Contest Winners

First up, Barbara is the winner of the copy of In for a Penny by Maggie Toussaint. Since she left her email address, she has been contacted.

Janet was the winner of the redraw for the copy of Karin Tabke's Master of Surrender. She too has been contacted about her win.

This past weekend we instituted a new rule asking people who want to be entered in the contest to leave their email address in the blog post or to email us to let us know they want to be entered in the contest. We are hoping that this new rule will eliminate redraws... but I have one from before the rule took effect.

So, if you're interested in winning a copy of Sigrid Macdonald's D'Amour Road, please email me at admin.bookblog@gmail.com. I need the name of the book in the subject and your mailing address in the body of the message. The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 11.

Interview with Maggie Toussaint

Jen: Readers, please help me welcome Maggie Toussaint to Book Talk this weekend. Maggie, will you please share a short bio with us?
Maggie: Sure! And thanks for having me over. I’m a deep fried southerner, but I did a 30 year stint in the North, one of those “M” states as my family likes to say. I was thrilled to make a sale after ten years of concerted effort of writing for publication. You’ll find me in three RWA chapters, MWA, and SINC, as well as Facebook, MySpace, and Goodreads. I have releases in both romantic suspense and mystery. For more info about my books and published articles, visit www.maggietoussaint.com

Jen: Tell us about In for a Penny and where it's available.
Maggie: In for a Penny is a cozy mystery about an accountant who wishes she’d gone to work when her golf ball lands on a dead guy. Her best friend is accused of murdering the banker, and Cleopatra Jones rallies to her friend’s defense. This book is available in hardcover and large print and may be ordered through book stores or purchased online at Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. In for a Penny, ISBN 9781594146466, Five Star/Cengage.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Maggie: Promise not to tell? I still have my teenage diaries. *blush* I’ve been writing for years and years but didn’t start writing fiction until the 1990s. I stumbled upon RWA in 1996. But it took another ten years to get the call. I came close several times, but for one reason or another it didn’t happen for me until October 2006. A relatively new small press offered for a romantic suspense I had shopped around. I was excited by their offer, and it was an email instead of a call. Even so, I jumped up and down for a few days. I don’t think my feet touched the ground when I walked either. It was a very big deal in my world.

Jen: How does your family feel about your career?
Maggie: They are incredibly supportive. They believe in me and are my number one fans. I am so lucky.

Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Maggie: Coming out of the world of science, I started writing with outlines, index cards, and spreadsheets. That yielded well plotted books but I didn’t love those books as I should have. For me, there was something missing. As I learned about different writing processes, I ventured over into the go-with-the-flow world and got scared to death. Now I’ve found my happy medium. I write to a couple of key plot points, which affords me a journey of discovery as I write and yet keeps me on track.

Jen: Do you have a specific time or place that you write?
Maggie: I’m a morning writer. I work in my home office. There’s a hummingbird feeder right outside my window; beyond that is a slice of sparkling river.

Jen: How do you pick the character’s names?
Maggie: Names are important to me. I wanted something exotic and down to earth for my protagonist in my cozy, In for a Penny. Cleopatra Jones was just the right touch for a practical woman who had doubts of her sensuality.

Jen: What is it about fiction writing that appeals to you?
Maggie: You’re kidding, right? I’m a sucker for happily ever after. Plus, I get to kill off (on paper anyway, LOL!) the folks who’ve done me wrong.

Jen: What did you do to celebrate the sale of your first book?
Maggie: Dinner at a nice restaurant.

Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Maggie: The first book to completely dazzle me was Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. I was captivated by that story. Afterward I read widely, seeking that same level of wonderment. Eventually I realized it was just as satisfying to create these worlds. That’s my goal for every book, to have someone say they loved it so much they had to read it straight through to the end.

Jen: Do you become attached to your characters and have a hard time letting them go, or are you happy that their story is told and you can move on?
Maggie: After such intimacy, I need a divorce. My muse enjoys time outdoors, arts and crafts, and relaxation. Oftentimes I’ll gorge myself by plowing to the bottom of my to-be-read pile as a reward for turning in a book. Then I’m ready to go again.

Jen: If In for a Penny was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the leads?
Maggie: I’d like Simon Baker (from The Mentalist) for Rafe Golden and Kate Winslet or Amy Adams for Cleopatra Jones. Simon’s charisma is exactly what I envisioned for my sexy golf pro. And both Kate and Amy are smart, passionate redheads, just like my Cleo.

Jen: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Maggie: I’ve had women stop me on the street to ask who the real-life model is for my heroes. They want to marry this man.

Jen: What's next for you?
Maggie: I’m finishing revisions to the sequel for In for a Penny, and my agent is marketing a paranormal mystery series. Please keep your fingers crossed on both counts.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Maggie: Visit www.maggietoussaint.com. My links page has a listing of my networks, groups, and professional affiliations. I’m only a click away!

