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Guest Post with Matthew Thorburn, author of Dear Almost & Giveaway (US/Can)

November 3, 2016 by Darlene

almost

Please join me today in welcoming poet Matthew Thorburn, author of Dear Almost to the blog today.  I reviewed Matthew’s collection yesterday (my review) and was really touched by it.  Today Matthew is going to talk about his sideline in interviewing authors as part of his tour with Poetic Book Tours. Enjoy and please be sure to enter to win a copy of Matthew’s poetry collection for yourself.

Thanks so much to Peeking Between the Pages for inviting me to share a guest post as part of my Poetic Book Tour in support of my new book of poetry, Dear Almost. I’m excited to be here and to talk a bit about my sideline in interviewing authors, in response to your question:

In addition to being a poet and having a job in corporate communications, you also interview other writers for a monthly feature in Ploughshares. What’s it like being on the other side of the interview table and how does your experience as a poet and interviewee inform your question choices and preparation?

I started interviewing writers a few years ago—first on my own website, and now for the Ploughshares blog. (You can find all those interviews here and here.) I have to tell you, I love being on “the other side of the interviewing table,” as you put it, for several reasons.

Asking questions. When I really enjoy a book, I almost always have questions I’d love to ask the author. Why did she decide to write her novel from the daughter-in-law’s perspective? What kind of research did he do for those poems about 19th-century eye doctors? Her play makes me think of that story by Flannery O’Connor—did she have it in mind when she was writing? Not keep-you-up-all-night questions, it’s true, but things I’d wonder about and wish I could ask.

Having an excuse to reach out. Being an interviewer—even if only for my own personal website—is the perfect reason to reach out and talk to writers about their work. For instance, I loved reading John Gallaher’s book-length poem In A Landscape. Once I started it, I found it very hard to put down—and honestly, when was the last time I felt that way about a poetry book? Asking him some questions enriched my reading experience, giving me more insight into why I liked the book so much.

Helping books find readers—and vice versa. While personal curiosity was the initial spark, I also like having the chance to help good books reach a larger audience. And especially with poetry, I think books often need some word-of-mouth momentum to help them connect with readers. I occasionally write book reviews for much the same reason, but have found interviews are a more effective way for me to help shine some extra light on books I admire.

Getting in touch with other writers. I have to admit, wearing my interviewer’s hat is the perfect excuse to get in touch with writers I don’t know. Forging ties with these writers, even just via email, makes me feel like I’m part of the conversation, and makes the reading-writing world feel a little smaller to me.

After reading two knockout poems by Kerrin McCadden in American Poetry Review, I was thrilled to get in touch and have the chance to interview her about her debut collection, Landscape with Plywood Silhouettes. And one of my upcoming interviews for the Ploughshares blog is with Margaret Rhee. Her chapbook of poems, Radio Heart; or, How Robots Fall Out of Love, is surprising, strange, fascinating, beautiful, mysterious—really unlike anything else I’ve read lately. Talking about it with her was a real treat.

Being an active audience member. Writing is a solitary business. Whether we do our work at a computer or in a notebook, we usually do it alone. Once the writing is done, though, it’s a pleasure (for me, anyway) to share the work with other people, and sometimes even have the chance to talk with them about it. I like having the chance to start that conversation.

As a writer, I also enjoy answering questions about my own work. Earlier this year I was interviewed by Jessie Serfilipi for Pine Hills Review, for instance, and welcomed the chance to talk about my work and tell some of the stories behind my books. Especially when it comes to poems, which are often such brief, fleeting things, it can be helpful for readers to have some backstory and context in which to ground their reading experience.

Being an engaged reader. I hope that being a writer myself helps me ask better questions, or at least stay sensitive to the fact that time spent answering interview questions is time spent not writing. Most of all, though, I just try to approach my interviews as a thoughtful, engaged reader—someone who’s spent time with this particular writer’s work, who has gained something from it, and wants to give something back to it. I try to be the kind of reader I hope to find for my own writing.

About the Book

Dear Almost is a book-length poem addressed to an unborn child lost in miscarriage. Beginning with the hope and promise of springtime, the poet traces the course of a year with sections set in each of the four seasons. Part book of days, part meditative prayer, part travelogue, the poem details a would-be father’s wanderings through the figurative landscapes of memory and imagination as well as the literal landscapes of the Bronx, Shanghai, suburban New Jersey, and the Japanese island of Miyajima.

