Guest Post with Amelia Grey - A MARQUIS TO MARRY

Give me a historical romance and I am one happy little camper! A MARQUIS TO MARRY by Amelia Grey is the perfect story to fill up a rain afternoon or otherwise spend your time with. I am honored to have her here with us today to share her thoughts on writing romance and what went into the creation of A MARQUIS TO MARRY.

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Amelia Grey
Author of A Marquis to Marry

What is the best thing about writing romance for me? I can make this answer short and sweet. I’ve never wanted to write anything else.

It’s true. I have friends published in romance who say they also want to write other kinds of books. Most of them want to write general fiction or the big mainstream contemporary, but not me. I’ve very happy right where I am as an author who writes Regency historicals.

I read a lot, and romance books have always been my favorite books to read. Even as a young girl I was captivated by Cinderella, Snow White, and Beauty and the Beast. I read them over and over again. At night, I would lie in bed and imagine myself dressed in a gorgeous pink ball gown with a handsome prince sweeping me across the dance floor. And I hope I never get too old to enjoy the fantasy of those enthralling children’s classics.

Another wonderful thing about writing romances is that I love the fact I can add any other element to the story that suits my fancy. Romances can be westerns, paranormals, adventures, mysteries or even horror. All right, I have to admit, I don’t think I’ve ever read a romantic horror, and I know I will never write a horror romance. That might be taking a romance beyond the pale for me. But I do love it that romances can be set in any time period of the past or eons into the future.

I’m writing in the Regency time period right now, but I’ve written romances set pre and post Civil War, Colonial America, Westerns and the Industrial Revolution. I’ve written about mysteries that have to be solved, intrigues that have to be settled, and treasures and people that have to be hunted. I’ve written about humorous characters, poignant and adventurous scenes in books and every one of them have been romances.

My current book A Marquis To Marry which is the second book in The Rogues’ Dynasty Series is first and foremost a romance between a handsome earl and a young, dowager duchess. But it is also a historical. It’s a mystery because a priceless necklace of pearls has been stolen and must be found. There’s intrigue with a one-armed antiquities dealer, a popinjay who buys jewels for the Crown, and, a sweet-talking buccaneer who’s buying up all the pearls in England, but it’s still a romance.

Even though I can set a romance in any time period and add any element I desire, I think the best thing about writing a romance for me is that I’m uplifted by them. I adore that ‘wouldn’t it be wonderful if’ feeling when the hero and heroine meet and the story starts to develop and continues until after I’ve read the last page.

I find comfort in the fact that I know by the end of the book, no matter what has happened, everything is going to be all right. That is very satisfying to me.

Now that I’ve told you what the best things are for me in writing a romance, why don’t you tell me your favorite things about reading a romance book?

A Marquis to Marry, Book Two in the Rogues’ Dynasty Trilogy, In Stores October 2009
Alexander Mitchell Raceworth, the dashing fourth Marquis of Raceworth, is shocked when the alluring young Duchess of Brookfield accuses him of stealing priceless pearls belonging to her family. Susannah Brookfield is the most beautiful, enchanting woman he has ever met, but despite his attraction, he's not about to hand over the pearls.

Though suspicion and mistrust drive them apart when the pearls are stolen, Race suggests they pool their resources to recover them. If they do find them, will they finally be able to give in to love, or will the truth of the elusive necklace tear them apart once and for all?

About the Author
Amelia Grey’s awards include the Booksellers Best and the Aspen Gold, and as Gloria Dale Skinner, the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the prestigious Maggie Award. Her books have been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs. Happily married for twenty-five years, she lives in Panama City Beach, Florida.

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Thanks so much for stopping by Amelia!

EXTREME DREAMS DEPEND ON TEAMS Review - Pat Williams

EXTREME DREAMS DEPEND ON TEAMS by Pat Williams would be a great tool to use when pondering team building. Many things in life are done as a team so it’s important to know how best to form one, work in one, and work with one. Combine this useful bit of knowledge with a compelling and fun method of delivering it and I think EXTREME DREAMS DEPEND ON TEAMS just might be a winner.

Extreme Dreams Depend on Teams by Pat Williams
Publisher: Center Street
Pages: 336
ISBN +13: 9780446407199
My Recommended Age Group: Any age
Released: July 22, 2009
Other work: Published Works

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From Goodreads:

Though the vision of one person can change the world, no one can carry out a vision alone. Extreme dreams depend on teams - lack of teamwork is often why big dreams go unrealised. Using examples and anecdotes from history and contemporary people, Pat Williams shows how the greatest world-changing events came to be as the result of the passion of one person. In each case a team was assembled with people equipped in the various areas needed to bring the vision to pass. Pat addresses team assembly, dynamics and pitfalls to give readers guidance they can immediately apply to their own circumstances.

My thoughts:

Williams seems to have a wonderful way of creating examples and using his background to help show the reader what he’s talking about. Sports fans will fall in love with EXTREME DREAMS DEPEND ON TEAMS due to the large number of sports references that he uses. It’s important to find a way to connect with your reader, otherwise, the message you have won’t really transfer very well. Williams has found a way to use sports and his readers’ love of the game to help him deliver his message.

One thing that really struck me about EXTREME DREAMS DEPEND ON TEAMS was the attitude that Williams expresses throughout the book. He could have made the book very harsh with strict rules and guidelines to follow. Instead, Williams offers suggestions and in more than one instance shows us how following these suggestions will lead toward a stronger team and more effective teamwork. He is very lighthearted, fun, and inspirational throughout the book. I was amazed at how positive the book felt because frankly, not every informational book gives off that vibe. This is a book, however, that I could easily see people reading for entertainment just as they would read it for the help that it gives.

Writing: 9
Interest: 8
Passion: 9
Originality: 10
Characters: 9
Pace: 9
Overall: 54/60 - A

Book Cover: 3/3

I would suggest EXTREME DREAMS DEPEND ON TEAMS to any reader looking for some more information on how to use teams effectively. In my opinion, this book transcends age and young adults to adults will both find pleasure and enjoyment between the covers. The topics covered in the book are geared more towards the sports oriented mind, however, if the book sounds interesting to you otherwise, I wouldn’t let the sports references detour you. Williams obviously put in quite a bit of time and energy making this a helpful book, regardless of the level of sports background knowledge the reader might have.

Author Interview with Megan Crewe - GIVE UP THE GHOST

I just recently read and reviewed GIVE UP THE GHOST by Megan Crewe. This was an awesome book and I am thrilled to welcome Megan here to tell us a bit more about what went into the making of it.

Let's all put our hands together and give Megan a nice, warm welcome.

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What was your inspiration for writing GIVE UP THE GHOST?

I had this idea of a girl talking with her dead sister, as if it was a normal, everyday thing. I wanted to figure out why she'd be so comfortable with ghosts, and what might have come out of her friendship with them, and the story developed from there.

Did you come across any difficulties while writing GIVE UP THE GHOST?

The most difficult part was portraying Cass. She has a prickly, guarded personality, and so that had to come through in her voice. But I also needed to show her motivations and vulnerabilities so readers could sympathize with her. Finding that balance took a while!

GIVE UP THE GHOST is a wonderful story and I especially loved Cass. What was or is your favorite aspect of the story?

My favorite aspect is the way that (I think) there's more to each of the characters than first appears--even the supposed villain. I think sometimes there's a tendency to portray teens as types instead of actual people, and I wanted to show that even people who'd done mean things are still human.

