Book Tour: Wishing for Snow by Minrose Gwin

Wishing for Snow: A Memoir by Minrose Gwin

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Publish Date: June 21, 2011

Paperback, 240 pages 
Non-Fiction, Memoir
ISBN: 978-0062046345

*** My review will be coming later today.  ***

About the Book:
A daughter’s brave and beautiful tribute to a remarkable damaged soul . . .

For novelist Minrose Gwin, growing up was a time of chaos and uncertainty, the result of being raised by a parent with a serious mental illness. Life with poet Erin Taylor was unpredictable at best and painful at the worst times, as she spiraled ever deeper into psychosis until her eventual death from cancer. But reading her mother’s childhood diary as an adult, Minrose encountered a very different Erin Taylor Clayton Pitner. Her late mother’s words, written in the 1930s, revealed a cheerful, perceptive young girl growing up in rural Mississippi who wished for snow that “usually didn’t come”—a girl with a bright view of the future as she progressed from college student to young mother to published poet, only to have an unbearable darkness close in around her, cruelly suffocating her hopes and dreams.

In her poignant and extraordinary memoir Wishing for Snow, Minrose Gwin sets out to rediscover her mother in the poems, letters, newspaper clippings, and quixotic lists that Erin left behind after her death. The result is an unforgettable true story of a Southern family and the tragic figure at its center—and a loving daughter’s determination to find the mother she never knew.

About Minrose Gwin

Minrose Gwin is the author of The Queen of Palmyra. She has written three scholarly books, coedited The Literature of the American South, and teaches contemporary fiction at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.

 

 

Minrose’s Tour Stops

Thursday, July 7th: My Reading Room
Wednesday, July 13th: Reviews By Lola
Thursday, July 14th: Ted Lehmann’s Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms
Monday, July 18th: Knowing the Difference
Tuesday, July 19th: Lit Endeavors
Wednesday, July 20th: Cozy Little House
Tuesday, July 26th: Good Girl Gone Redneck
Wednesday, July 27th: Lisa’s Yarns
Thursday, July 28th: Natty Michelle
Thursday, August 4th: she reads and reads

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours for an honest review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Character Interview: Hailey from The Education of Hailey Kendrick

Today I welcome author Eileen Cook, Author of The Education of Hailey Kendrick.  Today her character Hailey will be interviewed here at My Reading Room.

1.  What do you think of the boarding school you attend?  Did you want to go there when you were first sent there?

I TOTALLY did not want to go to boarding school. My mom had died recently and my dad thought it would be easier for me to adjust if I went away to school.  Why do parents always come up with big plans on how to make your life better, and never think to ask you what you want?

On the upside, if you have to go to boarding school Evesham is where you would want to go. Most the kids who go here come from wealthy or famous families so it’s pretty posh. The cafeteria has great food, the dorms look a bit like castles (my room even has a fireplace in it), and there are maids who clean for you.

2.  You are/were Vice-President at the school, what did that post entail for you?

I joined student government because I think it’s important to be involved in making the world a better place. If we don’t stand up for what is important, we can’t count on anyone else doing it. However, the Evesham student government isn’t exactly dealing with issues like creating peace in the middle east or tackling the homeless problem.  Most of our student government time is taken up with “critical” issues like what will the theme be for our big spring dance, or how do we make sure there are enough organic vegetarian options at lunch. At least I can put the fact I was vice-president on my college applications.  I’m hoping to get into Yale.

3.  What's it like dating the son of two parents who have both won Academy Awards.

Going out with someone who has famous parents has both good and bad bits.  On the good side his mom lent me a vintage gown that Betty Davis wore to the Oscars, I got to meet Johnny Depp at a pool party they were having at their house, and when you go out to eat the staff always falls all over themselves to be nice to you.  On the downside the paparazzi tries to get pictures of you, and I’m usually the one who takes those really bad pictures where my mouth is open or the back of my skirt is tucked into my tights.

4.  Why were you always a rule follower until that one fateful night?

People always say “rule follower” like it’s a bad thing. It’s just that after my mom died I realized that bad things could happen. I got a bit obsessed with safety. For example, did you know that more people are killed by falling vending machines than sharks? Imagine it- you’re shaking the machine because your Diet Coke didn’t come out and the next thing you know-WHAM- game over.  Doesn’t seem like such a bad idea to follow the rules when you’re snuffed out by a cola machine. Then you can look at what happened to me the one time I didn’t follow the rules.

5.  If you could go back and change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Even though I still think it’s a good idea to follow the rules, I’ve learned that keeping yourself safe doesn’t mean keeping yourself safe from feeling things. Sometimes you have to let go and trust things will work out.  I’m still staying away from vending machines, but I’m learning to lean on people. 

Author Interview and Giveaway: Artist Arthur (Mystyx series)

Today I welcome Artist Arthur, author of Mayhem, the latest book in the Mystyx series which I am in love with.  I reviewed Mayhem yesterday and have reviewed Mystify and Manifest in the past.  This is a great Young Adult series for teenagers for the young and the older crowd alike.


You can check out Artist Arthur's website here.
 
