Author Exposure

LIVE on CTB Radio: Laurel Saville discusses "Postmortem"

2010-03-09T09:56:00.000-05:00

Catch Laurel Saville tonight at 8:30 pm/Eastern as she discusses her memoir, Postmortem. You can call into the show at 718-506-1633 to comment or ask a question.

www.blogtalkradio.com/catch-that-book

We are piloting a new date and time with CTB Radio and I would love to have you join us. Can't make it? Catch it on ITunes or become a member of Catch That Book Radio Network! New Books, New Music and Great Conversation!

About the Author

Laurel Saville’s fiction, essays, and articles have appeared in The Bennington Review, House Beautiful, Room, and many other publications. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from the Bennington Writing Seminars. She lives and writes in the Mohawk River Valley of upstate New York. To learn more about Laurel and her book, please visit http://www.laurelsaville.com/.

About The Book

Postmortem takes the reader on an emotionally charged journey that ranges from Saville's eccentric West Hollywood childhood, to a top-secret, Depression-era airplane design. Whether describing the artists of the seminal Sunset Strip gallery where Andy Warhol got his start or the hippie parties at the legendary Barney's Beanery, Saville's distinctive prose lends insight into the events and emotions that surrounded the life and death of stunning Anne Ford. This candid exploration of one woman's life and death ends up exposing unexpected truths about both mother and daughter and unscrambling the many webs that entangled Ford's exceptional life

Book Giveaway: "Try Darkness" by James Scott Bell

2010-03-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

************2 COPIES AVAILABLE***************

Ty Buchanan is living on the peaceful grounds of St. Monica's, far away from the glamorous life he led as a rising trial lawyer for a big L.A. firm. Recovering from the death of his fiancée and a false accusation of murder, Buchanan has found his previous ambitions unrewarding.

Now he prefers offering legal services to the poor and the under-represented, from his "office" at local coffee bar The Freudian Sip. A mysterious woman with a six year old daughter comes to him for help. She's being illegally evicted from a downtown transient hotel, an interest represented by his old law firm and former best friend, Al Bradshaw. Buchanan won't back down. He's going to fight for the woman's rights.

But then she ends up dead, and the case moves from the courtroom to the streets. Determined to find the killer and protect the little girl, who has no last name and no other family, Buchanan finds he must depend on skills he never needed in the employ of a civil law firm.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

1. Be an Author Exposure fan, subscriber or follower

2. Leave your email address just in case you win and tell a friend.

NOTE: This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. The publisher does not ship to PO Boxes. The giveaway expires on March 20th @ midnight.

Sunday Synopsis: "Long for This World" by Sonya Chung

2010-03-07T07:45:00.000-05:00

Sonya Chung's astonishing first novel tells the story of a family divided between contemporary America and a small Korean town. Long for This World is about loss and renewal and what it means to go home.

In 1953, on a remote island in South Korea, a young boy stows away on the ferry that is carrying his older brother and sister-in-law to the mainland. Fifty-two years later, Han Hyun-kyu is on a plane back to Korea, leaving behind his wife and grown children in America. It is his daughter, Jane -- a war photographer recently injured in a bombing in Baghdad and forced to return to New York -- who journeys to find him in the South Korean town where his brothers have settled. Here, father and daughter take refuge from their demons, unearth passions, and, in the wake of tragedy, each discover something deeper and more enduring than they'd imagined possible.

Long for This World is a pointillist triumph -- depicting whole worlds through the details of a carefully prepared meal or a dark childhood memory. But Chung is also working on a massive scale, effortlessly moving between domestic intimacies and the global stage -- Iraq, Paris, Darfur, Syria -- to illuminate the relationship between troubled world affairs and personal devastation. The result is a profound portrayal of the human experience -- both large and small. Long for This World establishes Sonya Chung as a thrilling new voice in fiction.

Belong to a book club?

There is a reading guide for Long for This World which includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. These ideas should enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.

______________________________________________________________
"Sunday Synopsis" is a new feature for 2010. Every Sunday, we will post the synopsis of an upcoming book that we think deserves your attention. Think of it as a mini e-paper. It'll be there in the morning when you wake up for your coffee.

Book Giveaway: "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks

2010-03-06T22:50:00.000-05:00

Hachette Book Group is celebrating this upcoming movie with a book giveaway.

2 copies available

Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. Take a peek at the reading group guide

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

1. Be an Author Exposure fan, subscriber or follower

2. Name one other Nicholas Sparks book that has been turned into a movie.

3. Leave your email address just in case you win and tell a friend.

NOTE: This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. The publisher does not ship to PO Boxes. The giveaway expires on March 15th @ midnight.