Response to GIVE UP THE GHOST is filtering through the Internet. How are readers responding to the story?

I've only seen a few reviews so far, but I'm happy to say they've all been positive! Readers seem to find Cass and Tim easy to relate to, to be getting caught up in their emotional conflicts, and to enjoy my take on ghosts. And everyone says they love the cover, which I agree is quite awesome. :)

What drew you to write in the Young Adult genre?

I enjoy writing about teens because it's such a meaningful time in people's lives--it's when people really start figuring out who they are and who they want to be. It's exciting writing about characters going through all of that. I also enjoy writing *for* teens, because I don't think I've ever loved books as much as when I was a teen myself. I hope my books can be just as meaningful for my readers!

If your life and/or writing career were a book, what would the title be?

Hmmm, titles are not really my strong point. (The name of the file that was the first draft of GIVE UP THE GHOST? "dead people" Heh.) So if this is bad, don't shoot me. Let's say, FEET ON THE GROUND, HEAD IN THE CLOUDS.

Are you working on any other projects currently? Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

I'm always working! :) I have a couple of YA novels to revise before they're ready to be seen--all paranormal and fantasy type stuff.

And I'd like to invite your readers to stop by my blog (http://www.megancrewe.com/blog) and join in the discussions and giveaways I have going on there!

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Thanks so much for stopping by today Megan! We can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!

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This has been part of a blog tour with Traveling to Teens

GIVE UP THE GHOST Review - Megan Crewe

GIVE UP THE GHOST by Megan Crewe was a slightly different book than the one I was expecting. I thought the story would be fairly juvenile, but the premise still looked very interesting. I’m happy to say, however, that GIVE UP THE GHOST was really a great read. The story was complex and engaging with enough material to keep the reader entertained the whole way through. I would recommend this book to both young adults and adults alike.

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Pages: 256
ISBN +13: 9780805089301
My Recommended Age Group: Young Adult to Adult
Released: September 15, 2009
Other work: Published Works

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From Crewe's Website:

Cass McKenna much prefers the company of ghosts over "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.
But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...

My thoughts:



GIVE UP THE GHOST is the story of Cass, a seventeen year old girl with more than her grades to worry about. Being in high school, we already know that life is going to be tough for our heroine. Combine that with the fact that she’s constantly receiving fashion advice from her dead sister and digging up the dirt on everyone at school, and you’ve got one busy young woman!

We journey through the story with Cass as she uses her abilities to talk with the dead to save the more unfortunate souls at the school. Everyone has secrets they’d rather keep hidden, but if they’re going to discuss them or do them in the open where any dead guy could see, well, they’re just asking for trouble. With a little romantic twist in the book and a full plot, Crewe gives us quite a bit to chew on and think about.

One of my favorite aspects of GIVE UP THE GHOST is Cass herself. In order for me to really fall in love with a book, I need to see some good character development. A story can be phenomenal, but if it has dead characters (no pun intended) then the story just kind of withers and fades away for me. Crewe did an excellent job, however, of breathing life into Cass and the other characters. I actually bookmarked the page where I knew that GIVE UP THE GHOST was going to be fantastic – page 28. That early into the book and I knew that this was a great story. I attribute this largely to the way Crewe rounded Cass out. We get to learn about her wants and dreams, her background, her future, and everything that makes her up. The characters in Crewe’s book aren’t just machines to keep the story going; instead they are vessels of knowledge and emotion. Like I said - fantastic character development.

I think the other part that really sold GIVE UP THE GHOST for me was the story itself. As I mentioned, I was expecting something a little younger out of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story, while still catering to young adults, was full of enough depth to satisfy a reader of any age. GIVE UP THE GHOST held a darker picture than one would originally think. I figured that Cass’s ghosts would run around doing silly pranks and generally causing a fun bit of chaos, but instead the ghosts help us look into the true side of people. The theme of truth seems to reign in GIVE UP THE GHOST and sometimes that truth isn’t pretty.

Writing: 9
Interest: 9
Passion: 9
Originality: 10
Characters: 10
Pace: 9
Overall: 56/60 - A

Book Cover: 3/3

Overall I would have to give GIVE UP THE GHOST high marks. This was a wonderful story and one that made me an instant fan of Crewe’s. I’m excited to keep my eye out for this wonderful author and see what else she has hidden up her sleeve.

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This has been part of a blog tour with Traveling to Teens

CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER Review - Michelle Moran

CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran was a beautiful coming of age story following Cleopatra’s twins Selene and Alexander. I had a feeling from the get go that this was going to be a captivating and engaging story; I was definitely not disappointed.

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Pages: 431
ISBN +13: 9780307409126
My Recommended Age Group: Young Adult to Adult
Released: September 15, 2009
Other work: Published Works

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From Goodreads:

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian’s kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian’s handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia’s sardonic son and Marcellus’s great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian’s watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.

Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place–the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the times. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.

Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and most tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of the past, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart.

My thoughts:

As the children of Cleopatra, Alexander and Selene were already destined to have an interesting life. Now that their parents are dead and the children find themselves living with Octavian’s family, life suddenly becomes much more harrowing and political than they ever imagined.

CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER is told from Selene’s viewpoint and the narration was part of what made the story superb to me. Moran gives Selene a clear voice and one that is easy to follow along and fall in love with. The passion for life that Moran instills the story with breaks through in Selene and makes for a story that is both entertaining and warming to the spirit at the same time.

I absolutely loved how Moran was able to develop her characters and create a sense of realism with the story. It’s obvious that a lot of research went into the creation of CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER; this really shows through in the characters that Moran gives us and the story they tell. Sometimes we are shown an incredible story with just average characters. In this case we got an incredible story coupled with incredible and full characters. Moran put so much work into making them well rounded and full that it’s easy to imagine people acting out the story right in front of you.

Finally, the last thing that really made CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER a fantastic story was Moran’s ability to fill the story with description. The way she draws Rome is superb and creates scenery that appeals to every sense. There were times when reading that I actually closed my eyes and visualized the scenes in my head. It takes a great author to use simple words to create a vivid image in the mind.

Writing: 10
Interest: 10
Passion: 10
Originality: 10
Characters: 10
Pace: 9
Overall: 59/60 - A

Book Cover: 3/3

I would have to recommend CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER to anyone looking for a great drama, coming of age story, romance, or piece of historical fiction. The best part was the authentic feel that Moran gives the story. It feels less like another work of fiction and more like a look back into history.

Author Interview with Michelle Moran - CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER

I adore the story of Cleopatra so I suppose it's no surprise that I fell in love with CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran as well. This was a wonderful coming of age story surrounding Cleopatra's children. Romance was key in this book and Moran executed this wonderfully. The forbidden love rivals that shared between Romeo and Juliet.

I am thrilled and excited to introduce you to Moran as she shares with us the answers to some of our biggest questions.

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What was your inspiration for writing CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER?

I do a great deal of traveling both for research and for fun, and most of my destinations are archaeological sites. On a trip to Alexandria in Egypt, I was afforded the amazing opportunity of participating in a dive to see the submerged remains of Cleopatra’s ancient city. More than ten thousand artifacts remain completely preserved underwater: sphinxes, amphorae, even the stones of the ancient palace. Although I'm not a fan of diving, it was an incredible experience, and it changed the way I looked at Cleopatra. I immediately wanted to know more about her life, and it was mere coincidence that my next trip took me to Italy, where her ten year-old children were brought to live after her suicide. While in Rome, I was able to retrace her daughter's steps, and upon seeing where her daughter had lived on the Palatine, I knew I had my next novel.

