Five Summers WINNER!!

Congratulations to the winner of Una LaMarche's Book!!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Please email me your address to

shannongraupman (at) yahoo (dot) com

 

Don't forget to enter our other GIVEAWAY

with Jessica Patch!!

Feature Friday with Jessica Patch

Meet Jessica Patch

 

 

 

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in a small town in southern Illinois (you don’t actually pronounce the “s”) but I’ve lived outside Memphis, TN since 1995.

When and why did you begin writing?

I always loved storytelling but I never thought about it as a ministry and career. I woke up one night with this plot in my head. I prayed and started writing it down. That was in August of 2008. I haven’t stopped since.

How did you come up with your titles?

Titles aren’t easy for me most of the time, but I can’t write unless I have one. I never get too attached because the publisher might want to change it later on and I’m okay with that. I didn’t answer that, did I? I really have no idea. It kind of pops into my brain or I write a few things out and one sticks. Don’t you wish I had something profound to offer?  

What books have most influenced your life?

Obviously, the Bible has influenced my life most. I write from a Christian worldview. That doesn’t mean all of my characters are Christians or behave as such, they don’t. Not even my Christians always do the right thing, but do any of us? Writing from this worldview simply means that while my characters are fictional, the struggles are identifiable and the hope offered is real.

But as far as reading books, I’m not an Anne of Green Gables girl. I’m more of a Sweet Valley High groupie. Francine Pascal gave me a love for story and drama through the Wakefield twins and the cast of characters in the series. I devoured every single one of them. For those of you who are too young, it’s like the CW channel in book form. ;)

 

Can you tell us about the road to publishing?

I can share my journey so far. I wrote that first book and then I wrote several more—all first drafts—without any clue of what to do next. I stumbled upon a contest through Jerry B. Jenkins Writer’s Guild called Operation First Novel. I decided to enter. That February, I went to my first writer’s conference ever. Between the time I sent in my novel and actually took flight to Denver, I absorbed everything I could like a sponge. I read blogs by agents and other writers. I met one of my critique partners and we started helping each other and…

I prayed long and hard.

I chose two editors and one agent. I prayed long and hard again. Then I met with that agent. I totally thought I tanked the pitch, but she asked me for the full manuscript. I sent it in March of 2011. In May, she emailed me and asked for revisions. If I would make them, she’d be happy to read my ms again. *Note* When an agent or editor ask you for revisions, you do it. I sent them in June and in September I got the call. I couldn’t ask for a better agent than Rachel Kent with Books & Such! So that’s where I am right now. I do a lot of writing and waiting and I remember to enjoy the journey. You should too.

 

Do you have any advice for other writers?

1.      Read craft books. At least one before you ever write. And then read them every chance you get. I like to brush up between writing a first draft and revisions. Generally, something about my story will pop and help me layer better. You can visit my Pinterest board to see which ones I recommend!

2.      Develop thick skin. Tough critiques by people you trust, editors, and agents make you a better a writer. Writing isn’t for wimps! Always have a teachable spirit.

3.      Network and cultivate relationships with other writers. You need it for your sanity! There’s nothing like having someone who “gets” you to share the load with and help you through this tough journey.

 

BIO:

Jessica R. Patch writes inspirational contemporary romance with plenty of mystery and suspense. A passion to draw women into intimacy with God keeps her motivated, along with heaping cups of caffeine in the form of coffee. When she’s not hunched over her laptop or teaching the new & growing believer's class at her church, you can find her sneaking off to movies with her husband, embarrassing her daughter in unique ways, beating her son at board games and contemplating how to get rid of her irksome dog (she hasn’t attempted any of them…yet). She is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Agency.

 

 

Thanks so much for having me today! Since I don’t have a book out…yet, I’d like to give away a copy of one I love.

Jordyn Redwood’s Poison. It’s the 2^nd book in her Bloodline Trilogy but you don’t have to read the first story to enjoy this one.

 

 

 

 

 





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Connect with Jessica!

 

Connect at my website and subscribe to my blog: http://www.jessicarpatch.com/

Chat with me on Twitter @jessicarpatch! 

Follow me on Pinterest

Join in the conversation on facebook!

 

Thank you Jessica for all of your time and sharing

your story with us!

When Girlfriends Chase Dreams WINNER!!

Congratulations to the winner of Savannah Page's Book!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Please email me with your email address and info to

shannongraupman (at) yahoo (dot) com

 

Don't forget to enter our FIVE SUMMERS GIVEAWAY from Una LaMarche!!

Five Summers Book Giveaway!

Do you remember Una's hilarious Feature Friday Interview?

She's got a really exciting day coming up on May 16th, 2013.  It's the release of her first novel!

She's volunteered to giveaway a SIGNED hardcover to one of our lucky readers!

(I really wish I were eligible to enter...I may go broke buying the books of our featured authors though...they all sound so good!)

Book Description (From Amazon)

Release date: May 16, 2013

Bittersweet, funny, and achingly honest, Five Summers is a story of friendship, love, and growing up that is perfect for fans of Anne Brashare's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.

 
Four best friends, five summers of camp memories:

Emma, Skylar, Jo and Maddie have all come back to camp for a weekend of tipsy canoe trips to the island, midnight skinny dipping in the lake, and an epic game of capture the flag--boys versus girls. But the weekend isn't quite as sunwashed as they'd imagined as the memories come flooding back...
 

The summer we were nine: Emma was branded “Skylar’s friend Emma” by the infamous Adam Loring . ..

The summer we were ten: Maddie realized she was too far into her lies to think about telling the truth . . .

The summer we were eleven: Johanna totally freaked out during her first game of Spin the Bottle . . .

