Blog Archives
Welcome to MOUTHWATERING MAY! Guests galore, Food, Books, & Prizes!
It’s here – my first ever themed blog month: Mouthwatering May!!
As I said in my previous post, books and food are two of life’s greatest pleasures, so I decided to combine them (and besides, I had to come up with a word that goes well with May š )
So what’s it all about? Well, there’ll be more blog posts than usual, but each will have something to do with food, food themed books, or something mouthwatering (like a romantic scene from a novel). There’ll be guest interviews, excerpts from novels, recipes, and prizes to win. Okay so I’m not giving away a kindle or a car or anything flash, just some nice little goodies that I know readers and writers will enjoy.
Over the coming month there’ll be:
* Mouthwatering Moments: brief excerpts from novels to give you a taste (pardon the pun) of what the book is like, and hopefully leave you wanting to read more!
* Guest interviews: I’ve secured some interviews with successful authors who just so happen to have food-themed books, stay tuned to find out who!
* Sunday Lunch interviews with both published and aspiring authors: sharing how food is a part of their life (apart from the obvious fact of staying alive, that is), and things like the ingredients that make up successful novels.
* Articles: I’ll throw in a couple of articles on writing craft, with food as a metaphor.
* Food-themed books: I’ll share some great books that have food as a theme, and no, I don’t mean cookbooks, but novels.
Do you want to win a prize?
Yes?
Well here’s how…
Subscribe to the blog (on the side menu) so you can keep updated as to when new posts are published. Being a subscriber makes you eligible to be in the running for my competitions. Don’t worry, you can always unsubscribeĀ after May if you’re just in it for some cool stuff, I won’t be offended, but of course I’m hoping you’ll enjoy the blog posts and stay on board!
For every ‘Mouthwatering May’Ā blog post you comment on, you’llĀ receive one entry into a random draw at the end of the month for one of the prizes. That’s one entry per post, not per comment, so you can’t go leaving a hundred comments on the one blog post – it won’t work! But if there are, say, 20 blog posts, and you leave a (valid) comment on each, then that’s 20 chances to win a prize. Some of the guest authors may choose to offer a prize too, but to enter you’d need to comment on their particular post.
CanĀ you win a prize ifĀ you’re not from Australia?
Yes, as long as it’s not a prize containing food. I’ll update the prizes at a later date, but for now, here’s some piccies of some of the goodies you could win:
There’s a beautiful Paris book-box containing Lindt Mint Intense and Raffaello choccies, plus some cute Paris sticky notes, there’s a copy of the book ‘Georgia’s Kitchen’, as well as a copy of the same book PLUS a gourmet bag of Cadbury Coco truffle chocolates! Is your mouth watering yet?
So let’s get started – the first special post will be tomorow (Wednesday 2nd) and will be a Mouthwatering Moment for you to devour, so remember to stop by and leave a comment. One of the prizes above could be yours!
š
Anita Heiss Answers Juliet’s Awkward Questions! Plus a giveaway!
In this segment, authors will be subjected to a list of awkward questions that may reveal more about themselves than they really wish to share, and they will receive a score on the āBraveometerā. If they choose to answer only five questions, they are a āBrave Authorā, if they answer 6 to 9 questions they are a āMega-Brave Authorā, and if they answer all 10 questions they are an āUltra-Brave Authorā!
Photography: Amanda James
Today I’d like to welcome the lovely Anita Heiss to the blog!
1. If only one of your books could have been / could be published, which one would you choose? (Cāmon, I donāt want to hear āOh, I love them all, thereās no way I could choose.ā Time to be ruthless, these are the Ten Awkward Questions after all!)
Who Am I? the diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937. An historical novel about the stolen generations it is probably the most significant work I will ever do in my lifetime.
2. Okay, now which one of your children/family members would you… nah, just kidding! Which of the following words most accurately describes your best personality trait (you must pick only one!):
Punctual. Good listener. Neat.Ā Graceful. Generous. Cheerful.
Iām cheerful!
Ā
3. Which of the following words most accurately describes your worst most challenging personality trait (even if youāre perfect, you must pick one):
Always late. Blabbermouth. Slob. Complete klutz. Scrooge. Grumpy pants.