As the speaker navigates his days, he attempts to show his unborn daughter “what life is like / here where you ought to be / with us, but aren’t.” His experiences recall other deaths and uncover the different ways we remember and forget. Grief forces him to consider a question he never imagined asking: how do you mourn for someone you loved but never truly knew, never met or saw? In candid, meditative verse, Dear Almost seeks to resolve this painful question, honoring the memory of a child who both was and wasn’t there.

Praise for Dear Almost

“Like a modern-day Basho, Matthew Thorburn travels on a year-long journey through grief over the ‘almost girl’ he and his wife lose to miscarriage. Here, in artful, haibun-like free verse, the timely and timeless merge: geese are sucked into an Airbus engine, forcing an emergency landing; the poet contemplates the moon as he carries out a bag of garbage in the Bronx. The result is clear, mysterious, original, and ultimately hope-filled. Dear Almost might be the truest poem about miscarriage I’ve ever read.” —Katrina Vandenberg, author of The Alphabet Not Unlike the World

“Matthew Thorburn’s Dear Almost is a meditation on our lives and their impermanence, the miracle that we exist at all. The ghost of an unborn child hovers like a breath over these supple lines, but Thorburn finds room for food and prayer, for work and love, for keen observation of the twin worlds we inhabit, the one inside us and the one where our daily lives take place. I am glad to have Dear Almost in both of these worlds.” —Al Maginnes, author of Music from Small Towns

“One poem written across seasons, Matthew Thorburn’s Dear Almost is an elegy for an unborn child written out of love, kindness, and ultimately hope. There is sadness everywhere here that lives among the dailiness of our lives at home, around the world, and at work. What a capacious gift this poet has for perception, keen observation, and the written word, but even more so, a great gift for understanding all of the tangled cross-stitching of the human heart.” —Victoria Chang, author of The Boss

About the Author

almost1Matthew Thorburn is the author of six collections of poetry, including the book-length poem Dear Almost (Louisiana State University Press, 2016) and the chapbook A Green River in Spring(Autumn House Press, 2015), winner of the Coal Hill Review chapbook competition. His previous collections include This Time Tomorrow (Waywiser Press, 2013), Every Possible Blue (CW Books, 2012), Subject to Change, and an earlier chapbook, the long poem Disappears in the Rain (Parlor City Press, 2009). His work has been recognized with a Witter Bynner Fellowship from the Library of Congress, as well as fellowships from the Bronx Council on the Arts and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. His interviews with writers appear on the Ploughshares blog as a monthly feature. He lives in New York City, where he works in corporate communications.

Other tour stops with Poetic Book Tours
Add to your Goodreads list
Buy: Amazon

GIVEAWAY – OPEN TO US & CANADIAN RESIDENTS
1 copy up for giveaway
*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter
Draw Date November 19/16

 

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Source: All post information received from the author and tour company. Giveaway sponsored by the author. No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: Guest Posts, Poetic Book Tours

Watch the Lady by Elizabeth Fremantle – Spotlight & Giveaway (US only)

June 27, 2015 by Darlene

Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  We are in the middle of a heat wave and the most enjoyable thing to do is simply sit inside with the air conditioning on full blast and read!  Today I’m spotlighting Watch the Lady by Elizabeth Fremantle, the last book in The Tudor Trilogy. I really enjoy Elizabeth Fremantle’s writing and of course I love historical fiction so I’m really looking forward to relaxing with this book.  In the meantime read on to learn more about the book and be sure to enter for your chance at winning a copy.

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About the Book

The daughter of the Queen’s nemesis, Penelope Devereux, arrives at court blithely unaware of its pitfalls and finds herself in love with one man, yet married off to another. Bestowed with beauty and charm she and her brother, The Earl of Essex, are drawn quickly into the aging Queen’s favour. But Penelope is saddled with a husband who loathes her and chooses to strike out, risking her reputation to seek satisfaction elsewhere. But life at the heart of the court is not only characterised by the highs and lows of romance, there are formidable factions at work who would like to see the Devereux family brought down. It seems The Earl of Essex can do no wrong in the eyes of the Queen but as his influence grows so his enemies gather and it is Penelope who must draw on all her political savvy to prevent the unthinkable from happening.

Told from the perspective of Penelope and her brother’s greatest enemy the politician Cecil, this story, wrought with love, hatred and envy, unfolds over two decades in which we see the last gasps of Elizabeth’s reign, and the deadly scramble for power in a dying dynasty.