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Maggie: Heck yeah. I’d love to see what folks think about smart versus sexy. I’m giving away a hardcover copy of In for a Penny to one lucky commenter. Which do you like more, a smart woman who doesn’t know she’s pretty or a sexy woman who downplays her intelligence? Explain if your answer is born out of reality or book characters you loved/hated.

Jen: Maggie, thanks for being our guest this weekend. Readers, you heard her. She's giving away a copy of In for a Penny. To enter, leave a comment either answering her question or asking one of your own. You also need to either leave your email address in your post or send an message to admin.bookblog@gmail.com expressing your interest in the contest. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, June 7 around 5:00 pm PST.

Excerpt from "In for a Penny" by Maggie Toussaint

A massive maple stood between me and the number six green, blocking forward progress. I had no choice but to chip out of the rough and hope for distance on my next shot. Of course if I missed and hit the slender trunks of the myriad of smaller obstacles between me and the fairway I’d quite possibly lobotomize myself. Fair enough.

I marched back to the cart and selected my pitching wedge. “You might want to back up the cart while I hit.”

“Won’t do it.” Jonette smoothed her flirty little red golf skirt. “But you hit me and you are one dead dog.”

Back in the woods, I took aim at Jonette and whaled away. My ball skimmed over the top of her head and landed in the center of the fairway.

Success tasted sweet in my mouth. “Hot damn! I’m on a roll.” I jogged back to the cart and noticed Jonette had a death grip on the steering wheel. Served her right. I thumped her on her back.

She choked in a breath of air. “Didn’t think you had it in you, Cleo. Nice shot.”

I was still furthest from the hole, so I exchanged my wedge for a seven iron. In truth, I didn’t see the point of having so many clubs in my bag when my trusty seven worked well for any occasion. I took a deep breath and swung easy.

My ball landed twenty yards ahead of Jonette’s. Counting all my strokes, I lay three to her one, but that was beside the point. If the world ended right this minute, my ball would still be closest to the pin. That was worth a lot.

The golf gods must have taken a lunch break because my next shot zoomed over the green and down a steep embankment. I grabbed a club and started down the hill.

Jonette followed, sniffing tentatively. “Do you smell something?”

I did. My eyes watered at the latrine-like stench. It wasn’t unusual to smell something ripe this time of year in Maryland. The odor could be anything from farmers manuring their fields to the groundskeeper’s natural fertilizers. “No telling what that is.”

Using my golf club as a cane, I crabbed sideways down the hill, scoping the terrain near my feet for my ball. At the base of the hill, I saw something that resembled a bundle of clothes.

A huge lump formed in my throat. “What is that?”

“I’ve got a real bad feeling about this,” Jonette said.

“You and me both.” The closer I came, the more certain details stood out in my mind. I saw that the bundle of clothes was actually an expensive business suit. Pinstriped trouser legs were rolled up to reveal dark crew socks and black-and-white golf shoes.

The man lay on his back staring straight up at the cloudless sky. Between his slate-gray eyes was a dark circular wound. Bloodstained grass framed his lifeless head in a grotesque abstract shape, as if some wicked cartoonist had thought to ink in the conversation.

Only there was no conversation coming from this person. He was dead. Very dead.

My personal problems receded in a heartbeat. I fought down dizzying nausea as I felt my blood charge through me like a speeding freight train. I wanted to run and get far away from this grisly scene, but my feet weren’t listening.

I knew this man. He was my ex’s best friend and coworker down at the Hogan’s Glen Bank. His name tumbled from my lips. “Dudley Doright.”

June Contest

As you probably know, with most of our promos we have contests. Often authors ask me what they should give away in their contest. So, I'm asking you. What do you like to win? Is it books (print or ebook preference)? How about gift certificates? Promotional items? Something else?

Let us know your thoughts. Be specific in what you like. Also let us know what makes you want to enter a contest. For me, it's the ease (meaning not a whole lot of hoops and ways to get entries) and then the prize being offered.

The contest will run until Sunday, June 28. To enter, leave your answers to what prizes you like to see in a promo contest. Your entry in the contest is not complete unless you leave an email address in your post or send an email (with the subject June Contest) to admin.bookblog@gmail.com expressing your interest in entering.

Updated... I just realized that I never stated a prize. Sorry about that. Winner will win a print book off of my bookshelf.

