Book Spotlight: Planes, Trains, and Auto-Rickshaws by Laura Pedersen & Giveaway (US/Can)

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).

Laura’s website

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!

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