Literature and Poetry Reviews, Home of the Virtual Poetry Circle
I want to thank everyone who entered the giveaway for The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner. I wish I had more than 2 books to offer the 137 people who entered. Randomizer.org had the pleasure of weeding through all the entrants and selected:
#106 Victoria
#10 Amanda of Life and Times of a “New” New Yorker
I hope you both enjoy the book. If you haven’t read this book yet, I suggest you run out and by the new paperback! Check it out here at Better World Books.
Welcome to another Hachette Group Early Birds Tour for Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton.
What happens when a cautious, anxious New Yorker, Peggy Adams, spends time in Las Vegas for a friend’s last hoorah and sends caution to the wind, gets drunk, and meets a stranger? A quickie wedding and a huge hangover, followed by a deal of a lifetime for herself and her new husband, Luke Sedgwick.
“It took multiple tries to work through this last piece of information. Man. A man. A man in bed. In her bed. No, on her bed. He lay on his back on top of the coverlet, in a rumpled shirt and a diagonally striped tie, in slacks, socks, and burnished dress shoes that looked as if they’d been polished and repolished for the past twenty years.” (Page 5)
Luke is a WASP and the last of the old world Sedgwicks of Connecticut, and the last hope for an heir to the not-so-large family fortune. Luke is a writer. . . a struggling poet, with an on-again, off-again girlfriend, Nicole, that his great-aunt, Abigail, despises. Peggy is mistaken by Abigail for the relative of an old Connecticut family, though hers is from out west, and she scrambles to please her new family, while keeping her live-in boyfriend, Brock, who is afraid to commit, in the dark about her marriage.
“‘A promise ring?’ Bex yelled. The string of bells on the shop door jingled as it shut behind her. ‘Brock gave you a promise ring? What is this, seventh grade?'” (Page 17)
Lipton has a gift for chicklit/women’s fiction that is witty, fun, and vivacious. Both of these characters are anxious to break free from their current lives, but unable to make the move. Mating Rituals of the North American WASP will keep readers turning pages and will make the summer fly by. Lipton’s prose paints a clear picture of small-town Connecticut and its unique characters and sets the stage for a comedic plot steeped in romance, drama, and much more.
Also Reviewed by:
Luxury Reading
Here’s my interview with Lauren Lipton:
1. How hard was it to transition from writing journalistic stories to writing novels? What has journalism taught you about writing novels?
Writing a news feature has more in common with writing a novel than I’d expected. For both, you need an arresting first sentence (or first paragraph, or first chapter). You need a structure that leads readers through the story, and you need strong characters (or sources in journalism). The plus of writing a novel is that you can invent all the facts!
Working as a journalist gave me research skills for which I’m deeply grateful, and got me used to writing every day, whether I feel like it or not, in any environment. I could write sitting on the floor of the Port Authority Bus Terminal if I had to. (Though, yuck.)
2. Some writers extensively research their charcters or settings, do you spend a lot of time researching or so you simply let your imagination flow?
I let my imagination flow. Unfortunately, it always flows into areas I know nothing about. I’ll think, “I simply must set a scene at the annual Yale-Harvard football game!” -despite never having been to a Yale-Harvard game. This happened over and over while I was writing Mating Rituals of the North American WASP. I researched everything from how to apply roofing tar to the medical treatment of a stroke to the way to decant old port. And I found a Yale alum friend who took me to The Game.
3. Do you have any obsessions you would like to share?
My only current obsession is with getting some sleep. The time just before a book’s publication is nerve-wracking. I keep waking up worrying, “What if it’s a flop?”
4. In terms of marketing, what have been the most successful modes of marketing for you and your books? How would you describe your relationship with the blogging community?
When my first novel, It’s About Your Husband, came out in 2006, I had no idea how important the Internet was in getting the word out. I quickly learned how influential sites such as Goodreads, in which readers recommend books by word-of-mouth, are. And even in the two years since then, the influence of book bloggers like you has grown geometrically. As far as my relationship with the blogging community:
I don’t know how you all feel about me, but I would like to give you ladies a big hug.
5. What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve received and how did it help you?
An editor at the Wall Street Journal once told me I overwrote–that is, I used 10 words when one would do and tried too hard to be clever. He was right. After that, I toned myself down.
6. Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what were your top 5 songs while writing Mating Rituals?