1.  What was your inspiration for the Mystyx series? 
I love Greek Mythology and the Weather Channel. The idea to put both of them together came fairly easily and has been really exciting to write about.

2.  What is your writing schedule like? 
Hectic! I write early in the morning, like 2am – 5am. At 6am I get everyone up for school and work and we’re out of the house by 715. I’m home again around 6pm and if I’m on a tight deadline will write again until I get sleepy which is usually around 8 or 9.

3.  How would you summarize Mayhem in 140 characters or less? 
Jake’s story is a frighteningly realistic roller coaster ride of emotions that will leave you breathless.

4.  What is your favorite snack food? 
OMG I am such a junk food junkie. LOL But you said snack food, okay, Junior Mints and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.

5.  What is your favorite season? 
Fall because it’s not too hot and it’s not too cold.

6.  Do you have a book in the works right now? 
Yes, I just finished a proposal for a new YA urban fantasy and I’m writing Mesmerize which will release in Feb 2012.

7.  Anything else you would like to share about the Mystyx series? 
As I write the next to the last book in this series I’m beginning to miss these characters already. I have so enjoyed writing all their stories that I will be sad to see them go, but I’m very excited about sharing them with the readers.

Giveaway

Want a chance to win a wonderful gift basket which will contain a signed copy of Mayhem, Mystyx swag, and other summertime goodies.  This is open to US only, and ends July 20th.  Simply fill out the form below and if you want an extra entry simply comment below and let me know if you have read the series or not and if you have read the series which Mystyx character is your favorite.

If you can't find see the form below, you can find it here.
 

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Book Review: Mayhem by Artist Arthur

Mayhem by Artist Arthur

Publisher: Kimani Tru
Publish Date: July 19, 2011

Paperback, 256 pages
Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal
ISBN: 978-0373229932

My Review:

Through two books I have been getting to know Jake and have been looking forward to a book devoted to him and I was not disappointed in my wait. I have loved the Mystyx series from the first book and getting to know each person in each book.  So far we have met Krystal and Sasha so it made sense that Jake would come next.  I really like that the Jake in Mayhem becomes a different Jake than he has been in the earlier books.  I loved getting to know Jake even more in this book.

The excitement level is also ratcheted up a notch in this book as the series is reaching it's mid-point.   There is a lot of excitement in Mayhem and it made the book very interesting and hard to put down.  I don't want to give anything away, but this is a very good book that has a lot of action, adventure and choices that have to be made.  There is also romance and excitement between the characters.  The book is just excitement all-around and I cannot wait until the next installment in this series.  I have enjoyed this from book one and look forward through to the end of the series as well - Ms. Arthur knows how to write a fun and exciting series that captivates the reader.

One additional thing I would like to add is the fact that bullying is addressed in this book and I think Ms. Arthur does a great job addressing this very timely topic in this book with Jake's being bullied and how he has to handle it.  Great job for tackling this in the book!
My Rating:  4.5/5.0


About the Book:
A lot can change in a few months. Jake Palmer is living proof of that. In a short time, the once–shy loner has discovered his incredible supernatural abilities and forged a tight bond with his fellow Mystyx. What's more—he's fallen for his best friend, Krystal. And fallen hard.

Still, some things remain the same—like the jocks who keep bullying him. Even though they have no idea how powerful Jake has become. And while he tries to follow Krystal's advice, he may not be able to keep his cool much longer. But there are bigger problems ahead, because the darkness that's been hovering nearby is about to descend on the town of Lincoln, Connecticut. And when it does, the Mystyx will learn who to trust, who to fear and just how much is at stake…

About the Author: 
Learn about her here.

Her Website
Twitter

FTC Information: I received through Teen Book Scene for an honest review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Feature: The Last Musician and the Pool of Lorelei (The Galilean Quartet Book #2)

The Last Musician and the Pool of Lorelei by Christine E. Schulze (The Galilean Quartet Book 2)

Publisher: CreateSpace

Publish Date: February  26, 2010

Paperback, 206 pages 

Fiction, Young Adult

 ISBN: 9781449990466

My Review:
Why I read this:


My thoughts:  

My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:
When Gail mysteriously disappears, she is accused of being responsible for the mysterious deaths of the seven other music teachers of the Lynn Lectim Academy. Knowing such an accusation is impossible, Chasmira, one of Gail's faithful students, uses musical magic to embark on a quest to find her. Chasmira finds more than she bargained for though. She learns Moragon is harnessing the powers of music to fulfill his own dark purpose of usurping the Carmella throne. Meanwhile, Lori, Head of the Octavial Eight, searches to find and appoint the new members of the Octavial Eight, whose powers will be needed to defeat Moragon in the end. One of those she searches for is the true king of Carmella himself. Finally, Lori, Gail, Chasmira, and Jonathan join together to find the rest of the Octavial Eight and save Carmella from Moragon's clutches. But can Chasmira unravel the secrets of Jonathan's dark past and lead him to a saving faith in Amiel along the way? Can they save Carmella before Moragon's shadows spread across the entirety of Carmella?

