, and feeling safe sleeping in my bed. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Where do you get ideas for your stories and characters? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />Short answer: everywhere. <br /><br />Long answer: writers train themselves to be alert for snippets of information on all topics relevant to their interests, and surrounding those interests. It's rarely one snippet that fires an idea, more likely to be two or three, often with no previous links, that converge. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.craigrobertdouglas.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RWMind_final_big_2x3_100dpi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.craigrobertdouglas.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RWMind_final_big_2x3_100dpi1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Now coming to your non-fiction book, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L4KY4W">“Reading A Writer’s Mind”</a><span style="color: magenta;">, how did the idea to write a helpful guide for aspiring writers come to you? Tell us about its varied content.</span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />When I was a beginner I was forever told to 'read the greats', which I found to be as much use as limp lettuce. How could I understand how 'the greats' produced their fiction if all I could see was the finished whole? It's rather like being shown a shiny Formula 1 racing car and being told to go away and build one. At the very least you need blue-prints. I found that writing manuals tended to list tools, but didn't explain how to use them. I've since taught Adult Education classes, tutored for a distance learning college, and am a reader for a London literary consultancy, and have found that beginners still fall foul of the problems I did at that early stage, hence the book. <br /><br />By taking ten of my own stories from different genres I can highlight the tools and techniques used in bringing each from initial idea to fruition for a particular market. I discuss my mindset and the decisions made, and the reader has the story there in its polished form so it can be dissected. Having elements of fiction-writing explained this way allows readers to reproduce the thinking within in their fiction because of the 'why' as well as the 'what'. The book is gaining good reviews, and I've already had people write to me about how it has helped them understand their own fiction, so I'm pleased I took the time out to put it together. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Since you have written both fiction and non-fiction, which “form” you enjoyed the most? What “tools” do you think are indispensable for both forms of creative writing? </span><br /><br />Whichever one I'm working on at the time. It's a matter of being focused. You aren't going to produce good work if your mind is longing for something else. Good fiction, and non-fiction for that matter, works best if it is not pushed down readers' throats as a one size fits all standard. Reading is a two way process. The reader has to be allowed room to bring something to the work; in non-fiction it is <span style="color: blue;">“understanding”</span>, in fiction it is <span style="color: blue;">“imagination”. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Are you planning to write more non-fiction books or helping guides like <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L4KY4W">“Reading A Writer’s Mind”?</a> </span><br /><br />Probably. If I do it'll be on building characters, which lets down a lot of work-in-progress I read and leads to stereotyping or a story being played out in a vacuum. I discuss it 'Reading A Writer's Mind' but didn't have enough space to go into it in depth there. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: How much time did it take for you to complete one book? What was your routine for writing? </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />The non-fiction took near enough six months, the novels take about a year each. I'm not a fast writer and life impinges. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time for some fun questions: </span></span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Share with us your favourite childhood memory. </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />Paddling a canoe on Peasholm Park lake, Scarborough, in twilight. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Tell us about the craziest thing you ever did in your life. </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />Flew to Iceland to stand on the lip of a semi-dormant volcano. The landscape there is like Scotland with attitude. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Oh my! That is crazy! How do you relax when you have free time? </span><br /><br />I sit in our garden in summer among the trees and bird-life. In winter it is relaxing with a DVD. I enjoy walking the landscape, any landscape, looking for the history pressing up from a few centimetres beneath the surface. It is the one that truly revitalises my writing senses. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Complete these sentences: </span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br />·<span style="color: magenta;"> Love is...</span>give and take. <br /><br />·<span style="color: magenta;"> Life is... </span>making the most of the hand that's dealt you. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">· Writing is...</span>hard work, but spiritually rewarding. <br /><br />·<span style="color: magenta;"> E- books are...</span>the best thing since sliced bread. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">· Book Blogs are...</span>a fantastic way for readers and writers to interact. Gone are the days when gatekeepers told us what to write and what to read. <br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">RG: Thank you for such a delightful interview. It was a great pleasure having you on my blog. Wish you have a wonderful Christmas! :-)</span><br /><br />Thanks for inviting me. Really enjoyed it. Merry Christmas to you too!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XhKjkD-uVqY/S7Cl1jv7jnI/AAAAAAAAAHY/MyWsIoV57Dg/s320/Linda+Acaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XhKjkD-uVqY/S7Cl1jv7jnI/AAAAAAAAAHY/MyWsIoV57Dg/s200/Linda+Acaster.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><b style="font-size: x-large;">About the Author:</b><br /><br />Linda Acaster’s published work includes four historical novels, and over seventy short stories in genres as diverse as women’s, horror, crime, fantasy and SF, published in magazines in the UK, US and Europe. She has also written travel features and opinion pieces for the UK press, and an abundance of articles on the techniques of writing fiction.<br /><br />A past tutor for the Arvon Foundation, she has led workshops and spoken at writers’ conferences across the north of England. She spent six years on the reading panel for the New Writers’ Scheme administered by the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and two years as the co-ordinator of its Northern Chapter. She is a member of the Society of Authors. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Stalk the author or purchase any of her books, by following the links given below: </span><br /><br />Website: <a href="http://www.lindaacaster.co.uk/">http://www.lindaacaster.co.uk</a><br /><br />Blog: <a href="http://lindaacaster.blogspot.com/">http://lindaacaster.blogspot.com</a> <br /><br />Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/lindaacaster">http://twitter.com/#!/lindaacaster</a> <br /><br />She can also be reached on Facebook & Goodreads! <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Book Links: </span><br /><br />Amazon UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linda-Acaster/e/B002TNCOQE">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linda-Acaster/e/B002TNCOQE</a> <br /><br />Amazon US: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/344c7j5">http://tinyurl.com/344c7j5</a> <br /><br />For I-Pad, Sony, Nook, etc: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lindaacaster">http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lindaacaster</a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: magenta; color: blue; font-size: large;">HOLIDAY SEASON GIVEAWAY – PART 3 </span></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></span><br /><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: magenta; color: blue; font-size: large;">International </span></b></span></b></span></div></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: magenta; color: blue; font-size: large;">Open till 1st Jan 2012</span></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: magenta; color: blue; font-size: large;">Book: Reading a Writer's Mind</span></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: magenta; color: blue; font-size: large;">5 winners to be chosen!</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reading-Writers-Mind-Exploring-ebook/dp/B005L4KY4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324571528&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51D1a6yz3AL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-46,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: magenta;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: magenta;">Book Blurb: </i></div><i><span style="color: magenta;">“Reading A Writer’s Mind” shows the detailed thinking behind the writing of ten stories across a range of genres and using different modes of delivery. From the initial idea, through the story itself, to a commentary explaining the decisions made during the writing, this book offers a unique insight into one writer’s creative process, laying a path to follow and showing the tools to use.</span></i><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, it’s time for the Christmas Special Giveaway! I am so excited to announce that Linda is offering FIVE (Yes! You heard that right, 5!) copies of her book, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L4KY4W">“Reading a Writer’s Mind”</a> to my wonderful readers. So, do not miss this golden opportunity and enter this giveaway right now! Make sure you tell your writer friends about it, so they can also participate and get a chance to be one of the FIVE (5) very lucky winners! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To enter, follow these these really simple steps to enter this awesome giveaway:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1- Leave a genuine comment on this post. You can discuss, share your own experience or ask a question related to the writing process. If you are a writer, feel free to linkback to your blog/website. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2- Follow me on GFC (Google Friend Connect) and write your GFC name. (If GFC follow button is not showing, you can follow me on NB = Networked Blogs. In that case, provide your NB name.) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3- Follow me on Twitter by <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/thereviewgirl">clicking here.</a> (You need to be logged in to Twitter to do this.) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4- Follow my blog’s Facebook group by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/197804086925914/?ap=1">clicking here.</a> (You need to be signed in to Facebook to follow this group). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5- Please provide your valid e-mail address (so I can notify you if you are one of the lucky winners!)</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Example:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My comment:…………<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">GFC Name: <a href="http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Review Girl</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Twitter Name: @thereviewgirl<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Facebook Name: Komz Reviews<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">E-mail : <a href="mailto:mediajerks@yahoo.com"><span style="color: magenta;">mediajerks@yahoo.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sharing is caring!<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Spreading a word about this giveaway through tweets and by sharing on your facebook wall/pages/forums/groups, will be highly appreciated. By sharing, you help me bring you more such giveaways in future. I thank you in advance for supporting my blog. Before signing off, I would like to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas! xxx<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></u></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Note: All these rules given above are <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">REQUIRED</span> to enter this giveaway, otherwise your entry will not be counted. Only genuine comments will be published and counted. One entry per person.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold'; font-size: 10pt;">This giveaway is international. Five (5) winners will be chosen through Random.org. They will be notified through email from “The Review Girl”. <o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Good Luck everyone! </span></b></div></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-43031195581207811022011-12-19T06:43:00.000-08:002011-12-19T06:43:05.464-08:00And the winners of "Holiday Season Giveaway -Part 2" are...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPF89Sylg1U/Tu9Muzvp-II/AAAAAAAAAgg/_3uVMR_UxfI/s1600/tosol_200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPF89Sylg1U/Tu9Muzvp-II/AAAAAAAAAgg/_3uVMR_UxfI/s1600/tosol_200.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">And the winners of "The Other Side of Life" are...</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">- GFC names -</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1<sup>st</sup> winner: pocketfullofbooks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2<sup>nd</sup> winner: Bonnie at Bookish Ardour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3<sup>rd</sup> winner: Shalet Jimmy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Congratulations to the lucky fellas!!! </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qTLbRfW-xQE/Tu9MK9AIymI/AAAAAAAAAgY/mcN1t60FkTI/s1600/congratulation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qTLbRfW-xQE/Tu9MK9AIymI/AAAAAAAAAgY/mcN1t60FkTI/s320/congratulation.