Do you come across any snags or any roadblocks when writing it?

One snag in every novel is that there is always so much that has to be left mouldering in the research drawer. Alas, you can never include every single twist and incidental in the finished novels.
CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER is a wonderful story, packed with emotion. How are fans responding to your book?

In Britain the novel has been out for a few weeks, and the fan mail has been delightful!
In the U.S. the advanced reader copies have been very warmly received, but we'll have the true test of live readers on September 15th!

What do you like (or dislike) about writing Young Adult fiction and/or Historical fiction?

I feel so blessed to be able to make a living at my dream job. Any minor irritations or deadline pressures are as nothing compared to the happiness I get from all of the discovery, the research, and of course, the happy readers!

Why did you decide to become an author?

This may not be the most fascinating answer, but the truth is, I’ve always known I would be a writer. I began my “career” at twelve by terrorizing the publishing industry and sending them copies of my three hundred page novel – handwritten and photocopied on a local Xerox machine! Since then, I’ve progressed to a computer, and if I’m really far away from home, I’ll jot down notes on my cell phone. The romantic element of my novels comes from my personality, I think. I’m a romantic at heart, and although I probably shouldn’t admit this, I always flip to the back of a book before reading it to see whether the characters live or die. I want the stories I read to have a happy ending! Of course, it doesn’t mean I won’t read a book without one. After all, English literature with only happy endings would be no fun at all.

What is your writing routine like? Do you do anything special to warm up, cool down or keep the story going?

I wake up, check email for half an hour, attend to my blog for twenty minutes, spend another half hour surfing other people’s blogs, and then at about 10am I get down to business. I open a diet coke (my mother says that when I’m fifty and have no teeth I’ll know why), check my outline for the day, and begin to write. I don’t stop until I get my 2000 words, even if that’s at nine o’clock at night.

Our readers always like to know, what kind of books do you read or what authors do you like to read?

I've just finished the fabulous The Last Queen by CW Gortner. Highly recommended!

What are your goals now that CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER is out?

To do justice to the incredible story of Madame Tussaud, the subject of the novel I am currently halfway through writing.

Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

I hope that they enjoy Cleopatra's Daughter, and that they get a chance to visit my website for interactive maps, family trees, fact-vs-fiction, and the backstories of all the major characters.

http://michellemoran.com/books.htm

I've tried to make the website an enriching experience for readers. For all Kindle angst, technology doesn't have to be the novelwriter's enemy. There is space for both pixels and paper in the marketplace, and when done right, I think that each can enrich the other!

DOUBLE OUT AND BACK Review - Lisa Leibow

DOUBLE OUT AND BACK by Lisa Leibow is a definite must read for women, especially mothers and those trying to become mothers. Taking a look at infertility and the societal pressure surrounding families and parenthood, Leibow gives us a beautiful and compelling story. Even though she's working with a sensitive topic, Leibow does so with amazing grace and sincerity. I highly recommend this book as I, myself, loved it.

Double Out and Back by Lisa Leibow
Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
Pages: 496 (eBook)
ISBN +13: 9781604353655
My Recommended Age Group: Older Young Adult to Adult
Released: August 13, 2009
Other work: Published Works

From Red Rose Publishing:

Not every woman who rides the fertility treatment roller coaster winds up like Octomom!

Who will find friends, family, and fertility?

Three women's lives are intricately intertwined, as Amelia Schwartz and Summer Curtis struggle with the complex dynamics of intrafamily embryo adoption, and Chandy Markum strives to make her patients' dreams a reality.

After more than a decade, of mourning her parents' deaths, anal-retentive Amelia Schwartz decides to take control of her life, pursuing single motherhood via embryo adoption. While her fertility doctor, Chandy, is preoccupied with the destruction of the cosmopolitan Cape Town of her youth and her first love in apartheid-torn South Africa, believing all is lost, her niece, a young, married, overachieving attorney Summer Curtis, juggles zealous career ambitions, demanding bosses, and friction with her husband over family and fertility issues. They must confront the painful reality that, no matter what technology humans devise to manipulate reproduction, prolong life, and construct family units, they have not yet mastered control over their beginnings and endings.

Thrown all into this is one story that can make or break. Are you up to it?

My thoughts:

There really is nothing better than finding a great book and I am glad to say that DOUBLE OUT AND BACK met that for me. This was a lovely read and one that I'm sure I will revisit often.

In DOUBLE OUT AND BACK, we get to visit Summer and Amelia as they make some reproductive and family planning choices. Chandy is the doctor whose mission in life is to help women achieve their dreams of motherhood. Reproductive technologies are becoming more and more complex, allowing many women to attain motherhood that would not have been able to without that help. Although the technology is there to help, many people don't look highly upon women that either choose to or need to use it. Leibow gives us a look into society and the images surrounding reproductive technology while at the same time giving us a look into the minds of each of the women we follow.

That was probably my favorite aspect of the book: being able to see how society saw reproductive technology while at the same time seeing how it affected the women involved with it. Leibow's book is so close to reality for many women that I have a hard time seeing how people could not be affected by her writing. I found her story captivating and at times even a little addicting. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, tension makes a book. The entire premise of Leibow's book is already full of tension, but she goes a few steps beyond and sprinkles tension throughout the pages of DOUBLE OUT AND BACK, creating a book that was seriously hard to put down. I would find myself finishing one chapter and saying, "Okay, time to go to bed." The next think I know, I'm walking upstairs to go pass out and I'm reading while I'm walking. It takes a truly great book to risk life and limb in order to not miss a single moment.

Leibow's character development was superb. In a story like this, where the people really make the story, character development is key. Without it, we have a good retelling of an interesting idea, but not something that's going to move people or instill some sort of emotion in them. Leibow worked this wonderfully. Not only do we get to see the emotional toll on both Amelia and Summer, but we get a good look at Chandy's story as well. Each character has their own background and special kick that makes them unique while Leibow is still able to pull the characters together and create a cohesive story out of them.

The last thing that I really need to mention about DOUBLE OUT AND BACK is the writing style. I found DOUBLE OUT AND BACK very easy to read and follow along with. Some of my favorite books would not be classified as easy to read although the stories are superb. It's obvious that Leibow put a lot of time and energy into making DOUBLE OUT AND BACK the best book that it could be. I was glad that in a book full of emotional strains and stresses I didn't have to fight with the words to journey along in the story. Instead, it was more like floating along quite fluidly across the pages as I got the chance to have an adventure with the characters.

Writing: 9
Interest: 10
Passion: 10
Originality: 10
Characters: 10
Pace: 9
Overall: 58/60 - A

Book Cover: 2/3

DOUBLE OUT AND BACK was a wonderful book and would be great for a variety of readers. With current controversy, relationship issues and a fair amount of drama, this is a story that brings entertainment as well as an emotional roller coaster. I recommend this to anyone looking for something to curl up with and any woman curious about the workings of life.

Guest Post with Lisa Leibow - DOUBLE OUT AND BACK

This week I have the joy and pleasure of being able to host Lisa Leibow as she tours the blogosphere with her book DOUBLE OUT AND BACK. This is a great story following the lives of three women and their adventures on the road of infertility.

Today I asked Lisa to tell us a little bit more about what inspired her to write DOUBLE OUT AND BACK. Let's all give Lisa a big, warm welcome.