Review: "The Quarterback's Demons" by C.K. Laurence

Review by Melissa Cornwell

This is the first mystery I have read in a long time and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The book kept me guessing all the way until the end and then I was blown away by the ending. Wonderfully complex plot. I also liked the characters very much. Kyle might represent that side of fame that all parents and family want to see: a superstar athlete with morals. I also liked the plot with Karen. I adore stories where childhood friends become something more when they get older, and this was one of those stories. Also, I enjoyed the other members of the squad. They added an extra taste to the life of cops, especially Garcia.

In this story, we get both a look into an athlete's life as well as that into a cop's life. It was definitely a strange combination. I can honestly say that I have not read a story like it. I cannot imagine the research it took to write this book, but it was a job well done. I wanted to see more of the side characters developed, but for the length of the novel, they were well done. This murder mystery is great for those who read mysteries constantly, but I think it would be great for those just starting out in the genre, as it is very unique in the mystery it presents. I hope to see more come from this author.

Contest Rules Update

We've had way too many unclaimed prizes lately, which leads to redraw contests. But because it's time consuming for me, we are enforcing a new rule when entering our contests.

When you enter a contest at Book Talk starting now, you either need to leave your email address in your comment (which is necessary unless otherwise stated) OR you leave a comment and send us a message to admin.bookblog@gmail.com letting us know you want to be entered in the drawing.

Please know that we are trying to keep our contests as simple as possible, but with the number of unclaimed books because people are not checking to see if they've won, we have to implement this small change. We do value our readers and want you to continue visiting our blog and entering our contests.

Stroke of Genius Contest with Emily Bryan

Want to see your name on the acknowledgment page of Emily Bryan's next book? Here's your chance! Emily is giving her readers an opportunity to name an important secondary character in her upcoming STROKE OF GENIUS. The winner will receive signed copies of Emily Bryan's entire backlist (including A CHRISTMAS BALL anthology, due out Sept 29th). PLUS you'll be mentioned on the acknowledgment page of STROKE OF GENIUS. The contest begins June 1st and entries close July 1st. For more information, visit www.emilybryan.com.

Contest winners

Many thanks to everyone who came by to support Linda Wisniewski this week. Virginia is the winner of the contest and has been contacted.

We also have 2 winners from redraws this week. Debbie D. won the redraw for the Moon Walk Book. Kim won the copy of Market for Love. Both ladies have been contacted.

No one entered the contest for the ebook of Magick & Misery. If you're interested, the first person to email me at admin.bookblog@gmail.com will win the PDF.

And I never heard from one of the winners of Karen Tabke's contest. If you're interested in winning a signed copy of Master of Surrender, please email me at admin.bookblog@gmail.com. Include the name of the book in the subject and your mailing address in the body of the message. I'll pick a winner on Sunday, June 7.

And last, Jessica and I put our heads together and chose Maureen as our "Name the Blog" contest winner. We aren't sure we found the perfect name for the blog, but we liked her suggestions as a springboard. Maureen, please email me at admin.bookblog@gmail.com to claim your prize. Please let me know if you'd like the gift card for Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Borders.

Interview with Linda Wisniewski

Jen: This week we welcome Linda Wisniewski. Linda, will you please share a short bio with us?
Linda: I am a substitute librarian in Bucks County, PA, where I teach memoir workshops at Bucks County Community College and retirement centers. I write features for the Bucks County Herald, a column for the Bucks County Women’s Journal, and an online column for the website OpentoHope.org. My writing has been published in the Christian Science Monitor, two Cup of Comfort anthologies, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Massage, The Quilter and other places both print and online. In 2003, I was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Jen: Tell us about Off Kilter: A Woman's Journey to Peace with Scoliosis, Her Mother, and Her Polish Heritage and where it's available.
Linda: My memoir, Off Kilter: A Woman's Journey to Peace with Scoliosis, Her Mother, and Her Polish Heritage was published in 2008 by Pearlsong Press. I gathered a series of essays I’d written and expanded on them using my spinal curvature as a metaphor for my life: twists, turns, discomfort and re-adjustment. The book is roughly chronological, but covers mainly my childhood and my relationship with my mother until her death in 2003. Off Kilter is available online at Amazon, from my publisher at www.pearlsong.com/offkilter.htm, and can be ordered through any bookstore.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Linda: I won a loaf of bread in an essay contest in elementary school, and I’ve always loved to write (and read!) My first published writing was in a little journal called Welcome Home, for stay at home mothers in the early 1990s. I didn’t really get into publishing my work until a few years later, when I was asked to write articles for a trade journal. Soon after, I discovered Writing from Life, a wonderful book by Susan Albert for women who want to write their life stories.

Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Linda: My son is a poet (he was runner up poet laureate here in Bucks County) and editor for a medical journal.

Jen: How does your family handle the time that you write? Are they supportive or disruptive?
Linda: Very supportive, but then, they’re all grownups! A few years ago, we had a room added to our house just for my writing and quilting. It’s my study, office and personal retreat space.

Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Linda: Funny, honest, moving.

Jen: Do you have a writing routine?
Linda: I try to write for two hours a day, usually between 10 and 12 a.m. or 2 and 4 p.m. First, I fire up the laptop, light a scented candle, and turn on InTunewithSpirit radio on iTunes. Oh, and make a cup of tea!

Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Linda: Most challenging is definitely sitting down at my desk and staying there when I think of what else “needs” to get done. And staying off Facebook and email. Easiest would be finding things to write about. The world is an interesting place; all I have to do is look around.

Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Linda: Hearing from readers who are touched by something I wrote. I love to hear their personal stories and how they relate to mine.

Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Linda: Maureen Murdock (Unreliable Truth, The Heroine's Journey) was one of my first teachers and remains an inspiration. Susan Albert (Writing from Life) founded Story Circle Network and continues support women life writers. Others who inspire me: Patricia Hampl, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Mary Karr, Susan Tiberghien, Barbara Kingsolver, Sue William Silverman, Louise DeSalvo…I could go on and on. I have a huge collection of women’s memoirs.

Jen: If your book was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the main character?
Linda: Hmmm. Off Kilter only has ordinary people struggling to be happy. But I’d be thrilled if they could get Meryl Streep to play me!

Jen: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your book?
Linda: “It kept me up all night.” This one really surprised me.

Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Linda: I love ‘cozy’ mystery novels. I’m reading Louise Penny’s A Rule Against Murder, Francine Prose’s Reading Like a Writer, and Cornelia Walker Bailey’s God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man. A mystery, nonfiction to help me with my novel, and a memoir.

Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Linda: I volunteer at a tiny rural library, walk in nature, knit, quilt and practice yoga. And read, of course – but we already covered that! My husband and I went on our first elderhostel recently, and hope to do lots more traveling now that our son is in college.

Jen: What's next for you?
Linda: A time travel novel about my ancestor in 19th century Poland. I won a scholarship to a writer’s retreat at Rosemont College next month, and I’m excited about learning some fiction techniques there.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Linda: My website is www.lindawis.com. My blog is at offkilterthebook.blogspot.com. I have a column at www.opentohope.org, and just Google my name to find my latest articles and essays. I’m always working on something new!

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Linda: Yes! 1. What attracts you to a book- the cover design, title, or subject matter?
2. Are you ever inspired to write your own story after reading a good book?

Jen: Linda, thank you for stepping in this week on such short notice. Readers, Linda is giving away a box of imported Polish candy to a lucky commenter. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment either asking Linda a question or answering hers. The winner will be chosen on Thursday, June 4 around 5:00 pm PST.

Excerpt from "Off Kilter" by Linda Wisniewski

Introduction

Every beginning is only a sequel, after all, and the book of events is always open halfway through. --Wislawa Szymborska

I have moved through my life off kilter. My left side curves inward. On my right, I have no waist; my right side goes straight up and down. My left shoulder is lower than my right, and my left hip is higher than the right hip. I am about two inches shorter than I would be if I didn’t have scoliosis, a side-to-side curvature of the spine. When I sit, I often feel like I am about to tip over to the left. My spine is curved into a C-shape between my shoulder blades so that no matter how straight I stand, I look like I am slouching.

When I grew up in the 1950s, for some reason I have yet to understand, “having good posture” was a big deal. Perhaps because posture was so often discussed by the nuns who taught at my school, I thought that “good posture” was like having “good morals.” I stood as tall as I could, but by the time I was in eighth grade, my back was visibly curved. I felt inadequate and even guilty. I thought, surely, if I tried hard enough, I’d be able to stand up straight. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone said, “Don’t slouch, Linda.” Now that I’ve taught Sunday School myself, I feel some sympathy for those nuns. There isn’t much you can do to control forty squirming kids, but if they have “good posture,” the class looks somewhat orderly. And the 1950s, I recall, were very big on social orderliness.

I’ve tried chiropractic and massage therapy to keep my muscles from stiffening up on one side of my body. I walk every day, and do stretching exercises, but I still feel out of balance much of the time. I start out each day off kilter, and move through the hours trying to straighten up. When I stretch out my left arm and leg in opposite directions as far as they will go, my cramped left side is extended for a few seconds of exquisite openness.

Recently, I’ve begun to think of scoliosis as a metaphor for my life. I’ve struggled to please teachers, employers, parents, boyfriends, husbands, twisting myself into someone I can’t be. I hurt when I do this, because it’s not natural. And it never works. But when I stretch my Self, instead, the results are different. When I’m reaching for my personal goals—to be a good mother, wife, friend and writer—I feel my balance return. And the sense of relief, as I become more the woman I truly am, is simply grand.