Debut Author Giveaway - I'm feeling like a Cyborg! Open Internationally

2012 Debut Author Giveaway Hop

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & The Non Reluctant Reader

June 7th to 13th

Featuring books released in 2012 by Debut Authors

I've struggled to get this post up because I've been in the hospital.  I haven't had any computer access so I'm sorry this is late! 

I'm reading the book Cinder by Marissa Meyer right now.  It seems like an appropriate book to offer for giveaway as I'm feeling a little cyborg like with all the titanium that is now a permanent part of me.

My own leg reminds me a lot of the cover of Cinder!

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

So for this Debut Author Hop I am offering a copy of Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

I'll ship a paperback copy from Amazon or The Book Depository or gift a Kindle copy to the winner.

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I will do my bet to try to get this linky update throughout the day today but my computer access is very limited.

Got Great Giveaways!

Got Great Giveaways is a weekly feature hosted here on I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.  This feature will be posted each week on Wednesday.

I love book giveaways.  Enter enough book giveaways and you are going to win them.  Just be sure to follow the giveaway entry rules so you have a valid entry and don't get disqualified.

To win a giveaway you've got to be able to find it and enter it.  Thus I created Got Great Giveaways!  If you are hosting a giveaway on your blog or come across a great giveaway you want to share please link it up here.

Got Great Giveaways? Book Giveaway Link Up Rules:
Giveaways must be book related (books, gift cards to stores that sell books, swag, etc.)
Please do not link up to Blog Hop Giveaways that are hosted on this site.
Link directly to your giveaway post.
Please include as much info as possible such as the genre, book title & ending date of your giveaway, shipping info, etc.

Example: Young Adult - In The Forests of Night by Kersten Hamilton ends 5/28 (US)

You are welcome to grab the code for this linky and add it to your site, just be sure to mention it is for book related giveaways only so it doesn't get spammed with unrelated giveaways.
BOOK & BOOK RELATED GIVEAWAYS ONLY - others will be deleted.


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Reunited BookBlast $50 Giveaway!!

Author: Hilary Weisman Graham
Book: Reunited
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: June 12, 2012
Award: Winner of the 2011 SCBWI Book Launch Award
Website: www.hilarygraham.com
Book Summary:

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends. Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3. But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books. Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show. Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

Praise: 

Hilary Weisman Graham's debut is a fun, bubbly and heartwarming coming-of-age story of friendship, love, and ultimately, finding yourself and being true to who you are --- no matter what. It's one of those books that has a little bit of everything, for everyone... one of my favorite YA Contemporary reads of 2012 so far!
~The Teen Book Guru

What an amazingly written book! Graham has done the very difficult job of capturing the distinct voices of three very different girls.
~Author Katie McGarry

This book has it all: wit, great prose, lots of true-to-life teenage angst, rock stars, and a terrific plot. I can't wait to see the movie version!
 ~Author Lee Harrington

The ultimate road-trip, friendship ride! Made me want to hop into the car with some of my friends and head cross-country. Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are unique, well-developed, and likable characters. I enjoy this book a lot.
~Author Colleen Clayton

Author Hilary Weisman Graham

Hilary Weisman Graham is a screenwriter, Emmy-nominated TV producer, filmmaker, and the author of Reunited (Simon & Schuster – June 12, 2012), her debut young adult novel.

In 2007, Hilary was selected as a contestant on the Mark Burnett/Steven Spielberg-produced reality series On the Lot: The Search for America’s Next Great Director. Out of a pool of 12,000 submissions, Hilary made it onto the show as one of the eighteen finalists and stayed in the competition until only nine contestants remained, making her the longest-standing female director.

Among Hilary’s many film-related honors, her personal favorite happened on On the Lot, when Carrie Fisher (best-selling author/screenwriter/Princess Leia) watched one of Hilary’s short films, looked her in the eye, and said, “I am jealous of your writing.”

Hilary lives in rural New Hampshire with her husband and son, but still manages to do business Hollywood and is currently at work on a screenplay for The Disney Channel.



LINKS:

Website: http://www.hilarygraham.com
Blog: http://hilarywgraham.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HilaryWeismanGraham
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12988064-reunited
Twitter: @HilaryGraham
Author Page (Simon & Schuster): http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Hilary-Weisman-Graham/70282925
Level3’s website: www.level3theband.com


You can order REUNITED here:







Giveaway Details:
$50 Amazon.com Gift Card
Ends 6/12/12

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Broken Leg

I fell yesterday and broke both bones in my leg just above my ankle last night and had to have surgery. I am in the hospital and thus unable to get any posts up.