Release Date: August 13, 2009
Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
ISBN +13: 9781604353655

From Goodreads:

Not every woman who rides the fertility treatment roller coaster winds up like Octomom!

Who will find friends, family, and fertility?

Three women’s lives are intricately intertwined, as Amelia Schwartz and Summer Curtis struggle with the complex dynamics of intrafamily embryo adoption, and Chandy Markum strives to make her patients’ dreams a reality.

After more than a decade, of mourning her parents’ deaths, anal-retentive Amelia Schwartz decides to take control of her life, pursuing single motherhood via embryo adoption. While her fertility doctor, Chandy, is preoccupied with the destruction of the cosmopolitan Cape Town of her youth and her first love in apartheid-torn South Africa, believing all is lost, her niece, a young, married, overachieving attorney Summer Curtis, juggles zealous career ambitions, demanding bosses, and friction with her husband over family and fertility issues. They must confront the painful reality that, no matter what technology humans devise to manipulate reproduction, prolong life, and construct family units, they have not yet mastered control over their beginnings and endings.

Thrown all into this is one story that can make or break. Are you up to it?

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My husband and I rode the roller coaster of fertility treatments together. We’re among the lucky ones who overcame our problem. Today, we’re living a life of happy chaos, raising our three children. The struggle of everything we went through to create our family seems a distant memory when we’re in the thick of the day-to-day. However, as we underwent treatment, I listened carefully to every warning and statistical possibility our doctors shared with us. Since I have a vivid imagination, I started to wonder about what it would be like if everything our doctor warned of actually happened? I marveled over the dividing line between taking charge of exploring all options to try to have a baby. At the same time, I lamented the absence of guarantees. I took comfort in the knowledge I was doing everything in my control. However, finally, I let go and realized that when it came down to it, I had no control over the outcome.

I wrote Double Out and Back because I became curious and fascinated with the sociological and societal impacts of assisted reproductive technologies. There are so many different ways we can start families these days, ranging from good, old-fashioned sex and adoption, to artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, donated eggs, sperm, or embryos. Children may grow up in homes with a mother and father, single parents, or same-sex parents. Women can give birth to babies not biologically related to them, and the list goes on. I wanted to explore these issues from a literary perspective.

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Thanks so much for stopping by today Lisa and sharing your thoughts with us. There are huge sociological issues that come along with infertility and the methods used to help women who suffer from it as well as quite a bit of societal pressure to do one thing or another. I think DOUBLE OUT AND BACK is a huge benefit to women everywhere whether they suffer through these intense struggles or not.

Author Interview with Lisa Leibow - DOUBLE OUT AND BACK

Lisa Leibow's latest book, DOUBLE OUT AND BACK follows a trio of women and their journey to become mothers. With infertility issues on the rise, Leibow brings us a story that's very close to my heart. She shows us that not every fertility story ends up with an Octomom ending.

I am beyond thrilled to be able to host Lisa here for the next few days as she tours the blogosphere with DOUBLE OUT AND BACK. This was a fantastic story that I would recommend to any mother, any mother to be, or really anyone out looking for an entertaining read.

Release Date: August 13, 2009
Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
ISBN +13: 9781604353655

From Goodreads:

Not every woman who rides the fertility treatment roller coaster winds up like Octomom!

Who will find friends, family, and fertility?

Three women’s lives are intricately intertwined, as Amelia Schwartz and Summer Curtis struggle with the complex dynamics of intrafamily embryo adoption, and Chandy Markum strives to make her patients’ dreams a reality.

After more than a decade, of mourning her parents’ deaths, anal-retentive Amelia Schwartz decides to take control of her life, pursuing single motherhood via embryo adoption. While her fertility doctor, Chandy, is preoccupied with the destruction of the cosmopolitan Cape Town of her youth and her first love in apartheid-torn South Africa, believing all is lost, her niece, a young, married, overachieving attorney Summer Curtis, juggles zealous career ambitions, demanding bosses, and friction with her husband over family and fertility issues. They must confront the painful reality that, no matter what technology humans devise to manipulate reproduction, prolong life, and construct family units, they have not yet mastered control over their beginnings and endings.

Thrown all into this is one story that can make or break. Are you up to it?

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What was your inspiration for writing DOUBLE OUT AND BACK? Why was it important for you to tell this story?

I wrote DOUBLE OUT AND BACK because I became curious and fascinated with the sociological and societal impacts of assisted reproductive technologies. There are so many different ways we can start families these days, ranging from good, old-fashioned sex and adoption, to artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, donated eggs, sperm, or embryos. Children may grow up in homes with a mother and father, single parents, or same-sex parents. Women can give birth to babies not biologically related to them, and the list goes on. I wanted to explore these issues from a literary perspective.

Do you come across any snags or any roadblocks when writing it?

Summer’s, Amelia’s, and Chandy’s stories came to me separately, almost as if they were three novellas. However, when it came to presenting the tales in the most effective way, I felt a need to weave together the multiple plotlines. It was a huge challenge to fit together all of the pieces of the puzzle. But in the end, it really worked!

What is your favorite aspect of DOUBLE OUT AND BACK?

The aspect of the novel I found most exciting to write is the part that takes place in pre-Apartheid South Africa. One might call me a historical fiction writer wannabe. But because this was my first novel, I was reluctant to head full-force into the challenges of that genre. Chandy’s story, however, let me dabble in the genre and practice creating a time and place I never experienced first-hand. I hope I succeeded in bringing District Six in Cape Town to life for my readers. If early readers are any indication, I have done fine, since one reader was surprised to hear my American accent, as she thought I hailed from South Africa.

How are fans responding to your book?

DOUBLE OUT AND BACK has only been available for a few weeks now and I’m thrilled to have received requests from book clubs to participate in their discussions of it. In fact, if any of your readers are in a book club and would like to add my novel to their picks. I’m available to participate in your discussion of the novel either via conference call, on-line chat, or in person if you live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Contact me via my website.

Did you have to do any special research when writing DOUBLE OUT AND BACK? How did this impact the book?

I tend to get lost in the research as much as I get lost in the writing. I needed to research not only locations, and medical advances in treatments for infertility, but also the rich history of South Africa, the paths of Jewish immigrants. Of course, the internet is a valuable tool for uncovering information. However, living in the D.C. metropolitan area, I have access to a wealth of information and artifacts through the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, and a multitude of superb university library collections.

By way of example of how information I uncovered along the way impacted the novel, I point to two bits. First, I discovered a database listing where Jews leaving Eastern Europe emigrated at the turn of the century, including their stated occupations, family members, and planned destinations in and out of Liverpool. This gave me some of the background I needed to bring Chandy’s grandmother to life in a meaningful way.

The more I read, the more I became fascinated by the melting-pot of diverse cultures in pre-Apartheid Cape Town. I became saddened with what happens when such a rich, cosmopolitan community is torn apart by political extremists. Another intriguing piece of information that influenced this aspect of DOUBLE OUT AND BACK is a now-declassified briefing books from the US State Department on South Africa and its implementation of Apartheid. Through this collection, I was able to piece together more of Chandy’s history and the memories that haunt her.

Can you tell us a little bit about your journey on the road to publication?

Across the globe, publishers, literary agents, and bookstores are struggling to anticipate and manage the rapidly changing business of books. The biggest challenge for me was to chart a course for targeting queries to agents and publishers who might take a chance on a first time author in this industry in transition. I didn’t have much luck attracting the attention of an agent as an unknown, first-time novelist. However, a friend from one of my critique groups convinced me to test the waters with some smaller presses who didn’t require agent-representation. I got lucky when Red Rose Publishing, traditionally a publisher of romance novels, decided to expand their mainstream fiction line and that DOUBLE OUT AND BACK was just what they needed. And here I am today, promoting my debut novel!