My lawyer says I am not challenged by any of these.Ā Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
4. Have you ever had a romantic crush on one of your characters? Who and why?
Yes, I fell in love with Cash Branigan from Manhattan Dreaming. I remember sitting at my desk one day and bursting into tears because I realised he was my perfect match ā strong, hot, capable, romantic, thoughtful, runs a restaurant in New York. What more could a girl like me possibly want?
5. When writing an important scene, do you act it out to allow you to better describe whatās happening?
Yes, especially the sex scenes, they require a lot of acting out.
6. Do you talk to yourself when writing or coming up with plot ideas?
I talk to myself all the time. In terms of my writing though, as I type I say the words out loud and then I read them back to listen for clunkiness.
7. Who would be ideal to play YOU in a movie of your life?
Halle Berry or a younger Angela Bassett.
Ā
8. If you could be any book character for one day, who would you be and why?
Iād be my own character Lauren Lucas from Manhattan Dreaming, because even with her flaws she was a great gal AND got to live in NYC for 12 months, eat a lot of cake, shop with the girls, go on dates and work at the fabulous National Museum of the American Indian.
9. Youāre about to be left on a deserted island for a year, and while your basic food and water needs will be met, you can only bring one extra thing from the following. Which would you choose?
a) A pen and notepad that never runs out
b) An unlimited supply of books
c) An unlimited supply of chocolate, coffee, or alcohol (your choice)
d) A gorgeous man/woman depending on your preference
For the last twenty years all Iāve had is books, paper, chocolate and booze. Iāll take a bloke to pass the time for the next 12 months!
Thanks for participating, Anita. Your answers gave me a laugh! You have been awarded Mega-Brave Author status on the braveometer!
Visit Anita’s website here.
*To WIN a copy of Anita’s book, MANHATTAN DREAMING, comment below and answer Anita’s question:
Q: āIāve set books in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, New York and Paris. Where else should I set a book and why?ā
*Competition open to Australian residents only, and will be drawn on Monday 30th April. Winner will be notified via email and must respond within one week or another winner will be chosen.
Fiona Palmer answers Juliet’s Ten Awkward Author Questions!
In this segment, authors will be subjected to a list of awkward questions that may reveal more about themselves than they really wish to share, and they will receive a score on the āBraveometerā. If they choose to answer only five questions, they are a āBrave Authorā, if they answer 6 to 9 questions they are a āMega-Brave Authorā, and if they answer all 10 questions they are an āUltra-Brave Authorā!
Please welcome Fiona Palmer to the blog! Not only is Fiona brave for answering these questions, she is also generous, as she isĀ giving away a copy of her new book, THE ROAD HOME!
1.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā If only one of your books could have been / could be published, which one would you choose? (Cāmon, I donāt want to hear āOh, I love them all, thereās no way I could choose.ā Time to be ruthless, these are the Ten Awkward Questions after all!)
Hmm, Iād have to say the fourth book Iām writing as Iāve grown so much as a writer and Iāve learnt so much now, whereas my first book I was a complete novice. I look back at my first book and cringe with what I know now. LOL
2.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Okay, now which one of your children/family members would you… nah, just kidding! Which of the following words most accurately describes your best personality trait (you must pick only one!):
Punctual. Good listener. Neat.Ā Graceful. Generous. Cheerful.
Iād like to say cheerful, but there are days where that just doesnāt happen (I have kids!!) so Iād have to stick with punctual. I just hate being late. If someone says, meet me at 7, then I have to be there by that time, even a little early so Iām not leaving them waiting. My watch is my best friend. š
3.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Which of the following words most accurately describes your worst most challenging personality trait (even if youāre perfect, you must pick one):
Always late. Blabbermouth. Slob. Complete klutz. Scrooge. Grumpy pants.
Well we can rule out the first one. I do like a bit of gossā¦(I work at the local post office, itās practically the grapevine lol) But Iād have to go with klutz. But more a klutz in my mind. I can be totally gullible and sometimes just be on a whole other wave length. (I could blame having kids, but I was like this at high school. I have stories, one was ironing my faceā¦I know I hear you all going WHAT, but it happenedā¦and donāt get me started on the other things!)
