DWARF by Tiffanie DiDonato (w/ Rennie Dyball)

Remember, I'm trying to post a few books this week so check the previous post if you haven't entered to win, and come back to see what the next post will be! Thanks!

 

Dwarf

Tiffanie DiDonato

You know I love finding inspirational memoirs, and here's a great one coming out this week! It's written by Tiffanie DiDonato (with Rennie Dyball), who overcame incredible odds in her life…

Born with Diastrophic Dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism, when Tiffanie was a child at three feet, eight inches, the doctors confirmed that was as tall as she would grow. Tiffanie would not accept this fate and when she was old enough to make the decision, through many surgeries and fierce determination, she gained 14 inches, which gave her the freedom to do many things that would have never been possible at three feet, eight inches.

Here is more about Dwarf :

“It's okay with me if you picked up this book because you're curious about what it's like to live with dwarfism. But I hope that you'll take away much more—about adapting to the world when it won't adapt to you.”—from Dwarf

A memoir of grit and transformation for anyone who has been told something was impossible and then went on to do it anyway.

Tiffanie DiDonato was born with dwarfism. Her limbs were so short that she was not able to reach her own ears. She was also born with a serious case of optimism. She decided to undergo a series of painful surgeries that gave her an unprecedented 14 inches of height—and the independence she never thought she’d have.

After her surgeries, Tiffanie was able to learn to drive, to live in the dorms during college, and to lead a normal life. She even made time to volunteer, writing to troops stationed abroad, and one of those Marine pen pals ultimately became her husband.

Dwarf is a moving and at times funny testament to the power of sheer determination.

Tiffanie is now married and the mother to a baby boy. You can read more about her:

Good Morning America article

Twitter

To enter to win Dwarf, leave a comment sharing something you wanted to change but haven't been able and do it. Obviously, it doesn't have to be as life-altering as what Tiffanie went through!

DON'T FORGET: Did you already check out the last book too? Make sure to enter to win SPARKLE by clicking HERE to enter! I'm trying to get three books up on the blog this week so make sure to come back!

NEW TO BOOKING WITH MANIC?  

If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please use an identifying name and it's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in about a week or so to see if you've won the book -- I will highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

SPARKLE by Cara Alwill Leyba

Hi Everyone, going to try to post three books this week because the year is ending and I have a lot of books to share with you so check back often! Here's today's book...

Sparkle

By Cara Alwill Leyba

I love this book from author and life coach Cara Alwill Leyba. Sparkle, The Girl's Guide to Living a Deliciously Dazzling, Wildly Effervescent, Kick-Ass Life. Not only is it a sparkly pink and beautiful eye-catching cover, but the words she's written truly do sparkle!

I've been cyber friends with Cara for a while now, and her spirit amazes me. She is as bubbly as the champagne she drinks. The other day, I read on her Facebook page that she was going shopping. It might have even been Black Friday. What does this girl do? She takes herself out for a glass of champagne before she hits the stores. She's just that kind of classy!

The book has a little bit of advice, and a little bit of stories from Cara's own self-observation. It will dazzle you from page one. It's straight talk about focusing on ourselves the way we are, and Cara Alwill Leyba teaches us how to live our best lives the best possible way. With easy tips on positive thinking, living in the moment, being happy and loving yourself for who you are, this book is a great inspiring read. And I'll tell you, I will now choose the sparkling bubbly over the bloaty beer as my drink of choice!

Here is the official back-of-the-book blurb:

As women, we have become professional self-critics. We've become so convinced by society that we need to attain a level of perfection that just isn't real. Whether it's trying to get skinnier, look younger, get that promotion, please our parents, get fuller lips or rid ourselves of cellulite -- we're on a never ending mission to change and it always makes us feel like crap.

Instead, why not focus on all the fabulous qualities we already possess? There is so much to celebrate when we look at all of our accomplishments. In this straight-up girlfriend's guide, lifestylist and wellness coach Cara Alwill Leyba encourages women to discover what makes them sparkle so that they can design the lives they desire and deserve. So raise your glass and toast yourself. You're about to start shimmering, shining, and dazzling every day. Because isn't everything better when it sparkles?