What do you like (or dislike) about writing in this genre and publishing eBooks?

DOUBLE OUT AND BACK is mainstream fiction. It has some elements of historical fiction, multicultural fiction, chick lit, and dark romance. I guess if I had to classify it, I’d call it smart women’s fiction. I like writing smart women’s fiction because it allows me to explore political, medical, and social issues from a literary perspective. The process of researching history, geography, technology, and psychology then crafting a story from what I discover stimulates my intellectual curiosity and provides a tremendous creative outlet.

As for publishing eBooks, I have no problem that Red Rose Publishing, an innovative, entrepreneurial, small press, initially published DOUBLE OUT AND BACK in e-book format. E-reader manufacturers like Kindle, Sony, and the soon-to-come Apple, show increasing market penetration, and the younger generation already reads on computer screens, iPhones, and other handheld devices. For those who crave the printed page, the trade paperback of DOUBLE OUT AND BACK is coming soon.

Why did you decide to become an author?

As a child I loved to play make-believe. Later, as a teen and young adult, I became involved in Community Theater. This allowed me to stand in someone else’s shoes and play pretend some more. Some may even argue that my play-acting carried over into representing my client’s best interests as an attorney for those years. Once I made the transition away from practicing law and sought a creative and intellectual outlet I could fit into my hectic family life, delving into the craft of writing fiction seemed a natural fit. The need to get into another character’s head and show the world from a new perspective is so much like acting and playing make-believe of my youth. Coupled with the love of research, writing, and discipline that my legal education and career instilled, I found being an author the perfect pursuit to in which to capitalize on my strengths.

What is your writing routine like? Do you do anything special to warm up, cool down or keep the story going?

I don’t know if I have a real routine, with warm ups, cool downs, or anything like that. However, when I’m writing a first draft of a story, I make it a point to hold off on any revisions and trudge through to the end. This write now, revise later mode of getting the first draft onto the page and out of my head has worked well for me. It’s freeing. It makes me less afraid to make a mistake. It makes it so I don’t get bogged down in the details. If I can’t come up with a good description of a location or I’m not sure which path I wish a character to travel, I make a note in the text, or write both scenarios to choose from later, and move on. The first draft is a brain dump and I’m the only one who ever reads it. The real work comes at revision time. That’s when the novel really takes shape.

With your busy schedule, you must have some wonderful time management tricks. Care to share?

My life with a husband, three boys, a dog, and two turtles is a happy chaos that doesn’t lend itself to a strict, daily, writing schedule. However, I do set aside at least two, full days each week to write. I have organized a writer’s commitment group at my local library where area writers get together once a week to work on their own projects, then break for lunch together at a nearby, local dive. The other writing day is spent meeting a friend to write together and have lunch. I hope you don’t find my mention of lunching with other writers odd. It’s actually an important part of my writing life. Writing can be isolating and it’s nice to find colleagues with whom to take a break in the middle of the day.

Other than these two structured times, I fit in bonus writing-time where my schedule allows, in between carpools to sporting events, music lessons, play dates, religious school, etc.

Every once in a while I get to a point in a manuscript where I need a huge chunk of time to take a look at the big picture, to see where there are pacing issues, and to discover plot holes, inconsistencies, and redundancies. That’s when I take-off for a weekend, immerse myself in the manuscript, and come home with a concrete list of improvements, additions, chapters to edit, descriptions to hone, opportunities to delve deeper into character. Then I can take that list and work through it using the fifteen-minutes-here, twenty-minutes-there approach that real life allows.

Our readers always like to know, what kind of books do you read or what authors do you like to read?

I have diverse taste in reading. I enjoy reading fiction with a strong voice and unique perspective. I love quality women’s fiction, mainstream fiction, historical, and literary fiction. I read and love so many authors, it’s difficult to narrow it down. However, here are some of those I consider the masters. I’m in awe of Alice Munro’s ability to sum up an entire lifetime in a sentence. I love the quirky characters of John Irving, the vivid, detailed descriptions of Ayn Rand, and the strong, pithy dialogue of Ernest Hemingway. I admire the character driven fiction of Julia Glass and the expertly plotted tales of Steven King. I admire the boldness of Barbara Kingsolver to tackle multiple, first-person points-of-view in one novel, and Amy Tan’s ability to carry me to a time and place I’ve never been and make it seem real to me.

What are your goals now that DOUBLE OUT AND BACK is complete?

My primary goal is to keep on writing. I have so many plot ideas percolating in my brain, I only hope I have enough time and energy to write them all.

Are you working on any other projects currently?

I routinely share that I’m perpetually almost finished with my second novel. The first draft manuscript of a young adult fantasy novel is also awaiting my attention. And, as I mentioned above, numerous other novel concepts are in the research and development phase.

Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

Sure. DOUBLE OUT AND BACK is available now at www.RedRosePublishing.com and is coming soon to other e-book outlets, like Book Strand, Mobipocket, All Romance, My Book Store and More, Barnes and Noble, Fictionwise, and Amazon. Distribution of DOUBLE OUT AND BACK is still in what I’m calling its “Sneak Preview,” e-book phase. The print book is coming soon. If you would like to learn more about me or my writing, visit my website at www.LLLeibow.com. There, you will find links to my individual blog, Lisa Leibow’s Fodder for Fiction, and my group blog, The Roses of Prose, and buttons to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Also, if any of your readers plan to be in the Albany, New York area on September 12, from 1:00-3:00 in the afternoon, stop by to join me and other select Red Rose Publishing authors for a book signing at Borders Books in the Crossgates Mall. It should be a blast!

Finally, I can’t thank you enough for having me as a guest on A Journey of Books. I really enjoyed being here.

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Thank you so much for stopping by today Lisa and answering my burning questions!

Interview with blogger Undine of Upsidedown Duck

Today I have Undine from Upsidedown Duck here to visit with us for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Let's all give a warm welcome as Undine tells us a little bit more about what went into the creation of Upsidedown Duck!

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Everyone is going to ask, what does the name of your blog mean?

Essentially, it’s from a comment that a friend of mine made about me that stuck with me for a while. You know how ducks are known for appearing calm on the surface of the water, while their legs are moving furiously under the water where you can’t see them? Well, my friend applied that to me, except he said I was like an upsidedown duck since my mind is the thing that is constantly in furious motion, while on the surface, I am usually able to appear completely calm and collected. I thought it would be the perfect name for my blog where I attempt to work out some of the crazy thoughts and ideas that are running through my mind.

When and why did you start blogging?

Originally, I started blogging in the spring of my freshman year of college (i.e. spring of 2007), when I had to make a blog to keep track of my ideas for the class. This was my first introduction to blogging. For a while after that, I didn’t blog, but was constantly reading blogs and exploring the far reaches of the blogosphere. It wasn’t until a year later, in January of 2008 (confession: I had to look in my archives to figure this out!), when I finally started a blog just for myself. I had thought about it for a while, but wanted to wait until I had it right, but finally realized that the time would never be “right” and so I had to start it at some point. It started off slow, but now I’m blogging more regularly (as time/school permits) and attempting to reach out more to the fabulous communities all over the blogosphere.

What do you like/dislike about blogging?