Book Clubbers Grab Your Free Passes - "Our Family Wedding"

2010-03-05T07:00:00.006-05:00

Fox Searchlight whose latest film, OUR FAMILY WEDDING, starring a hilarious all-star cast including Carlos Mencia, America Ferrera, Forest Whitaker, Regina King & Lance Gross, opens nationwide on Friday, March 12th!

If you are in or around Atlanta, please join us for this complimentary screening of the film on Thursday, March 11, at 7:30PM at Regal Atlantic Station in Atlanta.

Here's the movie trailer!

Each person will be allowed to print out a maximum of two passes. Feel free to pass along this information to your peers, family, friends or anyone you believe would enjoy the film.

MOVIE SCREENING DETAILS

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Thursday, March 11 at 7:30pm

Regal Atlantic Station

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TO DOWNLOAD A SCREENING PASS

==============================

1) Go to http://www.gofobo.com/rsvp (or if you have a Gofobo account: http://bit.ly/OFWAtlanta)

2) Enter RSVP Code: CAKE01ZP

3) Print pass and attend screening.

*Please note - Remember to arrive early as screenings are always overbooked to ensure a full theater. Seating is first come-first served, and is not guaranteed.

Southern Indie Bestsellers List (Hardcovers) as of Feb. 21 2010

2010-03-04T07:30:00.000-05:00

Every now and then I check this list, just to see if I'm missing anything. Proudly, there are quite a number of debut or emerging authors on here. Some have either been featured on here or will be in upcoming months. Some have already been featured on Daily Debut (AE's Facebook Page).

This list is only determined by sales made from the independent booksellers in the southern states. To find if you're favorite southern indie bookseller reports to this list, click here

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. The Help
   Kathryn Stockett, Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, $24.95, 9780399155345
2. The Girl Who Played With Fire
   Stieg Larsson, Knopf, $25.95, 9780307269980
3. The Postmistress
   Sarah Blake, Amy Einhorn Books, $25.95, 9780399156199
4. The Swan Thieves
   Elizabeth Kostova, Little Brown, $26.99, 9780316065788
5. The Man From Beijing
   Henning Mankell, Knopf, $25.95, 9780307271860
6. The Lacuna
   Barbara Kingsolver, Harper, $26.99, 9780060852573
7. Half Broke Horses
   Jeannette Walls, Scribner, $26, 9781416586289
8. Bloodroot
   Amy Greene, Knopf, $24.95, 9780307269867
9. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
   Beth Hoffman, Viking, $25.95, 9780670021390
10. Worst Case
   James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge, Little Brown, $27.99, 9780316036221
11. South of Broad
   Pat Conroy, Nan A. Talese, $29.95, 9780385413053
12. Kisser
   Stuart Woods, Putnam, $25.95, 9780399156113
13. The Lost Symbol
   Dan Brown, Doubleday, $29.95, 9780385504225
14. Roses
   Leila Meacham, Grand Central, $24.99, 9780446550000
15. Brava, Valentine
   Adriana Trigiani, Harper, $25.99, 9780061257070

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. Game Change
   John Heilemann, Mark Halperin, Harper, $27.99, 9780061733635
2. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
   Rebecca Skloot, Crown, $26, 9781400052172
3. Staying True
   Jenny Sanford, Ballantine, $25, 9780345522399
4. The Politician
   Andrew Young, Thomas Dunne, $24.99, 9780312640651
5. Committed
   Elizabeth Gilbert, Viking, $26.95, 9780670021659
6. On the Brink
   Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Business Plus, $28.99, 9780446561938
7. The Happiness Project
   Gretchen Craft Rubin, Harper, $25.99, 9780061583254
8. Outliers
   Malcolm Gladwell, Little Brown, $27.99, 9780316017923
9. Drive
   Daniel H. Pink, Riverhead, $26.95, 9781594488849
10. Stones Into Schools
   Greg Mortenson, Viking, $26.95, 9780670021154
11. Have a Little Faith
   Mitch Albom, Hyperion, $23.99, 9780786868728
12. Just Kids
   Patti Smith, Ecco, $27, 9780066211312
13. Making Toast
   Roger Rosenblatt, Ecco, $21.99, 9780061825934
14. I Am an Emotional Creature
   Eve Ensler, Villard, $20, 9781400061044
15. The Death of American Virtue
   Ken Gormley, Crown, $35, 9780307409447

Live on CTB RADIO! Comedian and Author Katie Love talks Cubicide

2010-03-03T07:00:00.081-05:00

Catch Katie Love - TODAY - March 3rd @ 12:30 p.m. EST when she chats it up with fun and laughter about her new book, Cubicide.