Listen to an Excerpt
Add to your Goodreads List
Buy: Amazon, B&N

Praise for Watch the Lady

‘The research and historical detail are impeccable. Fans will enjoy this evocation of Elizabeth’s tumultuous court.’ The Times

‘Popular period drama at its backstabbing best.’ Sunday Sport

‘I was gripped by this tale of risky political and sexual shenanigans in the court of Elizabeth I’ Woman & Home

‘Watch the Lady is a glorious novel, rich in Tudor detail and splendour, chilled by Tudor cruelty and jealousy…An enormously exciting historical thriller.’ Kate Atherton, For Winter Nights

‘Amazingly thrilling.’ The Bookbag

‘Wonderfully addictive… atmospheric and exciting.’ Bookshelf Butterfly

‘Be transported to the court of Elizabeth I, where Penelope Devereux is prepared to do anything in the scramble for power. Watch The Lady by Elizabeth Fremantle combines fast-paced storytelling with rich period detail’ Good Housekeeping

About the Author

photo: Poppy Miyonga
photo: Poppy Miyonga

As a child I was the one in the corner with my nose in a book who wanted to be a writer, but with the onset of a turbulent adolescence I left school, under a cloud, aged fifteen with nothing more than a fistful of O Levels and a hapless sense that things would somehow work themselves out. Eventually, after working in various dodgy dives – I’ve served grey scrambled eggs to squaddies at 5.30am; I’ve served vintage champagne to raucous hoorays; I’ve pulled pints for all and sundry – I managed to find myself, much in the way Forrest Gump always landed on his feet, working as a dogsbody on a fashion magazine. Over a decade, I worked for titles such as Vogue, Elle and The Sunday Times and contributed to many others. Marriage took me to Paris, a stint at French Vogue and the birth of my two gorgeous children but divorce saw me back home in London where I have happily remained. Fuelled by frustration with a fashion world that does no favours to women, I decided to complete my truncated education as a mature student which led, in a long and roundabout way with many frustrating impasses, to my fulfilling that childhood dream to become a novelist.

Elizabeth has a first in English and an MA in creative writing from Birkbeck, University of London. She has contributed to various publications including The Sunday Times, Vogue, Vanity Fair, The Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal. She also reviews fiction for The Sunday Express.

Elizabeth has contributed to The Tudor Times, in their edition about Penelope Devereux.

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

 

GIVEAWAY – US RESIDENTS ONLY
1 paperback copy up for giveaway
*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter
Draw Date July 11/15

 

 

Source: Post info taken from the author’s website. Giveaway sponsored by the publisher. No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: Book Spotlights

The Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister (Audiobook)

March 17, 2015 by Darlene

Magicians-LieThe Magician’s Lie is Greer Macallister’s debut novel and was chosen as a  She Reads Books of Winter selection and it is yet another fabulous book club choice.  The Magician’s Lie will take you on an adventure that captures your interest from the first page to the last.  I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by Julia Whelan (who I adore) and Nick Podehl (who I haven’ t listened to before but would again).  It’s no secret that I love audiobooks that feature multiple narrators and this one is no exception.  Julia Whelan is a fabulous narrator she and Nick Podehl complement each other perfectly in telling this story.

The Amazing Arden is one of the first female magicians in 1905.  Of course this was a time when a female as a magician was unheard of but whether out of curiosity or the fact that her magic show was good people came to see her perform.  And perform she did.  Arden has loved to perform since her earliest memory.  As a young girl it was ballet but an injury put an end to that career.  When performing magic tricks or illusions as she liked to refer to them became an option Arden found she had a true talent for it and soon enough she became famous for her shows.

Arden is most known for her illusion of sawing a man in half on stage. This is the illusion she is performing the night that policeman Virgil Holt is attending the show.  When she uses an axe instead of a saw Virgil is curious but doesn’t worry too much about it thinking maybe it’s a new trick … until he hears that her husband has been found dead below the stage and even more alarming is that Arden is no where to be found.  She seems to have run off.  The question is why?  Is she guilty of murder?  Virgil is sure his luck is changing when he happens upon Arden running away.  This could make his career if he could bring in The Amazing Arden.  Of course he assumes she’s guilty.  Why else would she be running?