Guest Post & Giveaways: Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand by Linda J. Ferguson

Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand- Embracing Change

Linda J. Ferguson, Ph.D.

Sometimes we got those cosmic nudges, if not a 2X4 slap across the face, to change.  Sometimes what appears on the surface to be bad news, may in the end result in a positive change.  Next time you are challenged with a change, stop to ask how the change will serve a higher purpose.  Will the change shift you to a better place?  The 2X4 slap and subsequent change may be a blessing in disguise.

I faced such a cosmic slap a few times, the hardest ones coming as I lost a job and went through a divorce.  Though I didn’t seek out either change, as I came out the other side, I could see that the changes were necessary to get me to a new and better place.  I dealt with some deeply buried wounds, cleared some self-limiting beliefs, and found new faith and strength I could never imagined having. 

Now I no longer fear change or uncertainty because I know that what I’m going through will get me to a better place.

Depending on how ready you are for change, how much you think the change will help you, and how successful you feel you'll be making the change, you may welcome or avoid change.

If you intentionally want to change some aspect in your life, you can follow some concrete steps to navigate through the change.  I've developed a process called Transformational Empowerment^TM to support people making change.  These ideas came from working with my coaching clients and my workshops over the last six years. The Transformational Empowerment process uses some basic spiritual principles to support you in making profound and lasting changes.

If you are looking to make a job or life change, and truly want the change to stick, I invite you to use these steps for Transformational Empowerment.  Visit my website (www.lindajferguson.com) to receive a free series of handouts and videos that will help you in your change process.  You’ll receive a series of emails where I’ll share stories that describe how each of the steps work.

Try out the ideas of Transformational Empowerment and you'll be well on your way to create a significant life shift, to reach your goals, or to fulfill your heart's desire.

Embrace the journey.  The change may do you good.

Linda J. Ferguson is an author, coach, consultant and seminar leader for personal growth and professional development.

Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com to receive valuable handouts and videos to support your personal growth and professional development.

Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand provides insightful stories and ideas to support your spiritual journey and help you answer your soul’s calling. Inside you’ll read how to step fully into who you are as an awakened soul being. You’ll read ways to apply spiritual principles for daily challenges and stressors of relationships, finances, work, or family.  You’ll learn how to connect with the joy and beauty of who you are as a spiritual being through your various human experiences.

You’ll learn ways to shift how you experience your world using the affirmations, meditations, and visualizations provided in each chapter. A new process called Transformational Empowerment™ shows seven key steps for manifesting your heart’s desire and fulfilling your soul contracts.

You’ve already signed up to be an agent for spiritual transformation, in your own life and in the world.  Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand is a spiritual guidebook to help you navigate through your daily stresses, spiritual tests, and challenging relationships. It also is a celebration of the joy you are here to experience as a conscious co-creator.  Each chapter ends with concrete, meaningful exercises for you to use immediately!

Giveaway Details
1 copy of Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand
Open to US only
Ends 6/19/12

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The Samsara Chronicles Kindle Fire Giveaway

Book Summary:

Blending elements of futuristic, fantasy, science fiction and the paranormal, the Samsara Chronicles explores the duality of good and evil set against two worlds, Earth and Nirvana.

Guided by mystical beings, a human mother bears a daughter of alien royalty, Aislinn, destined to champion the future of two worlds.

About Diana Kemp

Toronto native Diana Kemp is a multiple award-winning screenwriter and author with one hundred and thirty film festivals and screenwriting competition awards/placings to her credit. She is the co-writer of an NRL (Naval Research Lab) documentary (http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/videos/nrl-extended-video) produced by David Bellino of Second Wind Films.

Graduating with honors from Cal State Long Beach, she began a writing career at the age of seven that culminated in a diversely prolific collection of science fiction, horror and fantasy short stories, numerous short and feature screenplays and three science fiction novels, two of which include The Samsara Chronicles co authored with Gabriella Bradley.

In addition to serving as Executive Producer and Producer on a variety of projects with Michael Gianfriddo, her credits include Blink Black Ops (http://pro.imdb.com/title/tt2083939/) and her 3-D science fiction show, Trapezoid, (http://pro.imdb.com/title/tt2160425/), which is in pre-production.  .