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks to all who participated in this giveaway and made it a success! </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To claim their <span style="color: magenta;">prize</span>, all winners must respond to my email in next 48 hours. Otherwise, alternate winners will be chosen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those who did not win this time, do not feel disappointed because “Holiday Special Giveaways” is still going on! So, stay tuned in! </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana;">NOTE: The winners have been chosen through Random.org. All the winners have been notified through email. <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-890845277371044884.post-39730561061815566332011-12-16T12:43:00.000-08:002011-12-16T12:43:56.380-08:00Christmas Special: Book Review: The Night Before Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FFbnj58xFVY/TuuneZb2YqI/AAAAAAAAAf4/e_GKw5m1w2o/s1600/best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FFbnj58xFVY/TuuneZb2YqI/AAAAAAAAAf4/e_GKw5m1w2o/s400/best.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Book: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Before-Christmas-Scarlett-Bailey/dp/0091943388" target="_blank">The Night Before Christmas</a> </span></b></div><b></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Genre: Chick Lit / Romantic Comedy/ Contemporary Fiction </span></b></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Author: <span style="color: magenta;">Scarlett Bailey</span> </span></b></span></b></div><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Cover Critique:</span></b> <br /><br />Oh! I love the fuchsia coloured glittering Christmas tree on the cover! So festive, so attractive and visually delightful! I was browsing for Christmas books on Amazon and I just couldn’t resist such a pretty looking book which promised a Christmas setting. It was as if it was calling out to me, buy me! And I instantly did! Feast your eyes on <span style="color: magenta;">my gorgeous copy</span> shown above with <span style="color: magenta;">my pink netbook</span>, cute...right? *smiles*<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Book Blurb: </span></b><br /><br />"All Lydia's ever wanted is a perfect Christmas... <br /><br />So when her oldest friends invite her to spend the holidays with them, it seems like a dream come true. She's been promised log fires, roasted chestnuts, her own weight in mince pies - all in a setting that looks like something out of a Christmas card.<br /><div><br /></div><div>But her winter wonderland is ruined when she finds herself snowed in with her current boyfriend, her old flame and a hunky stranger. Well, three (wise) men is traditional at this time of year..." <br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Review: </span></b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">As soon as the book reached my doorstep, I was too eager to read it so I made myself cosy on the sofa by the fireside, with a hot cuppa tea and tugged into it. The book drew me straight in with its perfect opening.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">In prologue, Lydia Grant finds the engagement ring in her boyfriend’s sock drawer, surprised and excited as she gets, it also becomes a question for her to decide whether she is actually in love with her present boyfriend Stephen or just fiddling around with the idea of “love” as shown in her favourite Hollywood romances. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">We come to know that Lydia longs for the perfect Christmas, but unfortunately, she has never experienced it because of growing up in a blended family where nothing was ever close to perfect. This Christmas, she is invited by her closest friend, Katy (who runs a B&B) along with Lydia’s other BFFs Joanna and Alex to have some good time together though her current boyfriend does not really like the very idea of it. He wants to spend this Christmas alone with her, to surprise her with his proposal but it seems that Lydia wants to avoid it until she finds the right answer to it. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">As they reach Katy’s guest house, Lydia feels that this is going to be her best Christmas as they are welcomed by the cosy decor of the hotel and the most spectacular Lakeview room but that feeling does not stay for long! She is soon greeted by her previous lover, Jake, with whom she had a heated romance until he disappeared one day in thin air. Guess what? He is dating her best friend Joanna but that is not all. To make things worse, enters Will, a handyman who is as inviting and delicious as "the mince pie"! Read the book to find out will Lydia get her “happy ever after” and a perfect Christmas or not. </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The book is a wonderful surprise package from Scarlett as this is her first novel. With Christmas setting and theme, which runs throughout the story, I think Scarlett has created an unusual Christmas recipe (I mean book), blended beautifully with the wide array of supporting cast which also includes three tempting men and irresistible kissing scenes (which are a lot!). It is like a fiery hot romantic treat on a cold winter night! </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">I particularly liked the character of Lydia, because she is not a typical chick lit heroine – all nice and sweet. She is immature and superficial, who behaves like slut at times, but she is trying to find her inner self and learning about priorities in life, career and relationships. I also liked the character of Jake, whose image changes from being the mysterious and sexy playboy to the ideal marriage material. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The author has created well-rounded, believable characters with flaws and pitfalls that grow and mature with the development of the story. The story itself kept me engrossed and turning pages. I was not only curious to know who Lydia will end up with but also the fate of Stephen and Jake. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">From beginning till the end, the advancement of the story is fast-paced and flows smoothly from one scene to another leading to a pleasing climax resolution. I loved author’s writing style using crisp dialogues to create sexual tension and enhanced descriptions for visual imagery. Well done Scarlett for a remarkable debut! </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: red;">If you like books with Chrismassy feel, then grab this book for sure! Along with high dosage of sizzling romance, this book has all the ingredients to turn into a Hollywood blockbuster! Highly recommended! </span><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Review Girl Rating: 10/10 </span></b><br /><br />To buy this book on Amazon, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Before-Christmas-Scarlett-Bailey/dp/0091943388/ref=tmm_pap_title_0">click here.</a> </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;"><u>Hope you enjoyed my "Christmas Special" book review. </u></span><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><u>This is one of my favourite Christmas reads, which one is yours?</u></span></div></div>Komznoreply@blogger.com7