Arden begs Virgil to let her go and to further her cause she shares her story with him.  She tells him of her turbulent childhood and her struggles to get where she is in her career.  She tries hard to play on his sympathies and for his part Virgil is torn.  Does he believe her?  Or, being the illusionist that she is, is she just lying to him and he can’t tell the difference? And for us, the reader, that is the question as well – is she telling the truth or spinning a tale?  Read it and find out…

Highly recommended for historical fiction fans or for those who enjoy a good story.  I really enjoyed it and the audio production is great!

 

Check out other reviews from the She Reads Bloggers
Read an excerpt
Add to your Goodreads List

 

 

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Source: Digital review copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review. Audiobook from personal library. No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: 2015 - 100+ Books, 2015 ARC's, 2015 Book Reviews, 2015 HF Reading Challenge, Audiobooks, She Reads

The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery – Excerpt & Giveaway! (US/Canada)

February 3, 2015 by Darlene

mischief
 

Good day everyone.  I’m excited to share with you today an excerpt from Susan Mallery’s newest book The Girls of Mischief Bay as she tours with TLC Book Tours.  There is also a fabulous California Dreamin’ Prize Package up for giveaway so be sure to pop by the end of the post for that.  Make sure to follow along with all the tour stops on this tour as all of the book excerpts follow along in sequence for the reader to enjoy and you can also enter the giveaway at all of those stops as well!  Last but not least I’m anxiously awaiting my tour date to review The Girls of Mischief Bay in March so keep a look out for that.  In the meantime enjoy…

 

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Excerpt from The Girls of Mischief Bay

He continued to look at her in a way that made her wonder if she’d forgotten to check her teeth or had grown a wart on her nose in the five minutes it had taken her to walk from the office to the bar. It couldn’t be that she looked different from her picture. She’d used a business head-shot. Nothing that would overpromise.

They sat down.

Olives was the kind of place that catered to locals and tourists alike. The bar was well-lit, without a diner feel. Tables were spaced far enough apart that you didn’t have to worry about everyone listening to your conversation. The restaurant was upscale-casual, with an eclectic menu. Except for a few paintings of olives and martini glasses on the walls, they hadn’t gone crazy with the motif.

Shannon liked it for a first date because she came here just enough to be familiar with the staff and all the exits. If a first date went bad, she could easily call for help or bolt. It was also within walking distance of her office, which meant she didn’t have to worry about a second drink before driving. If it was time to leave, but she wasn’t ready to get behind the wheel, she simply returned to her office and did something mindless until she was ready to make the six-minute commute to her condo.

Adam’s gaze was steady. Shannon couldn’t stand it anymore.

“You’re staring at me,” she said, trying to keep her voice as friendly as possible. “Is something wrong?”

His eyes widened, then he glanced away before returning his attention to her. “No. Sorry. Jeez, I’m being an idiot. It’s just…you. Wow. You sent a picture and it was so great, I figured there had to be a mistake. Then when I saw you just now and you were even more beautiful in person…” He verbally stumbled to a stop, then cleared his throat.

“Can we start over or do you want to leave?”

His expression was both chagrined and hopeful. Shannon tried to remember the last time anyone had been so rattled by her looks. She knew she was pretty enough and when she made an effort, she could up her game, but she wasn’t the kind of woman who left men tongue-tied. Or staring.

She smiled. “We can start over.”

“Good. I’ll do my best not to be scary.” He smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Shannon.”

“Apparently.”

He chuckled and motioned to the server. “What can I get you to drink?”

She ordered a glass of the house red while he chose a Scotch. He added the fruit and cheese plate to the order. When they were alone again, she leaned back in her chair.

He was nice, she thought. A little awkward, which meant he didn’t date a lot. At least he wasn’t a player. She didn’t need any more of them in her life. Divorced, if she remembered correctly.

“So, Adam,” she said. “Tell me about yourself.”

“What do you want to know?”

Everything that had been in his profile, she thought, wishing she’d paid just a little more attention. The thing was she didn’t like online dating. She counted on the service to screen the men and then moved fairly quickly to a meeting. For her, emails and a couple of calls didn’t provide any insight into how things would go in person.

“Do you live in the area?” she asked.

“Sure.” The smile returned. “I was born and raised right here in Mischief Bay. Most of my family is still in the area, which means it’s hard to get away with anything.”

“Do you try to get away with things?”