Oddly enough, I might be able to write in the middle of the Port Authority, but music and TV distract me.
7. Are you working anything currently and could you share some tidbits about your latest project?
I’m just starting a third novel that’s more ambitious (and hopefully more serious) than the first two. It’s a retelling of a century-old novel-of-manners set in modern-day New York. It’s daunting, but I’m looking forward to diving in.
I want to thank Lauren for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions, check out the giveaway below.
About the Author:
Lauren Lipton is the author of two novels, It’s About Your Husband (2006) and Mating Rituals of the North American WASP (2009). She is also a freelance journalist who specializes in style, business and trend stories.
She is currently fashion, beauty and lifestyle editor at ForbesWoman magazine. She has also contributed features on society and media to the New York Times Sunday Styles section. A former Wall Street Journal staff writer, she reported on copycat brides who steal their friends’ wedding ideas, pajama parties for grown women, and luxury homes with his-and-hers garages.
Born in Providence, R.I., Lauren grew up in the North County of San Diego and in Los Gatos, Calif., before moving to Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and anthropology from Occidental College and a master’s degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California. Check out her Website, her blog and her Facebook Fan Page.
Giveaway Information:
Hachette Group is offering 3 copies of Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton for U.S. and Canadian readers of Savvy Verse & Wit.
1. To enter leave a comment on this post about the review or the interview.
2. For a second entry, let me know if you follow the blog in Google Reader, Bloglines, Rss, etc.
3. For a third entry, blog or Twitter about this giveaway and leave me a link here.
Deadline is June 3, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST
2 copies of The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa, here; Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59 PM EST
GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW CLOSED!
Also Reviewed By:
You’ve Gotta Read This!
I won The Whole Truth by David Baldacci from She is Too Fond of Books back in March. Hubby and I have been listening to this on and off during the commute and on our most recent drive to Massachusetts for a little bit of a vacation.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a corporation had too much power and was run by a twisted mind? How about a powerful military contracting firm? In The Whole Truth, Nicolas Creel wants to spur weapons build-up among the world powers, but to recreate the Cold War, Creel must set the pieces in motion to ensure two major superpowers or super power wanna-be nations are at odds–Russia and China. Meanwhile, Shaw an underground operative for a secretive agency wants out to marry the woman of his dreams, Anna Fischer, and lead a normal life. Katie James, on the outside looking in, is an on-the-way-down reporter who stumbles upon the story of her life and the century.
The Whole Truth is James Patterson on steroids; it’s bigger and better than most crime fiction. My hubby says this novel could easily be transformed into a summer blockbuster. Shaw is a deeply tormented character, and Katie is an ambitious journalist and idealist. Creel is as every bit as bad as Blofeld and Goldfinger in the James Bond franchise. The suspense in this novel will have readers on the edge of their seats, and the emotional undertones will have readers running the gamut from exhilaration and anxiety to deep sorrow. The fate of the world is in Shaw’s hands.
Check out these giveaways:
1 Signed Copy of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire by C.M. Mayo, here. Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59PM EST.
2 copies of The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa, here; Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59 PM EST
This Mailbox Monday is sponsored by The Printed Page. It was a nice slow week, and I’ve had a few days off, visiting my parents up in Massachusetts.
Here’s the one book I got this week:
1. The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale, which I received for review.
I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and got some great books. Stay tuned for my review of Reunion by Therese Fowler, which after sifting through some confusion is supposed to be posted May 28. So keep your eyes open for the review and a giveaway.
Welcome to another Savvy Verse & Wit guest post; this time it’s Reunion author Therese Fowler discussing her reading habits as a reader and as a novelist. I want to thank Therese for taking time out of her busy schedule to talk with us about her reading. Without further ado, here she is.
Before I was a novelist, I was an avid reader of all kinds of fiction (and some nonfiction). I have a lot of interests and I love to be outdoors, but few things please me better than finding a good book and time to read it. I noticed, though, that once I began writing with the goal of becoming a novelist, I became a different sort of reader, a more critical, less satisfied one—call it an occupational hazard. It has taken some effort to learn how to access my earlier reader-self so that I never lose my love for books and reading.
I thought it might be interesting to list the ways I see books when I’m in reader mode versus writer mode, and came up with these two lists.
Reading as Therese the Avid Reader:
Reading as Therese the Novelist:
Thanks again Therese Fowler. If you liked this guest post, stay tuned for my review of Reunion and a giveaway on May 28.