To enter to win Cara's inspiring book, leave a comment telling us what is one quality you possess that makes you SPARKLE?

NEW TO BOOKING WITH MANIC?  

If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please use an identifying name and it's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in about a week or so to see if you've won the book -- I will highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

The Next Big Thing

Hi everyone, before I announce the winner of Notes to My Future Husband, I was invited to participate in The Next Big Thing online event. It's a way for authors and bloggers to share news about what's coming up next for them, and for readers to find new, wonderful authors and bloggers! 

Susan Pohlman invited me into this mix, and she's a real-life friend of mine in Arizona, and has been a bit of a mentor to me as well. I just wish I got to spend more real-time hours with her. She wrote the amazing memoir, Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought our Family Home, and I shared more about her book on here a while back. Her blog, which continues to inspire can be found here: Susan Pohlman's Blog.

 

So, please check her out and find out about what she's got going on with her Next Big Thing as well. You can tell her I sent you!

 What is the working title of your book?

What She Left Us

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I got the initial idea when I read Gwendolen Gross' second book, The Orphan Sister because I kept imagining the dynamics of the three sisters in that novel. I have one sister, and she's my Irish twin (we're 11 months apart in age), and I guess something just kept bringing me back to wanting to write a novel about two sisters. I also loved Sarah Pekkanen's first novel, The Opposite of Me, which is about twin sisters who are completely different. Keep in mind that in both of these novels, the main characters are about twins. In my novel, What She Left Us, Jenna and Courtney are not twins - they are actually five years apart in age.

What genre does your book fall under?

I had a different answer here (which is below) but now that I've heard of the term "New Adult" I might classify it as that. Wiki defines it as: New-adult Fiction or post-adolescent literature is a recent category of fiction for young adults first proposed by St. Martin's Press in 2009. St. Martin’s Press editors wanted to address the coming-of-age that also happens in a young person’s twenties. They wanted to consider stories about young adults who were legally adults, but who were still finding their way in building a life and figuring out what it means to be an adult. 

My characters are between the ages of 19 and 26. I originally wrote that the book is definitely women's fiction with a side of chick-lit, but not in the gotta-go-shopping, gotta-get a boyfriend-or-I'll-die kind of way. More like, it's geared to a younger crowd. The age of the characters are mid-twenties so it might appeal to women who enjoy chick lit.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Two sisters who are at risk of having the disease that killed their mom navigate their way through new and old relationships only then to discover a life-changing secret.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I recently decided my agent was causing me more stress than good and I parted with her on good terms. I've decided to take this book to Kindle Direct Publishing, and then to launch a second one (unrelated) six months later. The third, depending on how the first two go, will come out a year later.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

The first draft was very quick for me to write -- it took around seven to nine months for the first draft.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

As mentioned earlier, it's a sister relationship book, and I was inspired by Gwendolen Gross' The Orphan Sister, and also Sarah Pekkanen's The Opposite of Me. I hope readers of those books would enjoy What She Left Us. Also, Jennifer Weiner's In Her Shoes comes to mind as it could be somewhat similar, but a reader does not have to have a sister to understand the themes in this book, which include the mother-daughter relationship as well as some other surprises.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Part of the book deals with a relatively unknown blood disease. I have been a big proponent of blood donation. You will see that in this book. So along with the inspiration from when I read the above books and knowing I wanted to write a book with sister characters, I wanted to also share a little bit about the importance of donating blood. There's not a lot in the story, but it's important for people to donate blood.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

When I first wrote it, I was really skeptical about the ending. I had a few people read it, and I got their reactions. Judging from their thoughts, I let it sit for a long time. I decided something different had to happen in the end, so the ending you will read is NOT the original ending. I didn't want to cheat the reader, and I wanted to be true to the characters. I think when I wrote the first ending, I cheated the reader AND the characters. So it sat for a long time. After giving it much thought and a reread, I now feel that I have done it justice, and really, the characters, who are like real people to me, are happy with how their lives have turned out. I really had to think long and hard about it. But I didn't want to just tie it up neatly in a bow.

