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Guest Post with Patricia Selbert, author of The House of Six Doors & Giveaway (US only)

February 28, 2011 by Darlene


Good day everyone! Today we’ve got Patricia Selbert, author of The House of Six Doors with us at Peeking Between the Pages. I’m just reading The House of Six Doors right now – my review will be up on Thursday. I’m about halfway through and really enjoying it – I’d describe it as a coming of age story. Patricia joins us today to talk about What Inspired her to write The House of Six Doors…

The main inspiration for The House of Six Doors was my mother who was emotionally unstable.

Living with her was somewhat like the Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times.” Although it was disturbing to live with the real mama, it was also very rich, especially as writing material.

The real Mama was dramatic and overbearing in both her manic and depressed states. During my younger years, I was horrified I had her as a mother. But once I left home and the drama subsided I was able to get some perspective and a sense of myself.

It took many years to find my voice. At first my writing served as a reflection, then slowly my writing took on a life of it’s own. I found inspiration in everything around me. I learned to live by the metaphor in the novel, “three doors to let in wisdom, compassion and gratitude and three doors to let out ignorance, anger and greed.”

Curaçao, the island I am from, was the second main inspiration for The House of Six Doors. Contrasting Curacao to Hollywood in the 70’s was too good to pass up, it was so extreme.
__________

Thank you so much for this guest post Patricia! I always love to hear what the inspiration or meaning is for someone behind their writing.
__________

About the Book (from Patricia Selbert’s website)

Thirteen-year-old Serena is torn from everything that’s familiar on her island home. “Everything will be better in America,” her mother tells her. They arrive in the US to find nothing as they expected. Speaking fluent Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamentu (the coloquial language of Curaçao), but limited English, Serena learns to pretend that everything’s fine while struggling to live up to her mother’s impossibly high expectations; always afraid to send her mother into another downward spiral of depression. She juggles responsibility for her mother’s well-being with school, a secret boyfriend, and a growing desire for independence, in a foreign land: Hollywood.

The wisdom of her grandmother, a mixed-race mystic, gives her solace, which she clings to tenaciously despite the thousands of miles between them. Coming of age in a foreign land, faced with enormous obstacles, Serena finds her own feet and the acceptance that sets her free.

About the Author (from Patricia Selbert’s website)

PATRICIA SELBERT was raised on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao, speaking four languages. She immigrated to California at age 13, later representing the Netherlands Antilles in equestrian events at the World Championships and the Pan American Games.

Her work has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines. Currently, she’s promoting her novel, The House of Six Doors, which launches on February 1, 2011. She lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband, two sons, and three dogs.

To find out more about Patricia Selbert you can find her at her website and her personal blog!
__________

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of The House of Six Doors by Patricia Selbert up for grabs courtesy of the publisher. To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog. If you already do, thank you, and let me know in your comment as the extra entry is yours as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 19, 2011. Good luck everyone!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. debbie says

    February 28, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    This sounds alot like my own mother. I would love to read this book.
    I already am a gfc follower.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

  2. skkorman says

    February 28, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    I would love to read this book—please enter me to win!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

  3. Margie says

    February 28, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    Sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

  4. Margie says

    February 28, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    follower via GFC
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

  5. naida says

    February 28, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    The House of Six Doors sounds like a moving read. Its always interesting to get a peek into what inspires the author. Great post.

  6. Wall-to-wall books says

    February 28, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    Sign me up babe!

    I am a follower!

    and I added it to my sidebar on my blog.

  7. Wall-to-wall books says

    February 28, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    OOPS! – forevereading at gmail dot com

  8. Zibilee says

    February 28, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    Though the inspiration for this story must have come at a huge price, I am glad that she was able to cull something good out of a hard childhood. I would love the chance to read this one, so please enter me!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  9. traveler says

    February 28, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    Wonderful book which sounds compelling. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

  10. petite says

    February 28, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    Thanks for this memorable book review. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

  11. mamabunny13 says

    February 28, 2011 at 5:48 pm

    Sounds like an interesting read.
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  12. mamabunny13 says

    February 28, 2011 at 5:49 pm

    I'm already a follower
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  13. Carol N Wong says

    February 28, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    This sounds so different from my mother! It does sound like a college professor that I used to have for my internships. I would like to read this book.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

  14. Carol N Wong says

    February 28, 2011 at 6:04 pm

    I am already a follower.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

  15. mamabunny13 says

    February 28, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/42284384518279168
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  16. Carol N Wong says

    February 28, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    I tweeted:
    Carolee888 is my Twitter name.
    https://peekingbetweenthepages.com/2011/02/guest-post-with-patricia-selbert-author.html#comment-form Giveaway- 'The House with Six Doors.