About the Author:
Therese Fowler has believed in the magic of a good story since she learned to read at the age of four. At age thirty, as a newly single parent, she put herself into college, earning a degree in sociology (and finding her real Mr. Right) before deciding to scratch her longtime fiction-writing itch. That led to an MFA in creative writing, and the composition of stories that explore the nature of our families, our culture, our mistakes, and our desires.
The author of two novels, with a third scheduled for 2010, Therese lives in Wake Forest, NC, with her supportive husband and sons, and two largely indifferent cats. You can visit her website or her blog.
Don’t Forget About These Great Giveaways!
2 copies of The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner, here; Deadline is May 22 at 11:59 PM EST
1 Signed Copy of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire by C.M. Mayo, here. Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59PM EST.
2 copies of The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa, here; Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59 PM EST
George Rabasa‘s The Wonder Singer easily captures the imagination through deftly orchestrated prose and detailed description. The Wonder Singer is the story of famed opera singer Merce Casals, and her story as told to her ghostwriter Mark Lockwood. Through alternating chapters between the biography of Merce Casals and Mark Lockwood’s musings and reviews of his interview tapes with Casals, her tragic and dramatic story unfolds like Aida or many of the other great operas she sang.
“There are moments when the order of life collapses in midbreath, when a missed heartbeat brings on an earthquake. At such a moment, this story takes an unexpected turn.” (Page 1 of hardcover)
How can readers ignore the first, foreboding line of this novel? The Wonder Singer is more than a story of a famed opera singer, but the story of a ghostwriter who blossoms into his own when faced with giving up his dream job or plunging into the unknown. Lockwood teams up with the Casals’ former caretaker Perla, who Lockwood fantasizes about having a torrid affair with, and Casals’ self-proclaimed number one fan Orson La Prima, who dresses in drag to impersonate his favorite opera star. They are going to write Casals’ story and celebrate her life against the wishes of her agent, Hollywood Hank.
“He [Nolan Keefe] had delicate handwriting, like a girl’s, everything nicely rounded, the capital M done with a flourish. Every time he wrote out my name he seemed to be celebrating it. I [Merce] would read my name and see myself reflected in his consciousness. Sometimes he would write my name very small and I would sense he was saying it in a whisper, for my ears alone. Occasionally merce would be spelled out in uppercase, and it sounded in my mind like he was shouting it from the rooftop of the tallest building in New York. Once he even wrote the letters like notes in a pentagram, so that I could hear him singing.” (Page 118 of hardcover)
Rabasa’s prose is lyrical, enchanting, and absorbing, drawing readers into the vivid scenes full of emotion. The Wonder Singer is a character-driven novel examining the impact of early abandonment by a father on a gifted, young singer, her triumph as an opera star, and the drive and fear writers feel when they are faced with a project they would do almost anything to complete even if they feel outmatched and inexperienced.
“‘Show me one false line I’ve written and I will eat the page.'” (Page 165 of hardcover)
About the Author:
George Rabasa was born in Maine and raised in Mexico. He lived in Mexico City on and off for several years until the fates conspired to drop him in exotic Minnesota, where he has lived since 1981.
His new novel, The Wonder Singer, came out in September of 2008 from Unbridled Books.
His collection of short stories, Glass Houses (Coffee House Press), received The Writer’s Voice Capricorn Award for Excellence in Fiction and the Minnesota Book Award for Short Stories in 1997. His novel, Floating Kingdom (Coffee House Press), was awarded the 1998 Minnesota Book Award for Fiction.
***Giveaway Information***
2 copies of The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa are up for grabs from Unbridled Books
Open to U.S. and Canada residents only; No P.O. Boxes.
1. Leave a comment on this post about why you want to read the book or who your favorite Opera singer is or what your favorite Opera is.
2. Comment on George Rabasa’s guest post, here.
3. Leave a comment on this post as to where you follow this blog (i.e. Google Reader, Blogger Followers, Bloglines, Facebook, etc.)
Deadline is May 30, 2009 by 11:59 PM
Don’t Forget About These Great Giveaways!
2 copies of The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner, here; Deadline is May 22 at 11:59 PM EST
1 Signed Copy of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire by C.M. Mayo, here. Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59PM EST.