4.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Have you ever had a romantic crush on one of your characters? Who and why?
It was Will from my first book. Who wouldnāt want the hunky wealthy next-door farmer? I always wanted to marry a farmer, until I realised the farm would come first LOL.
5.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā When writing an important scene, do you act it out to allow you to better describe whatās happening?
No.Ā Well in a way, itās acted out in my head like a movie. Iāll be staring at a wall as I become lost in my head as the characters come alive and I watch them go about their business. Then I come to and realise my kids have been yelling at me for the last ten minutes! Kids+writing=hard work.
6.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Do you talk to yourself when writing or coming up with plot ideas?
Again I do, but internally. Iām not a verbal person, Iād much prefer typing emails than phone calls.Ā Just as well I donāt do it out loud because I think Iād scare a lot of people. And itās a lot faster just letting my mind whizz through the words and ideas. Talking them would slow me down. (Oh and I also have this problem where my brain and mouth arenāt connected very well. I can think of something to say but it comes out my mouth different! Itās a curse.)
7.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Who would be ideal to play YOU in a movie of your life?
Iād have to say Sandra Bullock ā Her character in Miss Congeniality is close (Iām a tomboy) and she played that so well, sheās not afraid to be a dork.
8.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā If you could be any book character for one day, who would you be and why?
Elizabeth Bennet. Because I love her spirit and hey, sheās married to Mr Darcy and gets to live in a gorgeous old house.
9.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Youāre about to be left on a deserted island for a year, and while your basic food and water needs will be met, you can only bring one extra thing from the following. Which would you choose?
a) A pen and notepad that never runs out
b) An unlimited supply of books
c) An unlimited supply of chocolate, coffee, or alcohol (your choice)
d) A gorgeous man/woman depending on your preference
Wow all of them together would be perfect. Okay just one. Hmm Iād have to say the books because then I could escape to all different places and not have to worry about running out of ideas!
10.Ā If you had the attention of the whole world for two minutes what would you say?
Really I think I couldnāt do it, the pressure would be too much. Trying to figure out what would be the perfect most useful thing to say would fry my brain. Even now Iām thinking OMG what would I say!!
Thanks Fiona, you have been awarded Ultra-Brave Author status on the braveometer!
You can visit Fiona at her website, Facebook, and Twitter (@fiona_palmer)
*To be in the draw to WIN a copy of Fiona’s brand new book (released this week!). THE ROAD HOME, please comment below and answer the following question:
“What would YOU say to the world if you had everyone’s attention for two minutes?”
(Winner drawn Monday 26th March)
Sharing the LOVE… Win a Valentineās Day Gift Bag!
Whether you celebrate this annual day of love or not, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share some love and run a competition. My first ever blog competition! And thereāll be more to come, so if you want to hear about upcoming competitions (as well as fascinating blog posts and author interviews of course ;)), just enter your email address into the subscription form on the right >>
Most people associate Valentineās Day with romantic love, but I thought Iād do a blog post about things I love, and Iād love you to share with me the things you love too. In fact, if you do, youāll be entered into the draw to win a goodie bag! (*AUS only, more details on the competition at the end of this post).
So hereās a āList Of Things I Loveā.
Maybe you love some of them too, or maybe you donāt. Donāt you just love how we are all so different!
Now these arenāt in order or anything, they are simply a few examples of things I love…
Movies:
The Sound of Music (I know some parts are cheesy, but it has everything – romance, suspense, humour, drama, music!)
The Wizard of Oz (For writers, one of the best examples of Goal, Motivation, & Conflict)
Titanic (nothing like a big budget Hollywood Blockbuster!)
The Holiday (I love the story and the characters)
The Bourne Trilogy (Matt Damon. Fast paced action. Great plot. Matt Damon.)
Harry Potter (I just love the world JK Rowling created, and all the little details)
Ferris Buellerās Day Off (anyone…anyone…?)
Girls Just Want To Have Fun (for those young women who’ve never heard of this dance flick, check it out to see a young Sarah J Parker & Helen Hunt!)
