Showing posts with label anita hughes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anita hughes. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

WINNERS ANNOUNCED on EMILY GIFFIN & OTHER GREAT BOOKS!



Thank you all so very much for participating in the recent giveaway! If you shared on Facebook and posted on Twitter, you were entered into the drawing extra times and Random.org has chosen five winners. Here is a sampling of the books I have here that will be sent to you - each winner will receive a mixed batch of some of the books here, and some others not shown. Every winner will receive a signed copy of WHERE WE BELONG and an e-book of WHAT SHE LEFT US (by me, pimp, pimp, pimp!). You will also each receive a copy of a novel by Amy Hatvany, Katherine Center, Anita Hughes and Gwendolyn Gross. A few more books will be tossed in for fun! Congrats to you all. Your names are listed below, and please send me an email at stephanieelliot@gmail.com letting me know your full name and address so I can mail you your books. BUT WAIT! If you didn't win, please don't worry… BECAUSE on Wed or Thursday, I will be highlighting Jennifer Weiner's THE NEXT BEST THING and offering a signed copy, and after that, I will be featuring WHEN SHE WAS GONE by Gwendolen Gross, and it's AH-MAZING! So stick around, there are so many more awesome books here on Booking with Manic for you to win!  

 


Here are the winners, chosen by Random.org:



*Lizett Torres (lizette34)

*Absolutahnie

*A.C.


*Na S. (Cambonified)



Thanks again to all who participated, and come back around -- more great books coming up later this week for you to win!

Monday, April 15, 2013

EMILY GIFFIN Signed Copies of WHERE WE BELONG & SO MUCH MORE!!!

Winners announced (see next post for details):
*Lizett Torres (lizette34)

*Absolutahnie

*A.C.

*Bookaholic (aka pigsrcute)

*Na S. (Cambonified)
 

Let's Celebrate Spring and Books & Fabulous Authors!


We've got some great things happening at Booking with Manic today, first and foremost, we are giving away FIVE SIGNED COPIES of Emily Giffin's book WHERE WE BELONG which is out now in paperback!

THERE. IS. MORE...


How is THAT for exciting! I am also kicking off this giveaway with a brand-new segment I'll be adding to all the features called THESE THREE THINGS (Triple Tees), in which the authors will share something personal either about themselves or their book.



Here are Emily's "Triple Tees!" and they all have to do with her book, WHERE WE BELONG:

So, take it away Emily!



1.  The original working title for the book was SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE, which was my favorite option! Ultimately, my publisher shot it down because of the Kelly Clarkson song, and I've since come around to WHERE WE BELONG (SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE just doesn't sound right anymore!)...


2.  There is a very brief shout-out tucked into the book to my high school (and early college) boyfriend -- the only time I've ever directly referenced a past relationship of mine in one of my books. Incidentally, we are still great friends and he is a TV writer out in Hollywood who provided a lot of advice and professional insights into Marian's career.


3.  Marian's high school character is, in part, based on a girl I was friendly with in high school, who went through something very similar before graduation. How she chose to deal with the situation is reflected in Marian's choices in the book, though they are not perfectly identical (thankfully!). I've always both admired and wondered about how she cameto the decision she did, which is something I really wanted to explore with Marian's character. If you read the book, you'll know what I mean!

Thank you so much Emily for sharing a bit more about your personal experience with writing Where We Belong in the very first segment of THESE THREE THINGS!



Along with FIVE winners receiving WHERE WE BELONG SIGNED COPIES, each of those winners will also receive an e-book copy of WHAT SHE LEFT US, my newly released book. (of course I have to pimp it, right?) And if you already bought it, well THANK YOU, and in that case, you may choose an e-book of that same cost on amazon, and I'll send that one to you instead!



But THERE'S MORE! (Of course there is because I'm MANIC!)


These five winners will ALSO each receive books from these amazing authors in their batch of book goodness:




The lucky FIVE winners will ALSO get some surprise books from some of these authors and they will be mix-and-match, so you won't know which books I'll send to you:


Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Leslie Daniels, Bethenny Frankel, Susan McBride, Hilary Reyl, , Patricia Harman, B.A.Shapiro, JillKargman, Julie Klam, Erin Duffy, Kristyn Kusek Lewis, Natasha Solomons and more.



So to recap, FIVE winners will receive a SIGNED copy of Emily Giffin's WHERE WE BELONG and either my new book, WHAT SHE LEFT US or another same priced e-book. AND, each of you will also get books from Amy Hatvany, Gwendolyn Gross, Anita Hughes, and Katherine Center! Plus in your prize pack, you will get a random selection of books from other authors listed above plus some more that I haven't even named here!



So, who wants to win some great books? Here's what you'll have to do…



TO GET ONE ENTRY: Enter HERE in the comments by just typing "EG ROCKS" and leave your email address or make sure you leave an identifying original name/contact info.