I’d like to welcome George Rabasa, author of The Wonder Singer, to Savvy Verse & Wit. I hope you enjoy the journey through Rabasa’s workspace and writing routine as part of his tour for The Wonder Singer, published by Unbridled Books.
Punching in at the Fiction Factory
I’m late, I’m late! It’s 9:13 and the brain is humming but the author is not writing. Not a good situation for the novel in progress (two years, four months, three weeks, four days, so far). Still, I just can’t dive in. Like a good athlete I need a little warm-up – might strain a brain cell or two otherwise. So, I check e-mail (nothing much), news headlines (nothing much), calendar (nothing much there either).
I take a look around the Fiction Factory, and I’m energized by the red walls (“cayenne,” actually), the Mexican rug with the huichol designs depicting the symbols for the eagle, corn, flowers, peyote. Packed bookshelves holding a lifetime of reading, and learning. This is where my masters live – Garcia Marquez, Updike, Lowry, Borges, DeLillo, Cervantes, and that’s enough name dropping for now. There are pictures on the walls, some by friends. On the i-pod player, Perla Batalla sings Leonard Cohen.
Before I know it, I’m staring at the screen, cursor blinking, words waiting to be arranged and rearranged. Commas achieving the importance of subatomic particles; take one out or put one in and the order of the universe has been altered. The new novel is about 90,000 words so far, but all I think about for the next hour or so is a sentence, a paragraph, a scene. It’s one step at a time, without thinking too much about the finish line. Then I move on, at a snail’s pace, to the next sentence. And so on…
Finally, it’s lunch time! My union contract with management specifies a decent time for lunch and reading and nap. Then a couple of hours of the afternoon shift. And it’s time to meditate, run, wine, dinner, chocolate. Ah, a happy routine! While I’m often told I should get a life, I can’t think of a better one.
Thanks to George Rabasa for taking us through a typical day. Stay Tuned for my review of The Wonder Singer tomorrow.
Don’t Forget About These Great Giveaways!
2 copies of The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner, here; Deadline is May 22 at 11:59 PM EST
1 Signed Copy of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire by C.M. Mayo, here. Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59PM EST.
Yesterday, I headed into Bethesda, Md., to hear C.M. Mayo read from her latest work, The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire. It was a great surprise to hear some poetry by Luis Alberto Ambroggio and some of his translators, including Yvette Neisser Moreno.
Sunil Freeman of The Writer’s Center handed over the introduction of C.M. Mayo to her workshop friend and board of director member, Ann McLaughlin. She did a wonderful introduction, and I am terribly amiss in remembering her name. I forgot the trusty notebook this time–shameful I know, especially for a writer. However, I did remember to take a camera and shoot some photos and video. Check out these sideways videos…Sorry I have no idea how to make them vertical.
I hope you enjoy the videos even if they are sideways! It was a great reading.
Giveaway details:
I have one signed copy of CM Mayo’s The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire available for 1 lucky reader
1. Leave a comment on this post.
2. Let me know if you follow this blog and where for a second entry.
Deadline is May 30 at 11:59PM EST
Mailbox Monday is sponsored by Marcia at The Printed Page. It’s not only a list of books that I received in the mail, but also books I bought or received from the library and friends over the last week.
1. Beach Trip by Cathy Holton for review for August from Ballantine Books.
2. At the Threshold of Alchemy by poet John Amen, editor of Pedestal Magazine, for review.
3. 2 copies of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire by C.M. Mayo, signed by the author at her recent appearance at The Writer’s Center. Check out my review here.
Out of a mere 13 entrants, Randomizer.org selected #1
Anna from Diary of an Eccentric
It appears that Randomizer.org is in Anna’s pocket. I’m kidding of course. My husband even witnessed the phenomenon and was in shock.
Thanks to all who entered and wrote a poem for the giveaway. As an added bonus, I decided to choose one winner myself based solely on their poem.
The second winner is Lisa of Cheerios Underfoot
Her poem entry:
My biker older sister,
And her new husband, biker mister,
Would like to take a look,
At this book.
I’ve emailed the winners.
Today, I am headed into Bethesda, Md., to The Writer’s Center for C.M. Mayo’s reading of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire, which I reviewed here. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. In the meantime, have a great Sunday.
Don’t forget my other giveaway:
2 copies of The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner, here; Deadline is May 22 at 11:59 PM EST