What I love about blogging is that it gives me an outlet for my thoughts that I would never otherwise have. I am constantly reading and thinking about things in my life (particularly since I’m in school), and there are so many interesting things that simply aren’t discussed in the classroom that I would love to talk about. So I love having an outlet for those thoughts as well as the opportunity to write more than the few papers that I write for class.

Slightly facetiously, what I dislike about blogging is that it is always in the back of my mind! I am always thinking, oh! I want to blog about that!, but then I usually don’t get the chance, because I’ve either forgotten about it by the time I sit down at my computer, or I just can’t find the time to sit down and give the topic the attention I feel it deserves. Which is why my posting schedule is so sporadic.

Less facetiously, I don’t like a) how hard it is to get people to comment on my blog and b) how much blogging is often looked down upon. For the first, as I mentioned above, I love writing about things I don’t get the opportunity to discuss in class. Unfortunately, it seems to be just as hard to discuss it in the blogosphere sometimes. And there’s not much I can really do about B…

How would you describe your blog?

Oh goodness. My blog is a combination book-blog and diary-blog I suppose. I guess it’s primarily a diary-blog, since that’s what it started as, and I have friends that read it, so I don’t want the book-blogging side to completely take over, but I am moving a bit more towards book blogging – or at least, trying to!


Now describe it in three words or less!

Life, passion, books!

What sorts of books do you read?

I read almost anything, except romance. I read so much, though, that for me to read a new book, it really needs to catch my eye to be considered as worthy of my (limited) time. I never pick up any of the more formulaic books, unless someone recommends it highly.

Have your tastes changed since you started the blog?

I read more non-fiction, surprisingly. I have a few reviews of non-fiction where I say that I never read non-fiction, only to realize that a bunch of my reviews (well, relatively speaking, since there aren’t very many yet!) are non-fiction.

Care to list a few of your favorite books from 2009? Where did you learn about these?

Oh goodness. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, which I just happened across in a store. Best impulse buy of the year!

Read the book first or watch the movie first?

Book, always! Otherwise, I feel like I’m missing out on so much.

Do you accept books for review? Do you request books for review?

Not currently. I’m a college student, and there is extremely limited room in my dorm, so it’s not worth the hassle. Once I graduate, though, I’ll probably start accepting books for review. The only caveat here is that I would accept e-books, since I have a Kindle on which to read them, but I haven’t had any offers yet!

Where do you usually get your book?

During vacations, my library at home, since I work there and thus get first access to some awesome new books! My library at school has a much more limited selection of “fun” books, though with my increased interest in non-fiction, perhaps I’ll look some more. Otherwise, I love trolling used bookstores (again: college budget!) and discovering new old books that way.

Do you use any sort of formula for your reviews? Is there some format that you tend to follow?

I do have a format, with the title, author, publisher, genres, and rating, and then the summary from the book cover, since I don’t trust myself to not give spoilers if I were to summarize! Then I like to talk about how I came across the book, i.e. why I decided to read it, and then segue into my thoughts about it.

What does your weekly blog schedule look like?

Schedule? Qu’est-ce que c’est? Well, I suppose I do actually have a bit of a schedule for my blog, though I rarely follow it. I try to post reviews of books on Mondays, and fanfiction on Fridays, but unfortunately, it doesn’t always go as planned. In a perfect world, I’d have all reviews planned, written, and scheduled to be posted weeks in advance, but alas, earwax.

With your busy schedule, how do you find the time to stay current with your blog?

In short, I don’t! I actually use it as a lovely procrastination tool; when I have a paper to write for school and can’t seem to get started, it sometime help to write about something else on my blog, just to get the writing flow started. Otherwise, it’s all about just making the time for blogging. Many of my posts, as you may notice, are written quite late at night, which is usually my only free time. To let you in on a little secret: the morning posts are all scheduled posts, which are usually written in bursts of free time.

I noticed that you tend to discuss fanfiction fairly often. Tell us what you love about fanfiction and perhaps share your favorite fanfiction post.

Up until a few months ago, actually, I was a staunch skeptic of fanfiction. Then I was bored, asked my roommate for suggestions, and she got me hooked. What I love about fanfic is the passion. Fanfic authors are people who write simply for the love of it, and the love of the original story and characters. These are people who write hundreds of thousands of words that they will never get paid for. And their passion shines through. It’s a bit awe-inspiring, if you think about it.

Do you have any words of wisdom to share with either new or experienced bloggers?

Keep going. It’s easy to give up after a week, or a month, especially when there’s no apparent recognition. But there’s a reason you started blogging, so keep going and reaching out to others in the blogosphere.

The money question: If you ended up stranded on a desert island and could only take three books and one more item, what would you bring?

Is it cheating if I said I’d bring my Kindle stocked with my favorite books and stories? If so, then this is wicked hard. My one item would probably be some way for me to write. Or a supply of chocolate. Or my dog. Actually, definitely my puppy. My three books might be The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, an omnibus of all the Harry Potter books, and King of Shadows by Susan Cooper.

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Thanks so much for stopping by to chat Undine! Remember to visit Upsidedown Duck and say hi!

THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH Review - Allison Hoover Bartlett

You know, there's nothing like a little mystery and humor to get a Tuesday moving. THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH by Allison Hoover Bartlett is the perfect book to satisfy that criteria. I was a little hesitant about this book at first because the premise just seemed to fascinating to really end up being good, but the book held up quite well to the hype. This was an entertaining story perfectly built for book lovers that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good read.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Pages: 288
ISBN +13: 9781594488917
My Recommended Age Group: Any Age
Released: September 17, 2009

Shop Indie!

From Bartlett's Website:

What would you do for the love of a good book? For John Charles Gilkey, the answer is: go to prison.

Unrepentant book thief Gilkey has stolen a fortune in rare books from around the country. Yet unlike most thieves, who steal for profit, Gilkey steals for love—the love of books. Perhaps equally obsessive, though, is Ken Sanders, the self-appointed "bibliodick" driven to catch him. Sanders, a lifelong rare book collector and dealer turned amateur detective, will stop at nothing to catch the thief plaguing his trade.

In following both of these eccentric characters, journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett plunged deep into a world of fanatical book lust, and ultimately found herself caught between the many people interested in finding Gilkey's stolen treasure and the man who wanted to keep it hidden: the thief himself. With a mixture of suspense, insight, and humor, Bartlett has woven this cat-and-mouse chase into a narrative that not only reveals exactly how Gilkey pulled off his crimes and how Sanders eventually caught him, but also explores the romance of books, the lure to collect them, and the temptation to steal them. All collectors have stories of what first made them fall in love, and Gilkey and Sanders are no different. Bartlett puts their stories into the larger context of book passion, collection, and theft through the ages.

Immersing the reader in a rich, wide world of literary obsession, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much exposes the profound role books play in all of our lives, the reverence in which these everyday objects are still held, and the craving that makes some people willing to stop at nothing to possess the books they love.

My thoughts:

THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH is the entertaining story of journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett's journey to discover more about the notorious book thief John Gilkey and Ken Sanders, the book lover and dealer whose goal in life is to catch Gilkey. Beginning with a story and progressing into a full on book affair, this story is one that book lovers everywhere will fall in love with.

The one thing that really made THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH superb to me was the writing style. Bartlett has an amazing way with words in that it's often difficult to draw the line between reality and the page. It's easier to imagine someone sitting there and telling the story to you than it is realizing that you're just reading words on a page. Her writing flows beautifully and fully engages the reader. It's not every day that I find myself acquainted with a book that I refuse to put down but THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH was one of them.