  17. Rebecca Rasmussen says

    February 28, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    What a wonderful guest post — it's interesting to hear that the novel is so rooted in the author's experience with her mother 🙂

    thebirdsisters@gmail.com

  18. bermudaonion says

    February 28, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    It does seem that if you can manage to live through a childhood with an emotionally unstable parent, you have lots of stories to tell. Thanks for the giveaway.

    I subscribe in Google Reader.

    milou2ster(at)gmail.com

  19. Colleen Turner says

    February 28, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    This book sounds really emotional, but that can be good in a book. I would love the chance to win it!
    candc320@gmail.com

  20. Colleen Turner says

    February 28, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).
    candc320@gmail.com

  21. Elisabeth says

    February 28, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    Please enter me, it sounds like a great read! I am a blog follower (2) please!

    ladybook21 at yahoo dot com

  22. Sandra K321 says

    February 28, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    This is the first time I've heard of this book but it sounds interesting.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

  23. Sandra K321 says

    February 28, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    I follow with Google Friend Connect.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

  24. Karen B says

    February 28, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    Sounds fascinating!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

  25. Karen B says

    February 28, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    GFC follower as Karen B.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

  26. Pamela Keener says

    March 1, 2011 at 1:55 am

    This sounds like a great read.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam
    pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

  27. Brenda says

    March 1, 2011 at 2:32 am

    Sounds like an interesting read! Please, count me in!!

    Yes I'm a GFC follower and a subscriber.

  28. Brenda says

    March 1, 2011 at 2:38 am

    I posted the giveaway to my blog –
    DanceAlertReads.blogspot.com

    http://dancealertreads.blogspot.com/2011/02/peeking-between-pages-is-giving-away_28.html

    dancealert at aol dot com

  29. justpeachy36 says

    March 1, 2011 at 4:55 am

    Please enter me in the giveaway.

    I am a GFC follower.

    justpeachy36@yahoo.com

  30. Anonymous says

    March 3, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    Sounds like a great book.
    Please enter me.
    RJB
    loki304(at)tds(dot)net

  31. rhonda says

    March 4, 2011 at 1:36 am

    i`m a follower. Please enter my name.Lomazowr@gmail.com

  32. Anita Yancey says

    March 6, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    Sounds like a very interesting read. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  33. Anita Yancey says

    March 6, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Already follow on GFC #1.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  34. Anita Yancey says

    March 6, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Already follow on GFC #2.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  35. Linda Kish says

    March 7, 2011 at 1:45 am

    I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  36. Linda Kish says

    March 7, 2011 at 1:45 am

    I am a GFC follower
    1
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  37. Linda Kish says

    March 7, 2011 at 1:45 am

    I am a GFC follower
    2
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  38. melissasmeanderings says

    March 14, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    +1 mk261274 at gmail dot com

    +1 I follow your blog
    +1 I posted to my giveaway links page

    http://melissasmeanderings.wordpress.com/book-contestsgiveaways/

  39. nfmgirl says

    March 17, 2011 at 5:28 pm

    Wonderful! Please count me in. Thank you!

    +1 I follow

    +1 Blogged:
    http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-3-12-11.html

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

  40. Laura H. says

    March 19, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway! I love stories drawn from personal experience. Count me in!

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

  41. Laura H. says

    March 19, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    #1 GFC follower (Bornajhawk).

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

  42. Laura H. says

    March 19, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    #2 GFC follower (Bornajhawk).

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

  43. Laura H. says

    March 19, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    #1 Tweeted giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHendo3/status/49182237924659200

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

  44. Laura H. says

    March 19, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    #2 Tweeted giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHendo3/status/49182237924659200

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

  45. Laura H. says

    March 19, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    #3 Tweeted giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHendo3/status/49182237924659200

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

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