About the Author: 

Christine E. Schulze has been creating books since she was too young to even write them in words. Her collection of YA fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books which can all be read separately but which weave together to create an amazing fantasy. She hopes to inspire readers throughout the world with these books by publishing in both traditional and electronic formats to make them available to all readers.

Christine has published several stories with Calliope and Kalkion magazines and is an active member of the WEbook online writing community. She has also published several Christian/fantasy books which are available at various online retailers, as well as publishing several eBooks via Writers-Exchange.

Her latest and most exciting venture includes her publications with Old Line Publishing: Bloodmaiden and Tears of a Vampire Prince: the First Krystine. She also anticipates her upcoming publication with Old Line, Lily in the Snow, as well as releasing The Chronicles of the Mira with Writers-Exchange in both paperback and electronic forms.

Christine currently lives in Belleville, Illinois in her first and most thrilling apartment. 


Twitter
Facebook
Blog

Giveaway:

The author, Christine has a giveaway going on her blog here:

http://thegoldenhealer.blogspot.com/2011/05/gailean-quartet-first-official-blog.html

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard: Cover Interview

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard - Cover Interview

How much input did you have on the cover?

I was very lucky that I had a fair say in what I wanted in a cover. The publisher, of course, had the final say but I liked that I was able to express my own creative direction in terms of what I envisioned with the cover designer. I was also incredibly lucky to be able to work with an extremely talented designer, Alan Pranke, who took my vision and translated it into what I consider to be a work of art. The final product was perfect, capturing everything that I wanted the cover to convey. I have to say that when I first saw it, I cried, it was that beautiful to me.

I think the cover is beautiful - does it convey what you want it to about the book?

Absolutely. I wanted a cover that communicated a sense of strength with underlying fragility, one that portrayed a feeling of fierceness but also of wistfulness. I think Alan did a wonderful job with all the details and the feel of the cover. He has a great eye for drama. His intense graphic art on the title together with the softness of the portrait-like background and the whimsical nature of the girl just blended together perfectly to create that juxtaposition that I was looking for – the combination of the fierce and the fragile. It’s edgy but delicate at the same time. There’s also a masquerade ball in the book, so I loved that this was present in the cover especially since that’s a pivotal moment in the novel. Add in the spectacular work on
the spine and the lettering on the back cover, and I couldn’t be happier with how it all came together.

So much is going on with the cover but it doesn't seem overcrowded, what would you say your
favorite element of the cover is?

My absolute favorite element of the cover is the journal writing. Victoria’s dark secrets are revealed in a mysterious journal she receives from her grandmother, and I adore how the faded snippets of handwritten text are used in the background of the main images. Plus, there’s a number in there, just between the title and my name—1835—and that’s the year Christian was turned as a vampire! Believe it or not, that number was totally random … I call that fate.

If you could change one thing about the cover what would it be?

Honestly, I wouldn’t change the cover at all. To me, it’s perfect as is. But maybe I’d add a fantastic quote from an awesome review! I always love when I see those kinds of quotes on books on the front cover – “Brilliant!” by Famous Author Name. Of course, that’s just my ego talking! Ha!

What is one thing you are glad is not on the cover of Bloodspell?

I’m glad that there is no blood on the cover. It would have been way too clichéd and obvious to have blood on there. I mean the title is Bloodspell after all, and a huge element in the novel is Victoria’s powerful blood, but I like that it wasn’t an “in-your-face” thing. The way it is now, where the title incorporates that element in a very tasteful manner, in terms of its color and the actual art of the lettering, is perfect. If you look very closely, you will see that it almost looks like it is blood with the slight splatter effect along the edges, but it isn’t that obvious, which again, has the right amount of suggestion.

Do you pick up books just because of their covers?

Absolutely! I mean, who doesn’t? It’s like the most awesome first impression of a book that you get! If a book cover is just gorgeous, I will totally pick it up in the store, and immediately read the back to see if it’s something I will enjoy. If they cover is so stunning and evocative that I don’t care what’s on the back, I will probably end up getting it. I’m a very visual person like that.  Anything beautiful or striking will win me over. I like artistic covers, I like minimalist covers, I like modern covers … I like anything that makes me feel something. And I especially like covers that spin a story already, one that whets my appetite for what’s inside!

Your favorite cover of all time?

One of my favorite covers of all time is a very old Oxford edition of His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle (published in 1917), which has a very Eclipse-esque type cover. It’s incredibly dramatic, with white script text on the front and a swatch of vivid red art in the middle of the black back cover.

 

 

 

 

Another of my all-time favorites is the original A Clockwork Orange book cover byAnthony Burgess because it’s so conceptually striking and modernistic with the face and the single fringed eye. I actually own a copy of this book with that cover!

On the more artsy side, one of my more recent favorite covers is Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson because it’s so evocative … it’s beautiful and broken at the same time. I feel very moved by this cover for some reason, as if the girl is stuck on the outside looking in or is forever outside of herself. The colors and icy feel of it also heighten the sense of remoteness and deep sadness. It’s a very poignant cover, and the artistry of it is beautiful.