Diana founded Shadowland Productions and Edge Media with producing partner Michael Gianfriddo and holds positions as CEO and Chairman in addition to serving as an executive for Dominant Entertainment. She oversees all development, production and management for each company.

She is represented by industry veteran Sherry Robb of the Robb Entertainment Group.

About Gabriella Bradley

Gabriella Bradley lives amidst rugged mountains. She more than often has a grizzly in her backyard searching for food. Other critters that visit on a regular basis are cougars, coyotes, squirrels, raccoons.

She has been a writer all of her life, though only ventured into erotic works in 2003. The Samsara Chronicles was born through psychic channeling. Many of the scenes in these books were inspired by David—possibly a writer during his life, a guide from beyond that visited Gabby. During the course of his visits, he told her to involve Diana.

Gabby’s hobbies include hiking, gardening, swimming, sewing, embroidery. Favorite movies are old timers like Gone with the Wind, Spartacus etc. Favorite music is Abba. Besides all that, she owns and directs a busy company and its staff.

http://gabriellabradley.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/gabriellabradley

https://twitter.com/#!/GabriellaBrad\

Giveaway Details:

Join Gabriella Bradley and Diana Kemp as they tour the blogosphere June 1 – August 31 2012 with their The Samsara Chronicles series! Diana and Gabriella have agreed to give away not only a Kindle Fire but also a $50 Gift Certificate (payable by Paypal) to the person who comments the most on their 3 month blog tour.

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The Fragrance of Her Name by Marcia Lynn McClure is Free Today!!

I love Marcia Lynn McClure's clean romance books.

I just saw that The Fragrance of Her Name is free today at Amazon!

Be sure to grab a copy!

 

Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Imperfectly Beautiful by Diony George

Welcome to Author Diony George

I'm a wife, mother of seven, and grandmother of two originally from Alaska, but currently live in Utah with my family and now consider myself a true city girl at heart. I will readily admit I don't miss the giant mosquitoes or the cold and long, dark winters way up North, but I absolutely miss the fresh seafood. Fish and chips made with fresh-caught halibut is my favorite!

My beginning as a writer started in elementary school when a poem I had written for a contest was chosen as a winner, set to music, and sung by the whole school at an assembly. I wrote my first picture book, 11 pages long in fifth grade as an assignment, bound it myself and have read it to my children several times. The next book I wrote, I was in eighth grade, 48 pages long with photograph's and was a memoir.


The first edition of my first published novel, Torn Apart was released in July 2008, when I was 42 years old, the second edition under a new publisher was released nationally in February of 2009. So...never give up on your dream of writing. I'm currently working on my third novel.

When I'm not imagining a new plot-line or typing frantically away at my computer, I love to spend time with my family, read (my favorite genre is romantic suspense) travel, cook or bake something delicious, sew, scrap-book, or work on crafts.

http://diony-george.blogspot.com/

What inspired you to want to become a writer?
I hadn’t ever planned to become a published writer even though I’ve always enjoyed writing and I love to read! When I was confronted with the most difficult trial of my life, it was a turning point. The pain it brought was so intense at times I didn’t know how I would live through it, but with God’s help I did. Five years later I knew I needed to write a book. It took another five years to get published and its been quite the journey. My third book will be out in August and I love writing.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
The most rewarding thing about being published is knowing I’ve helped others and given them hope by sharing a part of my own journey.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
I would tell them the best way to become a better writer is to read and write every day and if they don't give up on their dream of being published it will happen.

How do you react to a bad review?
When I first read a bad review, my heart starts to pound and I am hurt. After I calm down I try to be more objective and see if I can use any of the criticism to improve my writing.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
I went out to dinner with my family and when my first royalty check arrived in the mail, I made a copy of it to hang on the wall in my office.

What is your favorite Quote?
PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?
I read a lot of Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Who are your favorite authors of all time?
Victoria Holt, Mary Higgins Clark, Daphne de Maurier, and Rachel Ann Nunes.

If you had 24 hours alone how would you spend it?
I would go to an elegant hotel room, have a massage, get my nails done, order room service, read a romantic suspense novel, watch an old Alfred Hitchcock or Doris Day movie, take a long bath with candles, and sleep in!

Any other books in the works?
I am almost finished with an inspirational non-fiction book about prayer, and I'm working on another romantic suspense novel.