Click on Catch That Book Radio and join the discussion. You can call-in to speak with Katie @ 718-506-1633 or drop a question for her in the chat room once your logged into Blogtalkradio.

Follow us on Twitter? Post your question via hashtag #CTBR

About the Author
Katie Love is a San Francisco Bay Area native and began her writing career at the age of seven by penning books about her family, then presenting them as brutally honest gifts. As an adult, Katie ventured to Hollywood where she took her writing to the stage as a professional comedian and honed her skills as a screenwriter. She has written for the Los Angeles Times, the sitcom-webisode, “Wannabe Me!” (www.wannabeme.tv) and penned two comedy scripts with writing partner, Dan Lougheed, now optioned and in development. She has also been commissioned to write scripts for several production companies. As a writing coach, Katie enjoys the collaborative process and has designed a series of writing classes called “Write and Laugh with Love,” a four-part series that explores how to write from the emotional core in any genre

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About the book

Set in the San Francisco Bay Area, Cubicide is a sardonic, poignant comedy about the rigors of following one’s bliss.

Bette Ranier has just turned thirty and is struggling to maintain her composure while toiling in the bowels of Corporate America and facing off with her boss, whom she calls “Bangs.” Bette craves success as a musician; however, family obligations take precedence when her sister becomes seriously ill. Standing at the fork in the road, Bette must choose between the safety and security of her mundane job and an uncertain path as an artist.

Cubicide is the story of one woman’s comedic rise against her fears and foibles and the sacrifices she makes along the way.

Check out the CTB Radio Social Network!

Readers/Listeners can interact, never miss an author interview and check out new music from the underground world of indie musicians.
Upload book videos and tour events
Indie Musicians can add podsafe music and events
Get Tips on Radio Publicity
CTB Radio is now syndicated through ITunes. If you can't join us live, download the episode for free!

Book Review: "Secrets and Lies" by Rhonda McKnight

2010-03-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever told a lie to a loved one in order to cover up a tragic event in your life? Did keeping this secret harm your relationship in any way? Secrets and Lies is a moving story about how dishonesty meant to protect a loved one may actually hurt the relationship, causing a loss of trust and feelings of disloyalty. This debut Christian novel examines the trials a couple faces while struggling with their troubled marriage and personal relationship with God.

Faith, a stay-at-home mom, has all the comforts money can buy, but is unhappy in her marriage to Jonah, a successful pediatric cardiologist. She believes Jonah’s dedication to his profession is causing him to neglect his family. But, when Faith begins receiving mysterious phone calls, she suspects Jonah is having an affair. Meanwhile, after renewing Jonah’s passport, Faith stumbles upon a revelation about Jonah’s past. A tumultuous storm created by Faith’s mistaken speculations and Jonah’s protected childhood secret is what follows in this inspiring story.

Although the book is published as Urban Christian fiction, I did not find the setting or the content to fit the definition of urban literature. It is a character driven novel about an upper-middle class family living in a wealthy suburb of Atlanta.

The characters are both relatable and believable. Despite their imperfections—Jonah is arrogant and Faith is self-absorbed—the reader learns to love them both. At first, I did not care for Faith. She came across as a nagging, unsympathetic person that manipulated every issue into being about herself. However, as the story developed so did Faith. Both Faith and Jonah grew as individuals and as Christians.

I really enjoyed this book! It has a very important message about forgiveness and repentance. With plenty of issues to talk about and a fantastic set of discussion questions, I would definitely recommend it as a book club selection.

The review copy of this thought-provoking book was given to me by the author, Rhonda McKnight.

Sunday Synopsis: Wench and Beneath The Lion's Gaze

2010-02-28T07:30:00.002-05:00

Last month, I was invited to New York for the Book Launch Party of Maaza Mengiste and Dolen Perkins-Valdez. I was unable to attend but I promised these debut authors I would celebrate with them on my blog. Of course, on the day of the launch I celebrated by purchasing these debuts, I was glad to find them in front of the bookstore down here in Georgia.

Beneath the Lion’s Gaze tells a gripping story of family, of the bonds of love and friendship set in a time and place that has rarely been explored in fiction before. It is a story about the lengths human beings will go in pursuit of freedom and the human price of a national revolution. Emotionally gripping, poetic and indelibly tragic, Beneath the Lion’s Gaze is a transcendent and powerful debut.