Books:
The Woman in White by Wilkie CollinsĀ (I’m not usually one for ‘older’ books, but I couldn’t put this book down when I read it several years ago)
The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton (made me believe in the magic of books)
The Passion Test by Janet and Chris Attwood (this is non-fiction, and it has quite literally changed my life)
29 by Adena Halpern (funny, charming, well written, fast paced – everything I love in a novel)
Heaven Can Wait by Cally Taylor (one of the most unique stories I’ve read in the last few years)
(I could mention so many other books but it would be a very long blog post!)
Places:
NSW South Coast where I live! (There is a bit of everything here – beach, farms, nice cafes, boutique shops, mild weather, relaxed lifestyle)
Melbourne (the culture, the food, the shopping, and so much more compact and easier to find your way around than Sydney!)
Rainforests (I love the feeling of being completely surrounded by nature)
Department Stores (I also love the feeling of being completely surrounded by no nature whatsoever)
Bookstores (I also love being surrounded by books)
Food:
Although Iām a very healthy eater (given my health industry background), who can resist a melt-in-your-mouth piece of chocolate once in a while?!
Smoked salmon
Nectarines (yummiest fruit ever)
Chicken soup (made by yours truly š
Words:
Bliss
Dream
Inspire
(Don’t you just feel wonderful reading those words?)
TV Shows (past & present):
Friends (best sitcom EVER)
3rd Rock From The Sun (2nd best sitcom EVER)
Bewitched (Oh, how we’d all like to be Samantha!)
Packed To The Rafters (Best Aussie show)
24 (Great plots, twists, and edge of your seat action)
Prison Break (slightly unrealistic concept but heaps of fun, and um… nice, er… scenery š
Activities:
Writing (duh!)
Reading (double duh!)
Dancing
Drawing/painting
Watching movies
Staring at the ocean (I swear some of my ideas get washed in with the waves, so any time spent staring is purely for productivity)
What about you, what things do you love in life?
*Here is how to enter my competition to win this Valentineās Day Gift Bag (Australia only):
1. Firstly, make sure youāre Australian, or have an Australian postal address. If youāre not sure, ask your parents š …For my international friends (who are probably slamming their fist on the table yelling āItās not fair!ā), donāt despair, I promise Iāll run some international competitions on the blog too!
2. Secondly, make sure youāre subscribed to this blog. If not, enter your email address in the subscription form on the top right of this page (Donāt worry, Iām not a daily blogger so you wonāt get bombarded with blog updates, and Iām not one of those people who tries to sell Viagra!). Done? Okay, next step…
3. Leave a comment below and tell me at least three things you love and why (use the categories Iāve listed to inspire you).
4. The winner will be drawn randomly from valid entries around 5:00pm Sydney time on Friday 17th February 2012, and notified via email and on this blog.
5. The gift bag contains a copy of āThe Trouble With Valentineās Dayā by Rachel Gibson, a Lancome maharani jewels āJuicy Tubesā lip gloss, a Sanctum organic cedarwood and olive leaf soap, and a Sanctum organic Body Essentials pack containing body buff exfoliator, body balm, and hand/nail repair cream. So the winner will be able to have an in-home pamper treatment, slick on some juicy lip gloss, and curl up with a fun book!
What are you waiting for? Leave a comment, it could be you!
Helene Young Answers ‘Juliet’s Ten Awkward Author Questions’ (& Giveaway!)
In this new segment, authors will be subjected to a list of awkward questions that may reveal more about themselves than they really wish to share, and they will receive a score on the āBraveometerā. If they choose to answer only five questions, they are a āBrave Authorā, if they answer 6 to 9 questions they are a āMega-Brave Authorā, and if they answer all 10 questions they are an āUltra-Brave Authorā!
Today I’d like to welcome romantic suspense author Helene Young, who has kindly offerred to give away a copy of Shattered Sky to one lucky commentor!
1. If only one of your books could have been / could be published, which one would you choose? (Cāmon, I donāt want to hear āOh, I love them all, thereās no way I could choose.ā Time to be ruthless, these are the Ten Awkward Questions after all!)