Imperfectly Beautiful by Diony George

At 1:30 am, in New York City, Regan Wright is ripped out of a sound sleep with a jolt - her heart thuds in her ears and her face feels flushed. Straining to hear anything out of the ordinary, she fumbles to turn on the bedside lamp. Nothing seems out of place. Suddenly her stomach twists in knots - it's her identical twin, Rebecca. Something is terribly wrong...
Though twins, Rebecca and Regan couldn't be more different. One chose a high-profile career in fashion design, the other chose to be a wife and stay-at-home mom, but neither is truly happy and they must discover why. When a serial killer strikes nearby, and the victim looks eerily similar to the twins, they fear that one of them could be next.

Giveaway Details:
1 Ebook of Imperfectly Beautiful
Ends 6/17/12

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Author Interview & Book Giveaway: The Guardians of Elijah's Fire by Frank Cole

Welcome back to Author Frank Cole

Frank L. Cole was born into a family of Southern storytellers and wrote his first book as age eight. Sadly he misplaced the manuscript and has since forgotten what he wrote. Highly superstitious and gullible to a fault, Frank will believe any creepy story you tell him, especially ones involving ghosts and Bigfoot. Currently along with his wife and three children, he resides in the shadow of a majestic western mountain range, which is most likely haunted.

You can learn more about Frank’s writing at www.franklcole.com.

And don’t forget to check out his other books:The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter
Hashbrown Winters and the Phantom of Pordunce
Hashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness
The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters

Interview:


If you could have any superpower what would you choose? 

I would love to always land on my feet... like a cat or maybe the power to bounce right back up like a weeble wobble.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? 

Good ole' Chocolate. No nuts. No gimmicks. No surprises.

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? 

My great-great grandfather who supposedly saw some sort of monster. I'm pretty sure he was crazy, but boy would that be a fun conversation.

Night owl, or early bird? 

I'm more like a mid-day duck.

One food you would never eat? 

Peas disgust me.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 

For all those who grew up loving Goonies and Indiana Jones and want their kids to do the same, here you go!

Any other books in the works? 

My next Hashbrown Winters book (4th in the series) will release April 2013 and I'm in the process of finishing up the Guardians series. Plus I'm always writing. 

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? 

When I was a child, I loved the Tailypo by JoAnn Galdone. Creepy. And then, as a teen, I really enjoyed Huckleberry Finn and Lord of the Flies. 

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 

Continue to write your next project. Don't settle and wait until your current project is published. The more you write, the more you'll develop your talent and the opportunities will start popping up. 

What is your favorite Quote? 

"No matter how much Peter loved her, what made the Pan refuse to grow was that the Hook brings you back." - Blues Traveler

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why? 

The kid who played Vinnie off the show Doogie Howser. Apparently, he looks just like me.

How did you know you should become an author? 

It was just one of those constant feelings in my mind. I couldn't deny it. I've always been a storyteller and found myself writing whenever I had a free moment. 

Who are your favorite authors of all time? 

I love J.K. (yeah, we're on a first-name basis. She doesn't know this yet.) 

Can you see yourself in any of your characters? 

All of them. Even the villains. (Not really, those.) Trendon from The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter and The Guardians of Elijah's Fire is my carbon copy. I love that obnoxious teenager!

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year? 

I can't wait for the new Dark Knight movie and The Hobbit. I'm also looking forward to reading Janitors 2 by Tyler Whitesides.

Nickname? 

Frankie the Phantom

How do you react to a bad review? 

I speak gibberish, consider giving up writing altogether, stare at the floor for a good hour, and then I move on. You can't please everybody.

If you were a super hero what would your kryptonite be? 

I think I mentioned this earlier. Did I not? I really don't like peas. At all.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

The Bible. Talk about your conversation piece.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book? 

Lots of screaming and confusion. I think I didn't believe it for a good while.

The Guardians of Elijah's Fire

Just when they thought they were safe, Amber, Trendon and their classmates get yanked back into the action. With the Tebah Stick in enemy hands, Amber becomes a target and it seems even her closest allies can’t be trusted. Now the gang will have to travel through enemy territory to protect a deadly ancient weapon that could cause the earth’s utter destruction.
This thrilling tale ups the action and doubles the danger. Bestselling author, Frank L. Cole delivers an addicting read for adventurers of all ages.