The summer we were twelve: Skylar’s love letters from her boyfriend back home were exciting to all of us—except Skylar . . .

Our last summer together: Emma and Adam almost kissed. Jo found out Maddie’s secret. Skylar did something unthinkable...and whether we knew it then or not, five summers of friendship began to fall apart.

 

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Be sure to check out her blog here, her FB fan page here, and/or pre-order her book on Amazon here!

I crushed my goal!

So, in last week's post, I said that I was going to meet up with Gina on Tuesday night and have our bi-weekly writing sesh and my goal was to write at least 1,000 words while I was there. I used the first 45 min to write up a few upcoming Feature Friday posts and made my deadline 6:45pm to begin writing. We only meet until 8pm so I thought it would be no problem to get out 1,000 words in just over an hour!

When I left Perkins, I was at 1,800 words and then still wanted to do a little more and wrote another 200 when I got home and ended my night just over 2,000 words!!! I love making goals, even if they are small ones and I love it even more when I can do better than I had thought! I think if I can make it my goal to write a minimum of 1,000 words while we meet, I know I will be able to surpass it.

Baby steps is all it takes to reach your final goal. Turtles finish the races too :)

If you haven't yet, be sure to enter our GIVEAWAY from last Friday with Savannah Page!!

Also, stop by tomorrow for a chance to win a copy of Five Summers with Una LaMarche! We had her as a Feature Friday a while back and her book was just released!! You can read her interview and a bit about her new book HERE.

Feature Friday with Savannah Page

Meet Savannah Page

 

 

 

Where are you from?

 

I’m a Southern Californian who spent my college years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and now I live in Berlin with my German husband. Though a big adjustment at first, I absolutely love living in Berlin!

 

When and why did you begin writing?

 

I filled a Lisa Frank notebook with my first story at the age of six, and ever since I’ve been trying to author my way through life! I love getting to entertain people and doing it through stories is absolutely riveting! 

 

How did you come up with your titles?

 

Since I’m currently writing a collection I wanted all of the titles to start the same way (When Girlfriends…). From there choosing a title went from difficult to almost impossible! Titles are really tough, but luckily my latest release’s title, When Girlfriends Chase Dreams, came fairly quickly. (Having a wedding dress flying out of the back of a moving “Just Married” car as the cover image really helped me arrive at the title.) 

 

What books have most influenced your life?

 

Roald Dahl inspired (and highly entertained) me as a child; The Great Gatsby is one of the most amazing and well-written stories I’ve ever read; I am inspired as a fellow contemporary women’s fiction and chick lit author by the fabulous Emily Giffin; and prolificacy of an author like Sophie Kinsella encourages me.

 

Who designed the cover?

 

That would be my wonderful and talented husband.

 

Do you have any advice for other writers?

 

Best piece of advice I’ve read and really taken to heart and practice is from the king himself, Stephen King. He says to write, write, write, and read at least twice as much as you write. He also says to put a first draft manuscript aside for about 6 weeks before you delve back into it for re-writes so you arrive with a fresh mind. That has been extremely helpful. I strive for quality and quantity, and his advice really helps. While one book marinates, out of sight, out of mind, I begin another. 

 

Can you tell us about your road to publishing?

 

I’m a big fan of travelogues and of Americans’ tales of life as an expat, so about a year after I moved from Tulsa to Berlin in 2010, I decided I could break out into the self-publishing world by writing my own travelogue. I’ve always wanted to be a published author, and with self-publishing arriving on the scene I figured, why not now? And with this kind of a book?

Bumped to Berlin (published in Dec. 2011) was the start of a career that I am absolutely in love with! I’m working on releasing the fifth book in my When Girlfriends… chick lit collection this summer, and am currently writing the sixth. I love the self-publishing road I’ve chosen—the readers, the fellow indie authors, the responses, the opportunity to wake up and do what I love to do, and to actually share my stories. I’m very excited to see what the future brings!

 

Who wants a chance to win one of Savannah's Books?

 

When Girlfriends Chase Dreams

 

 

 

A novel about chasing dreams, for better or worse, and living your love story.Claire Linley is finally a bride! After nearly ten years with her college freshman sweetheart, Claire is going to become Mrs. Conner Whitley. She's got her bridal magazines, is the biggest Martha Stewart fan, and subscribes to all the major wedding blogs. She's been dreaming of this moment for years! How could planning her dream wedding be anything but perfect?

The easy-going and bubbly type, Claire will obviously have a blast planning, and with her fantastic group of girlfriends-made-bridesmaids she just can't go wrong. Whether it's wedding gown shopping, makeup trials, or cake-tasting, Claire's friends are there in a pinch.

But how big does the pinch get? All Claire wants to do is get married, but at every turn something seems to go awry and she's starting to lose it. How is a girl supposed to remain cool and collected when the pricey dream wedding planner isn't turning out to be so dreamy? When DIY projects and the perfect venue are going up in smoke? How is Claire supposed to marry Conner when the special day that's supposed to join them together, forever, is slowly tearing them apart?

This is the charming story about how sometimes the biggest events in life are defined by the smallest acts of kindness and love. It's a love story about dreaming large, loving deeply, and, in the end, truly having the happiest day of your life, no matter what happens (or doesn't). About what happens when girlfriends chase dreams.

 



 

 





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You can purchase this book HERE.

 

Thank you Savannah for all of your time and sharing

your story with us!

Travis Thrasher Book Giveaway WINNERS!!

Congratulations to the TWO WINNERS of Travis' Books!!

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please email me with your info to shannongraupman (at) yahoo (dot) com

 

The winner who emails me first will get their choice of which prize they would like!!

 

Be sure to come by tomorrow!

We have another book GIVEAWAY

featuring Savannah Page!