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is startling and original fiction that raises provocative questions of power and freedom, love and dependence. An enchanting and unforgettable novel based on little-known fact, Wench combines the narrative allure of Cane River by Lalita Tademy and the moral complexities of Edward P. Jones’s The Known World as it tells the story of four black enslaved women in the years preceding the Civil War. A stunning debut novel, Wench marks author Perkins-Valdez—previously a finalist for the 2009 Robert Olen Butler Short Fiction Prize—as a writer destined for greatness.

Wrap Up: Celebrating Black History Month

2010-02-27T07:30:00.001-05:00

Throughout the course of the month, I have highlighted African and African-American authors, mostly debut who have entered the writing scene in a very robust way for 2010. Today, I'd like to end the official celebration of Black History Month by highlighting one more book from an emerging author, Suzanne E. Smith. I chose to end with her book, To Serve the Living: Funeral Directors and the African American Way of Death, because the story truly represents history in the United States from a truly unique perspective. I will be honest. I discovered this book late and read the excerpt, purchased the book and now I'm awaiting its arrival. In lieu of the review which will come later, here's the synopsis via Harvard University Press:

To Serve the Living

Interview with Amanda Smyth

2010-02-26T07:30:00.019-05:00

In lieu of the Catch That Book Radio interview with Amanda Smyth, she is joining us here on the blog. Amanda is a debut author and her new book is entitled Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange. Please enjoy the interview and leave a comment for her.

AE: Hi Amanda, Welcome to Author Exposure! We are glad to have the opportunity to interview you all the way from the U.K. What is the significance of the title ~ Lime Tree Can’t Bear Orange? How did you come up with it?

Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange is a Trinidad saying, which means that a tree can only bear its own kind of fruit. And in the novel, Celia's quest is really for her identity, her roots, her sense of belonging. In England the book is called Black Rock, but apparently this is some kind of financial institution in USA, so we had to change the title.

AE: Tell us about Celia and the conflict that she encounters in the story.

Celia is a bright and beautiful girl, but she is also someone who stands out from the crowd, who doesn't quite fit in, and she longs to find her place. Celia looks for a sense of belonging in all the wrong places, and it is only in the end that she comes to recognise and accept that her security will never come from 'out there,' but from somewhere deep inside herself.

AE: Your writing is reminiscent of a natural storyteller. Are any of the characters or events in the story derived from personal experience? Was there much research in capturing the essence of Trinidad and Tobago?

My family have been in Trinidad for many generations. As a child, I would listen to the stories told by my grandmother and her sisters in their veranda, and I was transfixed. Many of these stories will appear in the novel, and in fact, my own great grandfather, Carr Brown was shot on his way to his home in Tamana in the fifties.

AE: One of the things we focus on at Author Exposure is debut novels that are ideal for book clubs. Can you share with us some of the discussible themes that are in Lime Can’t Bear Orange?

One of the themes that has been explored is displacement; the struggle of our heroine to find her place in the world. Also, the perception of Trinidad, the Caribbean, through the eyes of Trinidadian people and the English: the hell and heaven of a tropical island.

AE: What is your inspiration for writing? Do you have any favorite authors or books?

I am a big fan of Jean Rhys, and also Jamaica Kincaid. I love a lot of US authors, Carver, Richard Ford, Jason Brown...

All sorts of things can be inspiring for me: music, photographs, memories. When I was writing Lime Tree, I had a lot of photos on my pinboard, and they weren't necessarily that relevant, but they evoked a feeling, or a time, or a particular light.

AE: How long did take you to write your book? What was your reaction when you first saw the cover?

From start to finish, about five years. I was working full time when I began the novel, and that was tough - writing only on Sundays. Then I was fortunate enough to receive an arts council grant which allowed me to write full time.

The cover [above,right] is quite different to the UK edition [to the left], which is a painting by Peter Doig, and actually quite dark. This US cover is lighter and has more hope, somehow, and I like that.

AE: What was your reaction when you heard that your book was one of Oprah’s Summer Picks in 2009?

I was thrilled!

AE: Congratulations on your nomination for the 41st NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literature – Debut Author. How did you feel when you heard this news? Any anxieties as you wait to hear the news?

This was such a huge compliment. I didn't realise at first what a big deal it is. It tells me I got something right!

AE: What’s your best advice to the aspiring writer who hopes to publish one day?

Read lots, and write lots. Work hard. Work really hard.

AE: Amanda, it’s been a pleasure having you here at Author Exposure. We wish you much success and hope to have you visit us again when you publish your next book. Please tell everyone how they can find your book and keep up with your book events.

My book is available at most large bookstores, and of course, on amazon.com. I don't have a website yet, but hope to have one in the future. [ If you are considering Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange for book club, get the discussion questions here.]
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Be sure to tune into the 41st NAACP Image Awards Tonight @ 8/7c on FOX. Win or lose, Author Exposure wishes all nominees much success.