Giveaway Details
1 copy of The Guardians of Elijah's Fire
Open to US only
Ends 6/17/12


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Author Interview & Book Giveaway: The Most Important Catch by Jaclyn Hawkes

Welcome to Author Jaclyn Hawkes

Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She received a Bachelor’s degree, had a career, and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the outdoors, the youth, and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe.

Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JaclynMHawkes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JaclynMHawkes
Blog: http://jaclynmhawkes.com/

Q: One food you would never eat?
A: You know on that one Indiana Jones movie with the monkey eyeballs? That’s the one. You truly would have to kill me first.

Q: Pet peeve?
A: Self superior people. We all put our pants on one leg at a time, and we’re all dorks occasionally. Get over yourselves people.

Q: Why you should read my book?
A: It will make you happy!

Q: Any other books in the works?
A: Oh my! I have 9 other books in the pipeline, 4 in the rough writing stage, and a handful of outlines waiting for me to find the time to write them. Not to mention all the ideas knocking around in my head. The writing isn’t the problem. It’s this marketing that makes me nuts. My next published project will be out in late September. It’s a great love story with some action and suspense thrown in! You’ll have to read it to find out what it’s about!

Q: What’s my most rewarding experience since being published?
A: Having a reader tell me how they got so into my book it made them cry! It’s awesome when someone loves my work!

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give aspiring authors?
A: Make sure this is what you really want. If it is, go for it and never give up. All of life isn’t necessarily about who is the most talented. It’s about who works the hardest.

Q: Favorite quote?
A: “Don’t listen to that mocking little voice that tells you to be more realistic. Ignore it. You can either accept reality as it is, or create it as you want it to be.” Michael Hyatt

Q: How do you react to a bad review?
A: In all honesty, I haven’t had many. But we all need to be objective. Taste is personal. Everyone can’t love your work. What I do is try to take a step back, ask if what the gripe was is valid. If it is, and I can still fix it, I do. If it’s too late to fix, I’ll commit to do better next time and move on. If I don’t agree with the criticism, then I ignore it and move on. At least that’s the theory. Either way, moving on is the key. Life is short. I’m going to do my best to create a quality story, regardless of what anyone thinks. For those who don’t approve, sorry. Next.

Q: What’s your favorite season/weather?
A: Spring! Spring! Spring! Spring! I love the flowers, and the strawberries, and the baby animals, and the way my stream smells when the frogs finally start to make that noise you hear when you lay down at night with the windows open! I love the dirt and the hope and all of it! I love spring!

Q: In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
A: Traci Hunter-Abramson. I even know the story I’d like to do. I’d like to do a story about an attempted Muslim honor killing where a great American hero steps in to rescue the fair, yet strong maiden. But, man, that is so not my line of expertise. Traci would be awesome! She’s great at that heart in your throat stuff. And sweetly matter-of-fact about things like semi-automatic weapons. You gotta love that.

Kathy, thanks for doing this. I so appreciate all you do and I so appreciate my readers. Thanks again, Jaclyn M. Hawkes

The Most Important Catch

She knew too much, and she’d seen too much. And the police refused to help. Knowing that she was to be the next scheduled death, Kelly Campbell hid under head to toe black leather and a tinted motorcycle helmet and ran for her life.
When the weather turned cold, she turned south. She ended up in North Carolina, home to one of the most famed and eligible NFL football stars in the whole league; only she didn’t know that. She thought he was a businessman. Not being a huge fan, all she knew was that he was incredibly attractive, kind, generous, and that she was safe with him. Or was she?
His brand of fame proved to be all but deadly, but his fame wasn't nearly as lethal as his attraction. He kept her safe and protected. All except her heart.

Giveaway Details:
1 copy of The Most Important Catch
Open to US only
Ends 6/17/12

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Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Jessamine by Eugenia O'Neal

Welcome to Author Eugenia O'Neal

Eugenia O'Neal is a writer from the British Virgin Islands whose short stories have been published in regional publications. Her first book, From the Field to the Legislature: A History of Women in the Virgin Islands, was publised by Greenwood Press in 2001. Since then she has published two novels, Just an Affair and Dido's Prize. Her next novel, Jessamine, will be out in June.

http://eugeniaoneal.blogspot.com/


Interview
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
To the future - in many ways, it looks as if it might be even more harrowing than life today what with global warming, overpopulation, water scarcity, etc. but there are also so many exciting developments happening in terms of technology and the way we understand so much more about the natural world and about our own biology.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
My ereader with as many books as possible on it, a carton of matches since I'm rubbish at the fire starting thing and a magically refilling bag of Cafe Britt's chocolate covered coffee beans. What else could anybody want, really?