The smile turned into a laugh. “I gave that up when I was a teenager. I’m a bad liar and if I cross the line, I get caught. So I don’t bother with either anymore.”

His smile faded. “You’re not in to bad boys, are you?”

She had been, and had the heart scars to prove it. “Not anymore. They’re great in theory, but life isn’t about theories. It’s about real people who take the time to show up.”

“I agree.”

They were on opposite sides of a small table. Adam leaned toward her. “You’re in finance?”

“Yes. I’m a CFO for a software company.”

She tried to speak normally, knowing that when she mentioned her job she tended to be both defensive and proud. An awkward combination at best.

The problem was some men resented her success and some men were intimidated by it. A few had seen her as a way to the easy life, but fortunately they weren’t usually very subtle about their hopes of being kept. The ones who accepted that she’d done well and worked hard were often the keepers, albeit rare and therefore hard to find.

“Are you in line to be president next?” he asked.

She smiled. “No. I’m comfortable being the queen of the checkbook. I like the financial side of things.” She shifted toward him and lowered her voice. “Software is not my thing. I’m better than most on a computer, but it’s never been easy for me. You should see some of the college kids we hire every year. They’re brilliant. What about you?”

“Not brilliant.”

She laughed. “Thanks for the share. I meant, tell me about your work.”

“Oh, that. My family’s in construction. Large projects, mostly. Office buildings, hotels. I’m the foreman on a hotel we’re dealing with now. It’s just south of Marina del Rey. It’s high-end, twenty stories.”

Impressive, she thought. “Foreman sounds like a lot of responsibility.”

Adam grinned. “I stand around and tell other people what to do. It beats a real job.”

Their server arrived with their drinks and the cheese plate. Adam raised his glass.

“To unexpected surprises.”

Text Copyright © 2015 by Susan Macias Redmond
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.

 

About The Girls of Mischief Bay

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery is world renowned for her “insightful, funny, and poignant” stories (Booklist). With her brand-new Mischief Bay series, Susan brings to vivid color the story of three friends on the brink of a new life.

Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there’s a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband, who quit his job to write a screenplay she’s never seen. He won’t even help take care of their son, leaving Nicole to run the house and work full-time.

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg became a VP at her firm, but she wonders now whether she made the right choice. An exciting new relationship with a great guy convinces her that it might not be too late—until he drops a bombshell that has her questioning whether she really can have it all.

Although Pam Eiland adores her husband, she feels restless now that the kids are grown. Finding sexy new ways to surprise him brings the heat and humor back to their marriage, but when unexpected change turns her life upside down, she’ll have to redefine herself. Again.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, the girls of Mischief Bay will discover that life is richer with friends at your side.

Add to your Goodreads List
Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, Books-a-Million

 

Follow along with the  TLC Book Tour for The Girls of Mischief Bay to see what happens next by clicking on the picture below…

 

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Praise for The Girls of Mischief Bay

“Best-selling romance author Mallery delves into light women’s fiction with this third Blackberry Island novel, maintaining her romantic charm and smooth voice yet embracing the freedom of a broader storyline with ease and a bit more depth.” Kirkus Reviews on EVENING STARS

“Mallery pulls out all the stops in this highly enjoyable and insightful, funny, and poignant look at self-sacrifice and romantic entanglement.”?Booklist, starred review, on EVENING STARS

“[A] joy for all of us who were rooting on the sidelines.”Publishers Weekly on EVENING STARS

“Will Nina prevail? Of course she will: this is romantic fiction. But the why and the how, and with whom, are all highly entertaining.”The Seattle Times on EVENING STARS

 

About Susan Mallery

Susan-Mallery-Author-Photo-2New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has won the hearts of millions of readers around the world with books described as “immensely entertaining, intensely emotional” (RT Book Reviews), “hilarious” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram), and “heartwarming” (Publishers Weekly). One major retailer recently described her as “the queen of romantic fiction.” While she deeply appreciates the accolades of critics and booksellers, Mallery is even more honored by the enthusiasm of her readers and the word-of-mouth that catapults her toward the top of the bestsellers lists time and again.

Mallery lives in not-so-sunny Seattle with her husband and a toy poodle who makes her laugh every day and who’s not even a little bit impressed by her growing fame.

Be sure to also visit MischiefBay.com for more prizes different from the one here!
Author Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY – OPEN TO US & CANADIAN RESIDENTS

 

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 Enter to win the fabulous California Dreamin’ Prize Package!