Encore for Carleen Brice!

2010-02-24T07:30:00.008-05:00

This past Sunday, Carleen Brice celebrated the premiere of the movie, "Sins of the Mother", based on her novel Orange Mint and Honey, on Lifetime Movie Network.

We missed it! But that won't stop us from catching the ENCORE on

February 24th or February 27th @ 8p.m. eastern, 7 Central, 5pm Pacific!!

Graduate student Shay Hunter (Nicole Beharie) reaches a crossroads in her life when she finds herself broke, burned out and unable to cope with the stress of school. With nowhere else to go, she embarks on a journey home to Tacoma, Washington, to face her abusive, alcoholic, estranged mother, Nona (Jill Scott). When she returns home, Shay finds Nona living life as a recovered alcoholic, with a new daughter and completely transformed. Thrown by her mother’s new path, Shay must now accept Nona’s changes and influences, including her sponsor, Lois (Rogers) -- all forcing Shay to move past her pent-up anger and awaken her own relationships.

Have a peak at the movie trailer. Please leave a comment for Carleen. This is a big stepping stone!

Book Review: The Only Way is Up

2010-02-23T07:30:00.007-05:00

The Only Way is Up is a subjective comparison of cultures between Nigeria and the United States of America through the eyes of the author, Folake Taylor. She was born to Nigerian parents and raised in the United Kingdom. It is through travel and her parents’ teachings that she was able to draw on this comparison.

This is not your traditional literary-based memoir complete with multiple characters and conflict. This book was written in a way one would write a journal; a log of thoughts and concerns. I think that immigrants, both men and women, would find it useful as a sense of comfort and it would also be entertaining. At first, I thought the author was just unhappy with the United States but as I read on, I found that this was not the case. Taylor simply identified differences just as anyone on the outside would. The author is well-traveled and as an underlying theme, she teaches how you can use travel as a source of education. It seems that travel in the U.S. is a privilege when you compare it to all other life responsibilities. In Nigeria, it seems to be a part of the learning process.

Written in just 150 pages, The Only Way is Up comes with a bibliography that surrounds the topics in her book: marriage, relationships, diet and nutrition to name a few. She draws on her career as physician to suggest alternative life style choices. Thanks to the real life examples and current events, this book is relatable and some of the topics can be debatable making it ideal for any book club.

Live on CTB Radio! BeNeca Ward is Taking You Back to the Basics of Parenting

2010-02-22T07:00:00.003-05:00

Don't miss BeNeca Ward TODAY - Feb. 22nd @ 12:30 p.m. EST as she sheds light on this timely topic - 'How to instill great values into today's children'. Her new book, 3rd Generation Country, focuses on getting back to the basics of parenting utilizing the lessons that were used for at least three generations. BeNeca's book has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author. Tune into Catch That Book Radio and join the discussion. You can call-in to speak with the author @ 718-506-1633 or drop a question for her in the chat room on Blogtalkradio. Follow Twitter? Post your question via hashtag #CTBR

NEW for 2010! Check out the CTB Radio Social Network!

Readers/Listeners can interact, never miss an author interview and check out new music from the underground world of indie musicians.
Upload book videos and tour events
Indie Musicians can add podsafe music and events
Get Tips on Radio Publicity
CTB Radio is now syndicated through ITunes. If you can't join us live, download the episode for free!

Sunday Synopsis: Forest Gate

2010-02-21T07:30:00.010-05:00

A shattering, poetic and raw first novel set among young Somalian refugees in the slums of London -- beginning with a double suicide and ending with a rebirth.

In a community where poverty is kept close and passed from one generation to the next, two teenage boys, best friends, stand on top of twin tower blocks. Facing each other across the abyss of London's urban sprawl, they say their good-byes and jump. One dies. The other, alternating with the sister of the deceased, narrates this novel.

James gives us a window into the inner city -- his mom is a crack addict, his gang "brothers" force him to kill another black boy. Meina describes with feeling her family history in Somalia: after her parents are killed before her eyes, her village aunt sells her to six husbands -- before she is even a teenager. Desperate to rebuild their lives, James and Meina set out to find the place for which every child longs -- home.

Brutal and shockingly violent in places, rambunctious and lively in others and slyly, dryly witty in yet others, Meina and James's journey toward life through their past is ultimately a powerful story of redemptive love and the debut of an extraordinary literary talent.

Belong to a book club?