And now I'd like to share a couple more friends with you so you can learn about what their Next Big Things are…

Check out Jess Riley, who is one of my very BauthorFFs in life and online! She wrote Driving Sideways and has a new one out just in time for the holidays that you will love. I'll also be sharing more about ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE  here in a couple of weeks. Find out more about Jess and her books by popping over there too!

And Sara Dobie  -- she's an AZ pal of mine who's a very talented writer who has some great things going on. She's just finished a novel called Life without Harry. You'll love her style of writing and will definitely want to know more about Sara -- she is one to watch!

And now, for the winner of Notes to My Future Husband, and I have to say, the comments on this one were some of the absolute FUNNIEST ones I've ever read. And I was reading them as my own husband was trying to fix the cabinets (NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY for those of you who know the 'fix the shelves' sex joke in our life!)… he was literally trying to fix kitchen cabinets that are FALLING off the wall and I just kept my EFFING mouth shut the whole time, and you know what, finally, ON HIS OWN, he admitted defeat! I secretly smiled to myself. But why? I have no idea because we're not going to pay to get them fixed ever. I'm going to have to live with EFFING BROKEN KITCHEN SHELVES FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!

Thank you for the laughs about your wonderful fault-full hubbies, boyfriends, exes, etc… I loved them all! And now the winner of Notes to my Future Husband is… randomly chosen…

Margaret Literary Chanteuse

Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com your full name and address and I'll mail out your book!

Thanks everyone and more books coming to you next week!

Thanks and happy weekend!

Sarah Pekkanen Winner & Another New Book to Win!

Hi Everyone, I first want to announce the winner of the three Sarah Pekkanen books. Sarah read the comments from everyone and one in particular struck her and so she has actually offered to give away two sets of books. One Booking with Manic reader was hit pretty hard by Hurricane Sandy and lost her home in NJ. Sarah read this comment and wanted to do a little something for her so Joani15 is going to be receiving a set of Sarah's books. The amazing Chick Lit is Not Dead girls Liz and Lisa heard about this too and would like to send Joani15 some books too. And I've got a few extra here that I'd like to send as well. We know it's not much, but we hope that a little bit of reading will help build back the library of books you lost during the storm. Blessings to you as you rebuild and we're all so glad that you're OK!

And the random winner of The Opposite of Me, Skipping a Beat and These Girls happens to be hazyswife! I do believe she is a brand-new reader of Booking with Manic so congrats to you!

If Joani15 and hazyswife can please email me your full names and addresses to stephanieelliot@gmail.com, we can get your books to you! Thanks everyone!

And in the next coming weeks, I'm going to try to get a bunch of books out to you before we finish out the year, hopefully a few books a week. There's a lot on my list and I need to get them to you, so please check back often. Here's a fun one for today for you girls!

Notes to My Future Husband

The Coquette

Whether you're married or not, single, engaged, divorced or thinking about the guy of your dreams, this book will have every girl in hysterics.

Sometimes a bit crude, but totally relatable and laughable, Notes to My Future Husband: A Bitch's Guide to our Happily Ever After is a hilarious guide for all women!

With chapters including Notes on Friends, Famly, the Wedding, Our Home, Food, F#*king (told you it was a little bit crude!), Date Night, Rules, Good Stuff and more, the author clearly has it covered!

It's also anonymously written by "The Coquette" who is an advice columnist for The Daily, and her identity has never been revealed. She admits in the beginning of the book that she has been proposed to four times and turned all four men down. She has also admitted to having had her heart broken a few times too. I have to wonder if "The Coquette" is like 70 years old, and if she will ever get a Future Husband?

Either way, Notes To My Future Husband is a rollicking fun quick read, a great book to get for your friends who are engaged, and just hilarious in general!

If you'd like to win a copy, leave a comment on one thing that annoys you about your significant other. If you are single, leave a comment on something you will tell your Future Husband he absolutely CANNOT DO when you get married!

NEW TO BOOKING WITH MANIC?  

If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please use an identifying name and it's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in about a week or so to see if you've won the book -- I will highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!