*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter.

Extra entry for leaving a comment in the comments section below about the excerpt from The Girls of Mischief Bay

Draw Date February 18/15

What’s Included in this fantastic prize package:

A Pacific blue beach towel, Pure Paradise body cream, Luxury moisturizing bath bar from the San Francisco soap company, An autographed copy of Evening Stars by Susan Mallery (the first book with a character from Mischief Bay), Flip-flop tea candle holder, Map of Mischief Bay, The Girls of Mischief Bay Post-It book, The Girls of Mischief Bay bookmark, Handy bath mini-tote, Susan Mallery lip gloss, Susan Mallery 3D luggage tag, Susan Mallery pen

 

 

mischief 2

Source: Information included in the post received from the Tour Co. and Publisher.  Giveaway sponsored by the Publisher.  No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: Book Excerpt, TLC Tours

The Kizuna Coast by Sujata Massey – Spotlight & Giveaway (US/Canada)

December 15, 2014 by Darlene

Happy Monday everyone!  Releasing today is Sujata Massey’s newest novel The Kizuna Coast and I’m here to tell you a bit about it and the author.  I look forward to reading this myself as I read The Sleeping Dictionary by Sujata last year and absolutely loved it.  It was one of my favorite books last year.  The Kizuna Coast is part of the Rei Shimura Mysteries collection and while this is the eleventh book they can all be read on their own.  Be sure to pop by the end of the post as well because Sujata has been kind enough to offer up 3 copies of her newest book to be given away!

 

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When a devastating earthquake rocks Japan’s northeast cost, a tsunami follows and Rei Shimura is swept into her most rugged adventure yet.

The mystery begins with an SOS from Rei’s friend, the antiques dealer Mr. Ishida, trapped among thousands of displaced and dead on the Tohoku coast. Rei rushes to Tokyo, where she discovers Ishida Antiques may have been burglarized.

Rei takes Mr. Ishida’s abandoned dog, Hachiko, on a volunteer bus to the ravaged town of Sugihama. But Mr. Ishida’s got more work for her, since he lost contact with his antiques apprentice Mayumi and is frantic with worry. He won’t leave Sugihama without knowing the fate of the troubled 19-year-old girl from a famous lacquer-making family.

Calling on disaster survivors and volunteers–and her knowledge of Japanese manners and history–Rei investigates the suspicious disappearance. From Sugihama’s muddy shops and shelters, to the buzzing bars and bathhouses of Tokyo, it’s a suspenseful journey. But as Rei draws closer to the truth, she realizes that she’s being stalked. Who is following her–and can she survive the wave of danger she never saw coming?

THE KIZUNA COAST is the latest novel in a sexy, smart and humorous mystery series that has won the Agatha and Macavity international mystery awards and been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony and Mary Higgins Clark prizes. It’s bound to intrigue new readers and satisfy longtime Sujata Massey fans. (Description taken from Amazon)

 

Add to your Goodreads List
Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada, Only $2.95 right now on your Kindle!

 

Praise for The Rei Shimura Mysteries (from Amazon)

“An appealing protagonist and memorable supporting characters blend smoothly with lessons in Hawaiian and Japanese history in a tale sure to win new readers for the series.”
–PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on SHIMURA TROUBLE

“Massey builds the bridge between mystery fiction and mainstream women’s fiction . . . A lively, intuitive view of contrasting societies and a young woman trying to find her place in the world.”
–FOR LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL on THE TYPHOON LOVER

“A gifted storyteller who delivers strong characters, a tight plot and an inside view of Japan and its culture.”
–USA TODAY on ZEN ATTITUDE

“A totally captivating experience. A unique plot, exceptional protagonist, and some subtle cultural lessons are as beautifully arranged as a vase of cherry blossoms.”
—BOOKLIST on THE FLOWER MASTER

“Sly, sexy and deftly done. THE SALARYMAN’S WIFE is one to bring home.”
–PEOPLE Page Turner of the Week

 

About the Author

sujataSujata Massey was born in England to parents from India and Germany and grew up mostly in St. Paul, Minnesota. She holds a BA in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University and started her working life as a features reporter for the Baltimore Evening Sun. After leaving the newspaper, she moved to Japan, where she studied Japanese, taught English and began writing her first novel, The Salaryman’s Wife. This novel became the first of many in the Rei Shimura mystery series, which has won Agatha and Macavity awards and been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, and Mary Higgins Clark awards. Her August 2013 release, The Sleeping Dictionary, is a trade paperback with Simon & Schuster’s Gallery line, and also an audiobook published by Dreamscape. It’s the first in a series of historical suspense novels featuring Bengali women who each play a role in making modern India.