There is a reading group guide for Forest Gate which includes an introduction, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Peter Akinti. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. These ideas should enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
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"Sunday Synopsis" is a new feature for 2010. Every Sunday, we will post the synopsis of an upcoming book that we think deserves your attention. Think of it as a mini e-paper. It'll be there in the morning when you wake up for your coffee.

Writing Contest! Beat The Deadline!

2010-02-20T07:30:00.006-05:00

WriterAdvice seeks flash fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction that mesmerizes the reader in 750 words or less for our Fifth Annual Flash Prose Contest. DEADLINE: April 15, 2010. Entry fee: $10 per submission. First prize: $150. Former prize winners are the judges. Complete guidelines, mailing address, and prizes at www.writeradvice.com.

Pre-Pub Book Review: A Woman's Secret: A Story of Life, Love and Tragedy by Toyin Adon-Abel

2010-02-19T07:30:00.032-05:00

The value of friendship and love is the glue that brings Lincoln Caldwell, a 42-year old well-known artist in Manhattan, New York and Sydney Collins, a 22 year-old young executive, together. Sydney, a Boston native, accepted an opportunity to open a new office in New York for her father’s company, CSD. The union of Lincoln and Sydney merges a new set of eight close-knit friends that provide the day to day interactions reminiscent of a sitcom. It was inviting and made the novel a fast-paced read.

I applaud the author for taking on complex themes: sperm donation, consanguineous relationships and even suicide. Unfortunately, these themes were introduced during the last fifty pages of the story. Credit is given to the author for the research into these topics; however, it was delivered as if it were a nonfiction essay; providing just the facts. I would have had a greater appreciation if these themes were intermingled throughout the characters' lives. Instead, they were provided as cliffhangers with no character resolve.

The story focused more on Sydney’s turbulent pregnancy which led her to an extended stay at the hospital; a new visitor weaving in and out of every chapter. The lack of descriptive settings did give rise to the characters' various locations: Spain, New York, and Boston. The lack of character development makes it difficult for the reader to engage in the story. However, the author’s personal experience as a British Police Officer was strongly reflected in Ryoko, a New York police officer and the ex-girlfriend of Lincoln. The lingo, intensity and pace of these scenes held my attention temporarily.

This novel was written in the author’s native British dialect; it does not reflect that of the characters and it can confuse the reader. The author is not comfortable using foul language - “It’s none of your *^#! business.” I respect the author’s creative control but I don’t believe this will go over well to the avid adult reader.

My purpose for all reviews is to identify debut novels that are suitable for book clubs. The author chose excellent topics worthy of discussion, but I do not believe avid readers could conclusively finish the book. However, this is a pre-published review and my findings may not necessary reflect the final version.

Book Club: LIVE Chat with Author Randy Susan Meyers

2010-02-18T07:45:00.001-05:00

Today is our book club discussion with Randy Susan Meyers about her book, The Murderer's Daughters. She will be available from 9-11 this morning to answer your questions and participate in our book club discussion. So grab a cup of coffee and join us!

Today on CTB Radio: Folake Taylor MD Takes Us on a Culture Comparison Tour

2010-02-17T10:33:00.000-05:00

Don't miss Folake Taylor TODAY @ 12:30 p.m. EST discussing The Only Way is Up: The Journey of an Immigrant.

Click on Catch That Book Radio and listen in on the conversation. You can also call-in to speak with the author @ 718-506-1633 or post a question online in the chat room.

About the Author:

I am an outpatient Internal Medicine MD who lives in Roswell GA with my husband and toddler. I was trained at the Morehouse School of Medicine in downtown Atlanta. Born in the United Kingdom to Nigerian born parents, I was raised in both countries before relocating to the United States to live the American dream. This gives a unique and interesting global perspective on several subject matters addressed in this book. It is matchless in that there are no other books on the market which target the same audience and offers similar advice and help with a variety of everyday life issues in a single book.

About the Book:

This book provides insight and solutions for a variety of common issues in our society including issues with identity, weight, health, nutrition, finding a mate, relationships in general and gender roles. It also educates on borrowing from other cultures and offers help for immigrants who are challenged and overwhelmed in the western world. In this book, I frequently draw a parallel to my upbringing in Nigeria as well as the UK as a way of painting a picture of a alternate life choices.

Book Giveaway - An AE Experiment: Single Husbands by HoneyB

2010-02-15T07:30:00.006-05:00

When it comes to getting together for book club, the skies the limit on book selections. Most are chosen by the cover, the topic, or even reader fellowship. Here's a giveaway that'll have you raising your eyebrows. Help me with my AE experiment - I want to see who's interested in this book based on the discussion questions alone. If you are a true die hard to tradition, you can get the synopsis here. Just know that I am waving my naughty finger at you!