We've all heard the saying before that books change lives, but in THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH, Bartlett shows us what that really means. Coming from a lover of books to a lover of books, the book hit upon every reason why I love books so much. It was like floating in a warm, silky cloud of wonderful bookness.

I might be a little biased about THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH because I loved the topic and the premise of the story, but I think that even fans of regular detective stories or those just looking for a bit of entertainment will find something to love in Bartlett's work. Her character development is great and by the end of the book I really felt like we knew the characters personally. There's nothing worse than a book with a good plot, but lackluster characters. Luckily, Bartlett was able to create a wonderful book retelling her adventure and breathed life into the characters during the process.

Writing: 9
Interest: 10
Passion: 9
Originality: 10
Characters: 10
Pace: 9
Overall: 57/60 - A

Book Cover: 3/3

THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH obviously earns top marks in my book but I'm fairly certain it will for other people as well. Like I mentioned, I was unsure of the story to begin with, but quickly fell in love with Bartlett's writing and the story she shared with us.

MY COUSIN CAROLINE Giveaway

I recently had the honor of hosting Rebecca Ann Collins, author of MY COUSIN CAROLINE here. She told us a little more about her latest book and gave us some insight on how she wrote the series. If you're a fan of Jane Austen and any of the Austen sequels, I think you will really love MY COUSIN CAROLINE.

Want to become more acquainted with Collins' work? What better way than to win a copy! Today we are giving away one set of The Pemberley Chronicles and MY COUSIN CAROLINE. These two books are great starters for Collins' stories. See below for details on how to win.

Release Date: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Sourcebooks
ISBN +13: 9781402224317


From Goodreads:

Sixth in the bestselling Jane Austen sequel series from Australia

In this installment of The Pemberley Chronicles series, Mr. Darcy's cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth's cousin Caroline Gardiner take center stage.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Caroline develops from a pretty young girl into a woman of intelligence and passion, embodying some of Austen's own values. Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, and the Wickhams all move through the story as Caroline falls in love, marries, and raises her children. Caroline rejects the role of a compliant Victorian wife and mother, instead becoming a spirited and outspoken advocate of reformist causes in spite of the danger of scandal.

Caroline's advocacy of reform, undaunted by criticism, demonstrates strength in a time when a woman's role was severely restricted.

How to win:

We are giving away one set. Pay attention as the rules may have changed.

You can do any or all of these to enter the giveaway but the one thing you have to do is leave me a comment including some sort of contact information (email works).

+1 - Darcy or Wickham?
+2 - For following on Blogger (+1 additional if you already follow and for Twitter follows)
+3 - For commenting on Collins' guest post.
+3 - If you post a link to this on your blog (+1 additional for every other place you post about this).
+2 - If you refer someone
+1 - If you tell me who referred you.
+1ea - Comment on the tour post of any of the other participating blogs. Make sure to come back and tell me where you commented.

Aside from leaving me links and such to go along with your entries, the only other thing I ask is that you keep all of your entries to one comment. Additional comments for reposting this later are fine.

This contest will end September 30, 2009 at midnight Eastern. Make sure you come back and check to see who won. I won't guarantee to hunt winners down.

Sorry, but this contest is only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.
We can't ship to PO Boxes so make sure you have an alternate mailing address.

This has been part of a blog tour with Sourcebooks.

Participating Blogs:

August 25—Staring Fresh http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
August 31—My Reading Spot http://myreadingspot.blogspot.com/
September 1—A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf http://www.abibliophile.com/
September 2—Grace’s Book Blog http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/
September 3—Book Nerd Extraordinaire http://booknerdextraordinaire.blogspot.com/
September 4—This Book For Free http://thisbookforfree.com/
September 7—Night Owl Romance http://www.nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/
September 8—Love Romance Passion http://www.loveromancepassion.com/
September 9—Romance Reader at Heart’s Novel Thoughts Blog http://novelthoughts.wordpress.com/
September 11—The Review From Here/Scribe Vibe http://scribevibe.blogspot.com/
September 14— A Journey of Books http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com/
September 16— Everything Victorian http://myvictorianbooks.blogspot.com/

Guest Post with Rebecca Ann Collins - MY COUSIN CAROLINE

It's Monday. Typically I would end right there because Mondays are definitely not my favorite day of the week. However, today is a little different. I get to start my week off with a nice bit of romance and a visit with some of my favorite characters.

Rebecca Ann Collins' series, The Pemberley Chronicles, is a wonder visit back to the beloved characters of Jane Austen. MY COUSIN CAROLINE in particular, takes us on a journey to discover the relationship between Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth's cousin, Caroline Gardiner. Collins' explores Caroline's life as an independent woman in an age where independence isn't quite as acceptable as it is today.

With a great story and engaging characters, Collins' created something that we can lose ourselves in. I have the great honor and privilege today of hosting Collins as she discusses a little more about what went into the creation of The Pemberley Chronicles.

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Rebecca Ann Collins

MY COUSIN CAROLINE

Thank you very much for inviting me to contribute to your interesting blog!

Speaking of Journeys and Books, it would seem to be quite an appropriate metaphor to use when describing the project I undertook, when I first began work on The Pemberley Chronicles.

Considering that the original author wrote her classic masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice almost two hundred years ago, in a social environment that would be unrecognisable in England today, to write a credible account of the continuing lives of the Pemberley families required more than some dry historical and social research. If I were to commit myself to “extending the lives of Jane Austen’s characters into the new and dynamic era of 19th century England,” there was indeed a long road to travel into that era. Whether using original characters or adding new ones, authenticity is vital to the success of a sequel.

In addition to getting the ambience right, so that the characters could be completely comfortable in their environment, as they moved from Georgian to Victorian society, it was necessary to mine the original novel to find clues to the characters themselves, in order to show their development from youth to maturity. If, when writing a sequel, one is content to use the guidelines provided by the original author, one is less likely to blunder. With Austen’s characters, it is best to look within the text for the clues she provides, for they are quite clear. With the Bennet family it wasn’t difficult because Jane Austen gives her readers an excellent set of pen portraits. Similarly, with the Bingleys and Gardiners it wasn’t difficult to draw out their characteristics, based on the facts Miss Austen left us in her story.

Discovering Mr. Darcy was a somewhat more complex proposition, mainly because his character is not described in simple terms. He is, at the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, a much disliked character proud and arrogant- and yet there are hints that he is a man of integrity, well read and educated, who commands the loyalty and even the affection of his friends, like Mr. Bingley and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. We can discount the fawning words of Miss Bingley, who has quite another agenda, but cannot ignore the lavish praise from his housekeeper.

What is even more interesting about Mr. Darcy is the fact that his character actually develops and changes quite remarkably in the course of the novel. Indeed, we hear from his own lips that, stung by Elizabeth’s criticism, he made a deliberate effort to change his character and conduct, in order to win her regard and hopefully her love. So, having set aside preconceptions, one has to discover the real Mr Darcy, based on what he reveals of himself, how others speak of him, and on Elizabeth’s final verdict, “he is truly the best man I have ever known.”

Using this same method, in My Cousin Caroline, it was possible to take one of Jane Austen’s minor characters, the amiable Colonel Fitzwilliam (the younger son of an earl), and develop a likeable, responsible, gentleman with a social conscience, who would make a suitable husband for Elizabeth’s cousin, young Caroline Gardiner. She is only a child in the original novel, so it was easy to fashion a young girl whose beauty and sweet disposition are not her only attractions; for she is also intelligent, capable and fiercely loyal. When they fall in love, they seem an ideal pair destined for a happy marriage.