Sujata’s books have been published in more than 18 countries, and if she could redo her youth, she would have double-majored in history and a foreign language and spent a gap year (or two) abroad. Currently, she’s based near Washington, D.C.

 

Sujata’s Website, Facebook, Goodreads

Be sure to sign up for Sujata’s newsletter which offers a monthly update on book news, recipes and other fun aspects of Asian culture and the writing life.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS – OPEN TO US/CANADA

3 copies of The Kizuna Coast up for giveaway!

*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter

Earn extra entries by liking this post on Facebook, Tweeting, and signing up for Sujata’s newsletter!

Draw Date December 30/14

(You can like this post and tweet right from the links at the bottom of the post)

 

 

Source: Giveaway copies provided by the author.  No compensation was received.
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Filed Under: Book Spotlights

Color Song by Victoria Strauss & Rafflecopter Giveaway

October 8, 2014 by Darlene

colorEvery so often I find books that I really love and Victoria Strauss’s newest Color Song is one of them.  The first book Passion Blue I loved just as much.  Color Song does stand on it’s own but you get a lot of background in Passion Blue that I think makes Color Song all the better.  The books are classified as YA Historical Fiction and I do love YA books but I think these books are just perfect for the adult reader as well.  I started Passion Blue a few days ago and was completely hooked so when I put it down I immediately dove into Color Song.  What did I love so much about the book – the art, the color, the passion, the writing, the characters, and ultimately the beauty of the story itself.

Giulia has been living in the convent she was forced to enter and it is there that she is allowed to do the one thing she loves above all else and that is to paint.  Giulia creates beautiful art but she also carries a gift that allows her to hear the singing of the colors she creates and uses.  It’s important to note that in 15th century Italy it was unheard of for a woman to be allowed to be a painter so it is only behind the convent walls that Giulia’s dream can be realized.  Maestra Humilita saw Giulia’s gift and despite some obstacles has always supported her.  When Maestra Humilita lays dying she she gives her Passion Blue formula to the one person she knows will honor it the most – Giulia.  However in doing so also puts Giulia at risk from others who are desperate to get their hands on the Passion Blue formula as well.

Giulia decides to do the only thing she can do and that’s to leave the convent.  Giulia never wanted to be a nun and she refuses to be held prisoner and punished for refusing to hand over the Passion Blue formula.  But how – how can Giulia survive out there in a man’s world?  Well there is one way – by pretending to be a boy.  Clothing herself in boy’s things Giulia escapes the convent on a mission to make her way to Venice.  Could she maybe find work there as a painter’s apprentice?  As Giulia she couldn’t but as Girolamo it’s a possibility.  So starts the journey of a young woman who dared to want more in a time when women had no rights.

I absolutely loved Giulia.  What a fantastic character.  At eighteen she seemed years older in maturity and I loved her passion for art, color, and life and her willingness to risk everything to get it.  The author’s writing is beautiful as she vividly describes 15th century Italy and all it’s trappings.  I listened to the audiobook of Color Song which is narrated by Justine Eyre and she does a fabulous job.  She has just the right tone of voice for the telling of Giulia’s story and the time just flew by listening to her.  I’m really hoping for another look into Giulia’s life in the future!

Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction!

 

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Giveaways

To enter to win any of the following prizes please complete the form below:

2 Grand Prizes Winners: One Kindle Paperwhite with custom Color Song cover with Color Song and Passion Blue ebooks pre-loaded, plus swag (postcards, bookmarks), and signed paperback editions of Strauss’s Stone duology (The Arm of the Stone and The Garden of the Stone) (US only)
2 winners: Signed hardcovers of Color Song and Passion Blue, plus swag (postcards, bookmarks) (US and Canada)

5 winners: Signed paperbacks of Color Song and Passion Blue, plus swag (postcards, bookmarks) (US and Canada)

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on October 10th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on October 11th and notified via email.
Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

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Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher however audiobook is personal copy. No compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are that of the blog owner.
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Filed Under: 2014 - 100+ Books, 2014 ARC's, 2014 Book Reviews, Audiobooks, Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours

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