************3 copies available************

1. Do you love yourself? I ask this question first because most people either don’t know how to love themselves or they think they love themselves, yet they allow others to abuse them.

2. Married, divorced, or single, have you had sex with (or dated) a married person? Before you answer, think, have you dated or sexed a person without inquiring about his or her marital status (i.e., a one-night stand, a short-term relationship, etc.)? Was the relationship fulfilling? Why?

3. After reading Single Husbands, do you feel the characters in this novel violated their marriage license? Why or why not?

4. Has reading Single Husbands changed your outlook on marriage? Why or why not?

5. Would you have or have you had sexual intercourse with your friend’s spouse or mate? If so, would you ever tell your friend?

6. Do you know any women or men who are married but live like they are single? Do you envy their relationships or lifestyle?

7. If you knew for a fact that your friend’s spouse or mate was cheating, would you tell your friend? Why or why not? Have you ever lusted after your friend’s mate?

8. Could you have an open marriage, knowing that both you and your spouse were permitted to have sex outside the marriage? If so, would you want to know your spouse’s sexual partner(s)? Why or why not?

9. Is it possible for one person to satisfy all of your sexual needs and fantasies? Before you answer, what are your sexual needs and fantasies?

10. Should the person who earns more money in the relationship or marriage be permitted to control the relationship? What emotional impact, if any, do finances bear on a relationship?

11. After reading Single Husbands, how would you write or rewrite your marriage vows? Do you believe marriage vows are important? If the vows are broken, what can a person do to make them enforceable? What are the laws of marriage?

12. Would you divorce your spouse for sexual and/or emotional infidelity if everything else in your marriage was perfect? Why or why not?

13. Would you go to a sex club with your spouse or mate? Would you participate in sexual activities with other club members? Could you be comfortable watching someone else have sex with your spouse or mate?

14. What’s the freakiest thing you’ve done sexually? Would you do it again? Are you try-sexual?
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Thanks to Hachette Book Group for sponsoring this giveaway.

Here's how to enter:

1) You must be a subscriber, fan or follower of Author Exposure.
2) In the comment section, tell us whether or not the book club discussion questions alone gauged your interest in this book!
3) Please leave your email address in case you win!
4) Tell a friend about this giveaway

This giveaway is limited to US and Canadian residents only. The publisher does not ship to PO Boxes. The giveaway ends on February 28th.

Sunday Synopsis: The Girl Who Fell From The Sky

2010-02-14T07:30:00.002-05:00

Winner of the 2008 Bellwether Prize for Fiction

A timely and moving bicultural coming-of-age tale about the daughter of a Danish immigrant and a black G.I. A beauty with light brown skin and blue eyes, she attracts much attention in her new home. The world wants to see her as either black or white, but that's not how she sees herself. Meanwhile, a mystery unfolds, revealing the terrible truth about Rachel's last morning on a Chicago rooftop. Interwoven with her voice are those of Jamie, a neighborhood boy who witnessed the events, and Laronne, a friend of Rachel's mother.

Inspired by a true story of a mother's twisted love, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky reveals an unfathomable past and explores issues of identity at a time when many people are asking "Must race confine us and define us?"

Catch Heidi Durrow at the South Carolina Book Festival February 26- 28, 2010

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"Sunday Synopsis" is a new feature for 2010. Every Sunday, we will post the synopsis of an upcoming book that we think deserves your attention. Think of it as a mini e-paper. It'll be there in the morning when you wake up for your coffee.

Book Giveaway: "The Amen Heresy" by W.H. Muhlenfeld

2010-02-12T08:30:00.003-05:00

***5 SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE***

Ex-priest and dyslexic expert of ancient languages, Jack Fisher, agrees to assist an Israeli friend and expert of religious history; and is drawn into an unsolved mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. His discovery of the true meaning of the Copper Scroll threatens to expose the three religions of Abraham as the monotheistic legacy of an ancient, sun-worshipping pharaoh.. Jack joins forces with Agent Ariel Hadar of the Israeli Antiquities Authority and Sami Salaa, a Palestinian boy of the streets, in an epic struggle for possession of the scroll, and an explosive truth which will upend religious history and shatter the religious legacy of Jews, Christians and Muslims.

There's an oddly engraved museum token to interpret, a missing Dead Sea Scroll to find, a cabal of murderous high clerics, an Egyptian madman, a nightmarish assassin, an important clue from a fourth century travel log and a long-forgotten proclamation of startling implication from The Prophet Muhammad.