However, it was not enough to assert this; because this is not a fairy tale with a “and they lived happily ever after” ending. To be credible, it was necessary to demonstrate what, apart from physical attraction, had brought Caroline and her beloved Colonel together and how they coped with the challenges they would face. He has political ambitions and she is full of social ideals. How they combine these with raising a loving family is the real story of My Cousin Caroline and in telling it, I used the clues left by Jane Austen about her characters and their families together with some valuable research into the society of the period.

Having made the journey back in time, it was possible to tell with genuine conviction, a love story that brought two attractive, passionate characters together in a period of unprecedented social and political change.

I hope your readers will enjoy reading it as much as I loved telling it.

Rebecca Ann Collins

My Cousin Caroline; In Stores September 1, 2009!

In this installment of The Pemberley Chronicles series, Mr. Darcy's cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth's cousin Caroline Gardiner take center stage.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Caroline develops from a pretty young girl into a woman of intelligence and passion, embodying some of Austen's own values. Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, and the Wickhams all move through the story as Caroline falls in love, marries, and raises her children. Caroline rejects the role of a compliant Victorian wife and mother, instead becoming a spirited and outspoken advocate of reformist causes in spite of the danger of scandal.

Caroline's advocacy of reform, undaunted by criticism, demonstrates strength in a time when a woman's role was severely restricted.

About the Author

Rebecca Ann Collins is the pen name of an author in Australia who loves Jane Austen’s work so much that she has written a series of 10 sequels to Pride and Prejudice, following Austen’s beloved characters, introducing new ones and bringing the characters into a new historical era. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written, this series has been extremely successful in Australia with over 80,000 books sold. For more information, please visit http://www.rebeccaanncollins.com/.

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Thank you so much for stopping by today Rebecca!

This has been part of a blog tour with Sourcebooks.

Participating Blogs:

August 25—Staring Fresh http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
August 31—My Reading Spot http://myreadingspot.blogspot.com/
September 1—A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf http://www.abibliophile.com/
September 2—Grace’s Book Blog http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/
September 3—Book Nerd Extraordinaire http://booknerdextraordinaire.blogspot.com/
September 4—This Book For Free http://thisbookforfree.com/
September 7—Night Owl Romance http://www.nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/
September 8—Love Romance Passion http://www.loveromancepassion.com/
September 9—Romance Reader at Heart’s Novel Thoughts Blog http://novelthoughts.wordpress.com/
September 11—The Review From Here/Scribe Vibe http://scribevibe.blogspot.com/
September 14— A Journey of Books http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com/
September 16— Everything Victorian http://myvictorianbooks.blogspot.com/

LUCAN Review - Susan Kearney

Susan Kearney’s LUCAN looked interesting and captured my interest with it’s lovely cover and intriguing synopsis. I figured it would be a cute romance and a nice fantasy with enough action to keep the reader engaged. What I did not expect that a thrilling tale bursting forth from a new take on the legend of the Holy Grail. I didn’t expect the story, I didn’t expect the intense chemistry between the characters and I certainly didn’t expect to be so captivated by this book!

Lucan by Susan Kearney
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 325
ISBN +13: 9780446543316
My Recommended Age Group: Adult
Released: September 5, 2009
Other work: Published Works

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From Goodreads:

THEIR LOVE IS FORBIDDEN

Healer and high priestess of her people, Lady Cael is fated to life without a mate. But a mysterious explorer named Lucan Rourke doesn't know her secrets, and his touch makes her crave a future that her extraordinary birthright has forbidden her. . .

BUT DANGER IS NO MATCH FOR DESIRE

Lucan has just one mission on Pendragon: to find the mythical Holy Grail, Earth's only hope for survival. His powerful attraction to Cael is a distraction he can't afford, unless he convinces her to join forces with him. Yet working so closely together only heightens their passion . . . even when the terrifying truth of Cael's heritage threatens to shatter Lucan's every belief-and the galaxy itself.

My thoughts:

Lady Cael lives a sad and lonely life. She is the High Priestess of Pendragon and goes through every day without the touch of a single soul. From the time she was trained to be a Priestess as a young child, it became a taboo to touch her and more than that, anyone found doing so would be put to death. Even her family has a strict hands-off rule. If that wasn’t depressing enough, try having a sudden and overwhelming desire build up for a man just arrived on Pendragon. He can’t touch her and yet every fiber of her being yearns for him. Want to talk about romantic tension? Here it is!

Earth is dying, or rather, the people on Earth are. Infertility has spread across the planet like a nasty plague and Lucan’s sister is not immune. After she loses another baby, her twin brother Lucan sets out on a quest to cure her and the other women of Earth. After discovering ancient documents that describe the Holy Grail and where it can be found, Lucan sets off on a trip through space to Pendragon where his fate and that of Lady Cael will eventually meet.

I’ve said it time and time again. Tension makes a story, especially a romantic story. Tension is the element that keeps the reader wanting to turn the pages. When you say, “Oh, just one more paragraph/page/chapter,” and yet you just can’t seem to stop at that mark, that’s tension at play. A book with no tension has no way to grab on to the reader and pull them in, gripping like some fierce magnet. I am thrilled to say that the tension is definitely present in LUCAN. Kearney does an amazing job of making the story easy to read and engaging while at the same time keeping it from getting too heavy. There is such a thing as too much tension, in my opinion. Tension should rise and fall like a wave; constant high tension is bound to wear the reader out. Kearney is obviously a master at this ruling aspect of writing because the tension just felt perfect through the story.

Just as it is hard to watch a romantic scene between two actors on television when they have no chemistry, it’s equally hard to watch a romantic scene between two characters in a book when they have no chemistry. In some aspects I think that writing a romance might be harder than filming one because you have to create the chemistry and I don’t think that is a natural talent for everyone. Again, Kearney surprised me with the romantic touch she gave to her characters. With the obvious forbidden attraction between Lady Cael and Lucan aside, the characters still maintained a wonderfully bit of chemistry between them. While reading, I constantly pictured Cael and Lucan as two magnets drawn to each other. Kearney’s work her definitely helped to make the story for me and has created a romance that will appeal to many.

Lastly, I have to discuss the overall plot of this book. I think it was a brilliant idea to combine a story that usually deals with knights, castles and a semi fantasy based reality with a complete departure from reality. We have the legend of the Holy Grail in the same story as space travel and shapeshifting High Priestesses. Awesome! Kearney’s beautiful writing would have in and of itself drawn me in to the story, but it was the story that she fashioned that made this a success in my eyes and will most likely become a success everywhere else.

Fair warning time: There are adult themes and adult scenes within the pages of LUCAN.

Writing: 9
Interest: 10
Passion: 10
Originality: 10
Characters: 10
Pace: 9
Overall: 58/60 - A

Book Cover: 3/3

I obviously have to give top marks to LUCAN. This was a wonderful book that I would be thrilled to read over and over. I have a feel it would never get old either. Lovers of Romance will just adore this while fans of Science Fiction / Fantasy will find a new and refreshing take on an old tale.

Books 2 and 3 of the Pendragon Legacy are due out soon from Forever (Grand Central Publishing). Rion (book 2) is due out December 2009 and Jordan (book 3) is due out March 2010.