Oh noā¦ thatās traitorous not awkwardĀ š Ok Iāve hardened up ā Wings of Fear because itās subject matter is so dear to my heart.
2. Okay, now which one of your children/family members would you… nah, just kidding! Which of the following words most accurately describes your best personality trait (you must pick only one!): Punctual. Good listener. Neat.Ā Graceful. Generous. Cheerful.
Hmmā¦ Can I add one of my own? You donāt have obsessive there! No? Ok Iāll go with punctual then because no one wants their pilot to be late š
3. Which of the following words most accurately describes your worst most challenging personality trait (even if youāre perfect, you must pick one): Always late. Blabbermouth. Slob. Complete klutz. Scrooge. Grumpy pants.
Go with complete klutzā¦ My husband used to call me Frank after Frank Spencer in Some Mothers do āAve emā¦
4. Have you ever had a romantic crush on one of your characters? Who and why?Ā Ā Ā
Oh yes, all of them are serious crushes but Ryan in Burning Lies is my most debilitating crush. I didnāt want his story to end.
5. When writing an important scene, do you act it out to allow you to better describe whatās happening?Ā
No, but I read the dialogue aloud and I have been known to try kissing my husband in unusual embraces, normally to poor effect.
6. Do you talk to yourself when writing or coming up with plot ideas?
Yep, and I pull faces! Not good if Iām in a coffee shop or airport loungeā¦ Probably look quite deranged.
7. Who would be ideal to play YOU in a movie of your life?
Can I have Judy Dench or or Helen Mirren?
8. If you could be any book character for one day, who would you be and why?
Lily from Phillipa Fiorettiās book The Book of Love. Iād get to wear vintage dresses, float around in a dreamy haze, eat luscious jam and have gorgeous men fall at my feet.
9. Youāre about to be left on a deserted island for a year, and while your basic food and water needs will be met, you can only bring one extra thing from the following. Which would you choose?
a) A pen and notepad that never runs out
b) An unlimited supply of books
c) An unlimited supply of chocolate, coffee, or alcohol (your choice)
d) A gorgeous man/woman depending on your preference
Easy, a) Pen and notepad because then I can create the gorgeous man, write my own stories and be forceably weaned off my caffeine addiction.
10. If you had the attention of the whole world for two minutes what would you say?
Can you lot be a bit more tolerant of each other? If you donāt like someone then stay away from them. Donāt get in their face and starting shouting! Sharing is good. Spread the love. š
Thanks Helene! Helene’s website is here.
WIN! To be in the running for a copy of Shattered Sky (must be in Australia), comment below and tell us whoĀ YOU think should play Helene in a movie of her life. Prize will be drawn on Monday 12th December.
If you’d like toĀ buy a signed copy for a Christmas present, or just for yourself, contact Helene.
Helene’s books are now available on Kindle too! Check them out here.
And now for Helene’s award…(drumroll)… Helene, you are an ‘Ultra-Brave Author’!!
Tracy Sumner answers ‘Juliet’s Ten Awkward Author Questions’
In this new segment, authors will be subjected to a list of awkward questions that may reveal more about themselves than they really wish to share, and they will receive a score on the āBraveometerā. If they choose to answer only five questions, they are a āBrave Authorā, if they answer 6 to 9 questions they are a āMega-Brave Authorā, and if they answer all 10 questions they are an āUltra-Brave Authorā!
Today I’d like to welcome Tracy Sumner to take the challenge! And if you’d like to win two of Tracy’s ebooks, plus go into the draw to win a kindle at the end of her blog tour, make sure you leave a comment!
1. If only one of your books could have been / could be published, which one would you choose? (Cāmon, I donāt want to hear āOh, I love them all, thereās no way I could choose.ā Time to be ruthless, these are the Ten Awkward Questions after all!)
Easy answer for me! Tides of Love. Backstory: Tides of Love was written first. Brother: Noah Garrett. Tides of Passion followed: Zach Garrett. Why Tides of Love if I had to choose one.? Well, Noah Garrett is MY type of hero. Heās a marine biologist, Outer Banks, 1898. He lives a controlled life until her meets Elle. Tides of Love is just MY book. Thatās all I can say.