The race for possession of the Copper Scroll leads through the Old City of Jerusalem, onto the Judean Desert and to the Monastery of St. Catherine, at the foot of Moses' Mount Sinai, where the heresy of the long-dead Egyptian pharaoh rises to confront the very basis of faith for three and a half billion believers.

To qualify for this giveaway, you must be a follower, fan, or subscriber of Author Exposure. In order to be entered in the drawing, just leave a comment below and be sure to include your email address. We will contact the winner via email!

***UPDATE: This giveaway will close on 2/20 at midnight***

The author has been kind enough to offer us these books and is happy to personalize each one for our winners.

Want to learn more about this book? Please visit the author's website.

February/March: Book Club Announcement and Giveaway

2010-02-09T13:16:00.007-05:00

Today, I would like to announce our Feb/March book and give everyone an opportunity to win a copy of it. Our next book is called The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley. It is in bookstores starting today. This book has received alot of advanced praise and we are delighted to have Carla join us on the blog next month to discuss it. So, grab a copy of this book and start reading! MARK YOUR CALENDARS! We will be discussing The Things That Keep Us Here with the author on March 17th.

To enter the giveaway:
1) You must be a subscriber, fan, or follower of Author Exposure

2) Leave your email in case you win

NOTE: Please, only enter the giveaway if you are interested in participating in our discussion on March 17th.

**This giveaway ends Thursday (2/11) at midnight**

Back Cover Blurb:
A year ago, Ann and Peter Brooks were just another unhappily married couple trying—and failing—to keep their relationship together while they raised two young daughters. Now the world around them is about to be shaken again, when Peter, a university researcher, comes to a startling realization: a virulent pandemic has made the terrible leap across the ocean to America's heartland.

And it is killing fifty out of every hundred people it touches.

As her town goes into lockdown, Peter is forced to return home—with his beautiful graduate assistant. But their safe suburban world is no longer the refuge it once was. Food grows scarce. Neighbor turns against neighbor in grocery stores and at gas pumps. And then a winter storm strikes, and they are left huddling in the dark.

Trapped inside the house she once called home, Ann Brooks must make life-or-death decisions in an environment where opening a door to a neighbor could threaten all the things she holds dear.

Carla Buckley's poignant debut raises important questions to which there are no easy answers, in an emotionally riveting tale of one family facing unimaginable horror.

For more information, please visit the author's website.
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REMINDER:
I hope everyone is enjoying our Jan/Feb book club selection, The Murderer's Daughters. I sure am! Remember, Randy Susan Meyers will be joining us on the blog for a LIVE book club discussion on February 18th at 9 AM (EST). If you haven't done so already, please mark your calendars! We are looking forward to discussing this excellent book with her.

Short Story Buzz: "Forgetting English" by Midge Raymond

2010-02-08T08:30:00.001-05:00

Short stories received numerous awards and accolades in 2009. It seems everyone was reading them, except me. I prefer novels over short stories mainly because novels tend to have greater character development and, overall, more satisfying resolutions. However, when Eastern Washington University Press contacted me to review an award-winning short story collection, I thought it would be a great opportunity to see for myself what the buzz over short stories was all about.

Forgetting English by Midge Raymond is a collection of eight, unrelated short stories united by a common theme—self-discovery. Each main character is a woman, at a crossroad in her life, who has chosen to leave home. The stories focus on the motives behind why these ordinary Americans decide to travel to foreign lands (including Tonga, Japan, and Antarctica) and the consequential changes that occur due to their extra-ordinary environment. Why is it, that once outside our comfort zones, we are able to make discoveries about ourselves?

Forgetting English is an entertaining collection of remarkably insightful stories. It was unlike any other volume I’ve read before. The characters were well-developed and memorable. The endings were both satisfying and thought-provoking. After finishing this short story collection, I wanted to read more like it. I would recommend this book to all readers—even those who say they don’t like short stories.

An excerpt from my favorite story, The Ecstatic Cry, was read by the author on Writers Out Loud: Literature for the Ear. To listen, click here.

Sunday Synopsis: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

2010-02-07T07:30:00.014-05:00

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the effects of the atom bomb; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions.

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia—a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo—to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live, and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family—past and present—is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of. Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family—especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother’s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance?

Check out this article in Popular Science magazine "Five Reasons Henrietta Lacks is the Most Important Woman in Medical History"

Belong to a book club?

There's plenty to talk about with this book! Morality is never clean cut. It's complicated.

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"Sunday Synopsis" is a new feature for 2010. Every Sunday, we will post the synopsis of an upcoming book that we think deserves your attention. Think of it as a mini e-paper. It'll be there in the morning when you wake up for your coffee.