Happy Wednesday everyone! A few more days and it’ll be the weekend! Today I’m welcoming Laura Pedersen, author of Planes, Trains, and Auto-Rickshaws: A Journey through Modern India, back to the blog. This book sounds really good to me as I’m always interested in learning more about India. This is a non-fiction account of her journey to India but I’ll let you read the description below for more information. Either way this one is definitely on my ‘to read’ pile!
About Planes, Trains, and Auto-Rickshaws (from Laura’s website)
Planes, Trains, and Auto-Rickshaws is part humorous travelogue, part history, and part cultural reflection. This essay collection provides an intimate glimpse of a nation at its turning point and is a must-read for travelers to the subcontinent and those who want to understand India beyond the headlines. Pedersen also explores the increasing contributions of women in this burgeoning democracy and how their particular needs are finally being examined.
Read an Excerpt
Buy at: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, and B&N
About Laura Pedersen (from Laura’s website)
Laura Pedersen was the youngest columnist for The New York Times. Prior to that she was the youngest person to have a seat on the floor of the American Stock Exchange and wrote her first book Play Money about that experience, which received a starred Kirkus review and became a bestseller. Laura has a finance degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
In 1994 President Clinton honored Pedersen as one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans. She has appeared on shows such as “CNN,” “Oprah,” “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” “Primetime,” and David Letterman. She has also performed stand-up comedy at “The Improv,” among other clubs, and writes material for several well-known comedians.
Laura’s first novel, Going Away Party, won the Three Oaks Prize for Fiction. Her short stories and humorous essays have won numerous awards and been published in literary journals and magazines. Her second novel, Beginner’s Luck, was selected by Barnes & Noble for their “Discover Great New Writers” program, by Borders for their “Original Voices” program, and by The Literary Guild as an alternate selection. Heart’s Desire, the sequel to Beginner’s Luck, was also chosen for the Literary Guild. Additional writing includes the critically acclaimed novels Last Call, The Big Shuffle (featured by Target Stores as one of their best books for Fall 2006), Best Bet (a Next Generation fiction finalist), Fool’s Mate, and a collection of short stories called The Sweetest Hours. Laura’s humorous memoir Buffalo Gal (2008) won “Best Memoir” from ForeWord Magazine, an honorable mention for the Eric P. Hoffer book award, and an honorable mention at the New York Book Festival. Buffalo Unbound won the 2011 Indie Book Award in the category of humor/comedy and was an International Book Award finalist in the categories of Travel Essay and Humor.
Laura lives in New York City and teaches at the Booker T. Washington Learning Center in East Harlem. She is a member of the national literary association P.E.N. (poets, essayists and novelists).
GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)
I have one copy of Planes, Trains, and Auto-Rickshaws by Laura Pedersen to share with my readers. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
- For 2 entries, follow my blog. If you already do, thanks, and let me know so I can make sure I pass the entry on to you as well.
- For 3 entries, blog or tweet to spread the word.
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, August 4/12. Good luck!
Thanks for the great giveaway, Dar – please enter me.
I subscribe in Google Reader.
A wonderful giveaway. I subscribe via e-mail.
Interesting and special. Thanks. I am an e-mail subscriber.
No need to enter me, but what ever is an auto-rickshaw?!
I’ve heard the author interviewed on the radio and would love to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway –
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
I follow your blog via GFC as Patricia N
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
Tweet
https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/225642185750618112
I always enjoy travel memoirs from other cultures. Thanks for the giveaway.
I follow by email, GFC, and Facebook.
Not sure this one is for me, Dar, but I will be interested in hearing what you think about it!
Thanks for this amazing giveaway! This book sounds great and I would love to win it!
klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net
I follow by e-mail!
klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/SuzReads/status/225673602505244673
klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net
Sounds like a bgreat travel memoir!
-blog follower
-tweeted
Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com
I am always curious about other cultures, particularly India. I have read a lot of fiction taking place there, but not much non. Thanks for the intro and chance to win!
I am a follower! GFC and RSS.
I have a friend who loves everything Indian, it would be lovely to win this book for her. thanks for the giveaway!
I follow you, and here is my tweet:
https://twitter.com/wordsandpeace/status/226042932019482624
My husband is a big fan of travel memoirs so I’m always looking for ones to tell him about so THANKS!
This is the type of non-fiction book that I love to read!!!!
Interesting read.
pjames330 at aol dot com
subscriber
pjames330 at aol dot com
https://twitter.com/pj436/status/227440462783467520
It looks like an interesting book.
I follow on GFC
tweet: https://twitter.com/MaureenCE/status/230412217068158976