2. Okay, now which one of your children/family members would you… nah, just kidding! Which of the following words most accurately describes your best personality trait (you must pick only one!): Punctual. Good listener. Neat.Ā Graceful. Generous. Cheerful.
Ā Generous.
3. Which of the following words most accurately describes your worst most challenging personality trait (even if youāre perfect, you must pick one): Always late. Blabbermouth. Slob. Complete klutz. Scrooge. Grumpy pants.
Blabbermouth. Iām always late, too!
4. Have you ever had a romantic crush on one of your characters? Who and why?
See answer #1. Noah Garrett. Though I love my heros! All of them!
5. When writing an important scene, do you act it out to allow you to better describe whatās happening?
NO. I think Iād feel foolish even if I was alone. Though I do act them out a lot in my mind. Does that count? š
6. Do you talk to yourself when writing or coming up with plot ideas?
I talk to myself all the time. And I start conversations in the middle of a sentence/thought with others. Odd.
7. Who would be ideal to play YOU in a movie of your life?
Maybe Sandra Bullock? How about Angelina Jolie!
8. If you could be any book character for one day, who would you be and why?
Scarlett OāHara. Our personalities are similar. Iām a feisty southerner. And Rhett Butler was an awesome hero!
9. Youāre about to be left on a deserted island for a year, and while your basic food and water needs will be met, you can only bring one extra thing from the following. Which would you choose?
a) A pen and notepad that never runs out
b) An unlimited supply of books
c) An unlimited supply of chocolate, coffee, or alcohol (your choice)
d) A gorgeous man/woman depending on your preference
B. Iām assuming I at least have water or Iād pick C. Iāll go with B; I think any man would get annoying after so much contained togetherness! Even if he was hot.
10. If you had the attention of the whole world for two minutes what would you say?
ADOPT DONāT SHOP. SPAY/NEUTER. Then, I might have a few seconds left over to talk about my books! Promo!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
facebook.com/TracySumnerRomanceAuthor
@SumnerTracy
Tides of Passion: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WVPFH0
Ā
Tracyās story telling career began when she picked up a copy of LaVyrle Spencerās Vows on a college beach trip. A journalism degree and a thousand romance novels later, she decided to try her hand at writing a southern version of the perfect love story. With a great deal of luck and more than a bit of perseverance, she sold her first novel to Kensington Publishing.
When not writing sensual stories featuring complex characters and lush settings, Tracy can be found reading romance, snowboarding, watching college football and figuring out how she can get to 100 countries before she kicks (which is a more difficult endeavor than it used to be with her four-year-old son in tow). She lives in Charlotte, NC, but after spending a few years in āthe cityā, considers herself a New Yorker at heart.
Tracy has been awarded the National Readerās Choice, the Write Touch and the Beacon ā with finalist nominations in the HOLT Medallion, Heart of Romance, Rising Stars and Readerās Choice. Her books have been translated into German, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. She loves hearing from readers about why she tends to pit her hero and heroine against each other and that great novel she simply must order in five seconds on her Kindle.
Ciao!
Ā
WIN! Two commenters will be chosen by random.org for two eBooks each! TIDES OF PASSIONand TIDES OF LOVE! And all the commenters will go in the grand draw of a Kindle at the end of this tour! For further stops in this tour, please check the Author Page.
Thanks Tracy for taking part, you have been awarded ‘Ultra-Brave Author’ status on the Braveometer!
Ā
My poem made from book titles!
As an avid reader, writer, and creative person in general, (with a slight, okay… a fierce competitive streak), when I saw a contest for making a poem out of book titles I just had to enter!Ā
Thanks to my writer buddy (and collage poet) Diane for sharing the link to the contest, and to Janet Reid for organising it and reading through all the entries.
I had a lot of fun pulling books from my neatly organised shelves and playing around with the titles until I came up with the final result; a romantic comedy complete with a black moment and happy ending š
I didn’t expect to make the top four finalists, so that was a nice surprise!! You can see the results and the winning poemĀ here.
Here is my poem:
So why not give this a go yourself? C’mon, have some fun and show me what you end up with!
JULIET MADISON 