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
My favorite ice cream is Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk which has inexplicably disappeared off the island's supermarket shelves for months now. #SupermarketsoftheBVITakeNote.

One food you would never eat?
Brussel Sprouts

Pet Peeves?
People who drive around with boomboxes blaring and people who don't dispose of gum properly.

Skittles or M&Ms?
M&Ms.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Because there are only a few works of fiction set in the post-abolition Caribbean and because it takes a rare look at some of the modern issues the region faces.

Any other books in the works?
Yes, my book The Water of Sunlight will be out in October and will take a look at one woman's internal journey to make some sense of the things that have happened to her in her short life.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?
I was an avid reader as a child and I also had a good imagination. I was always thinking but "what if?" or "suppose this happened."

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be?
This is a hard one. I'd have loved to have been a Bene Gesserit from Frank Herbert's Dune or a dragonrider of Pern from Anne McCaffrey but if I couldn't be one of those characters I'm not sure I'd have wanted to live in either of those worlds since life seemed rather hard for most other people.

What is your dream cast for your book?
Jessamine is set in two time periods:- the late 1800s and the modern era. In the former, we meet English governess, Arabella, who arrives on the Caribbean island of St. Crescens just before tensions between the freed slaves and the planters erupt into violence. The blacks are led or represented in their aspirations by Leando Joseph, an agitator who seeks voting and other rights for his people. The section set in modern times is narrated by Grace Hylton, the African-American wife of islander Julian Hylton who returns to the island to launch a political campaign aimed at delivering St. Crescens from the clutches of the corrupt Carrington family. Reviewer Jane Hanbury of Booketta's Blog said she could totally imagine Jamie Foxx as Julian Hylton and I think Viola Davis wuld be a great Grace! For Arabella, I like Kirsten Dunst while Dennis Haysbert (one of my favorite actors) would be wonderful as Leando Joseph.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
To never give up, to believe in themselves and in their story. Not to the point that they won't edit it or get it critiqued through such places as CritiqueCircle.com and Critters but to the point where they take the self-publishing option if they can't find a publisher willing to take a chance. The whole agent/publisher query process can be soul-destroying but once you've got a good story and it's been well-edited and your critiquers have liked how you've polished it, take a chance. What have you got to lose?

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?
Athena, of course. Who wouldn't want to be the goddess of wisdom?

What was your favorite children's book?
I remember liking a lot of Enid Blyton books - there was one with creatures who lived in a tree that I really liked and then I graduated to the Famous Five.

How do you react to a bad review?
I note it and move on. If the reviewer has said something I can use, I think about it but if the person just nitpicked or ranted about things that weren't relevant well, I just figure they were having a bad day.

If you were a bird, which one would you be?
An eagle, soaring high.

What's your favorite season/weather?
Summer if I'm living in a cold country but winter if I'm in a hot one. The December to March months in the Virgin Islands are lovely and cool.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
A couple of my friends took me out for a raucous lunch!

Favorite music? 

Reggae 

 
Favorite smell? 

Amber

TV or Movies? 

Movies

Chocolate or Vanilla? 

Chocolate

Action or Drama? 

Depends on my mood.

Sweet or Salty? 

Both together!

Cats or Dog? 

Cats

Jessamine

Jessamine tells the story of Grace Hylton, an African-American, who arrives on the Caribbean island of St. Crescens full of doubts about her husband’s political aspirations, doubts about her marriage and doubts about the wisdom of relocating. Her native-born husband, Julian, has lived most of his adult life in the States but has come back to St. Crescens, determined to pull his country out of the cauldron of corruption, nepotism and crime into which the leading political dynasty has taken it. An architect by training, Julian buys and restores Jessamine, an old Great House. What the Hyltons don’t know is that Jessamine is home to the ghost of Arabella Adams who lived there as a governess during the late 1800s. Jessamine is told from the alternating viewpoints of the two women – both foreigners, both married to local men. An old injustice binds them across the century that separates them, but can Grace discover its roots before St. Crescens is plunged into violence and chaos?

Giveaway Details

1 ebook of Jessamine

Ends 6/15/12

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