GET ADDITIONAL ENTRY BY TWEETING (just copy and paste this tweet):

  Win signed copies of Emily Giffin WHERE WE BELONG & other great books here!



GET THIRD ENTRY BY SHARING THIS BLOG POST ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE and MAKE SURE TO tag me and Emily (if you and I are not friends, friend me at https://www.facebook.com/StephanieSteinElliot)

You can only enter a grand total of THREE times (on blog, by tweeting and via FB. Tweeting or extra FB shares do not get you more entries, but ARE very much appreciated! :)



Sound easy!?!? It's SOOO easy, and so much fun! Jump on it folks, there are so many great books out there waiting for homes! And thank you so much for stopping by Booking with Manic!

If you have ANY questions, leave them here in the comment section. You must come back to the blog to see if you've won - I will list winners in a separate post during the week of April 29!

Thank you to Emily, Amy, Gwendolen, Anita, Katherine, (Stephen & Kate too, and everyone else's awesome publicists) for making this giveaway possible and to all of the great authors who write the wonderful books I'm able to share here on Booking with Manic! You're all amazing and I'm so grateful I get to give books to everyone -- I LOVE doing this! 

Some small but important details you should probably read:
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 leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. 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 a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR 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. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. 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[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!



Monday, March 18, 2013

MARKET STREET by Anita Hughes

WINNER: ERIN G!





I'm really excited to share this next book with you all by Anita Hughes, whose first book was Monarch Beach. Her second book, Market Street comes out NEXT WEEK and it was simply what I like to call Literal Eye Candy, in the sense that as I was reading it, I could envision so many delights -- Anita writes about food and fashion in a way that makes you want to spend a day in San Francisco, precisely in her author-created department store Fenton's. Here is the back of the book blurb on Market Street:



Cassie Blake seems to lead a charmed life as the heiress to Fenton's, San Francisco's most exclusive department store. But when she discovers her husband, Aidan, a handsome UC Berkeley professor, has had an affair with a student, she flees to the comfort of her best friend Alexis's Presidio Heights mansion, where she wonders if she should give their marriage one more chance.


Whether or not she can forgive Aidan is not the only choice Cassie has to make. Cassie's mother is eager to have her oversee the opening of Fenton's new Food Emporium, which Fenton’s hopes will become San Francisco's hottest gourmet shopping destination. Cassie’s true passion has always been food, not fashion, and Cassie suspects her mother might be trying to lure her into the Fenton's fold by entrusting her with such an exciting opportunity. And then there is James, the architect designing the Emporium, who is quietly falling in love with her…


I had the chance to ask Anita a few questions about Market Street and these are the things I wanted to know after reading it!



First thing, I LOVED the book! I originally picked it up and had time to read through the first chapter to get a feel for the book since I have so many I need to read... but all of a sudden, I was captured and I whizzed through it! It's gorgeous! What an awesome book!

Me: Fenton's is an Anita Hughes originated department store, right? Did you base it on memories from a department store you visited as a child, or one that you love as an adult? How did you 'create' Fenton's?



Anita: Fenton's is a blend of some of my favorite stores. Growing up in Australia, (SHE WAS BORN IN AUSTRALIA YOU GUYS!!!) there was a store called David Jones that was very high end. It was only in the city center and we lived in the Eastern Suburbs, so going to the store was a treat and something I always looked forward to. San Francisco has a unique and beloved department store called GUMP'S, on Maiden Lane next to Union Square. It primarily has home furnishings and flatware (it is the place to go if you are getting engaged!) but it is a gorgeous store and quintessential San Francisco. And I absolutely adore Neiman Marcus - as you climb the floors the clothes get more glamorous, I could ride the escalators all day!


Me: There was a character I wasn't too keen on and when I got closer to the end of the book, I literally shouted out, "OH MY GOD!" (I can share that page number with readers, but I won't! However I did tweet my shock!). When you write a 'bad' character, do you know ALL the bad things that character is going to do, or do some of the things she/he does shock even you as you're writing?



Anita: I never know exactly what my characters are going to do, they develop as I write, but I think I know the scene you mean. I did see it coming, and enjoyed the build up!


Me: You show equal love in this book for food and fashion -- which do you love more and why? 



Anita: That's a tough question because they are both important to me. I love clothes. I love gorgeous fabrics and bright colors and beautiful styles. I think surrounding ourselves with beauty (when we can) makes us happier. And I love wonderful foods - I'm a big believer in always having something to look forward to and anticipating a delicious meal makes my day a little brighter!



Me: Can you tell me what your next book is about?



Anita: It is called Lake Como and it is set in San Francisco and Lake Como. It is about a young San Francisco interior designer who finds her fiance and her boss in a compromising position and decides to put some distance between them and spend the summer with her half-sister in her villa on Lake Como. There she discovers secrets about herself and her family that make her question who she is and her future.



Lake Como will be released on August 13, 2013. I really enjoyed writing it, I can't wait to see what you think!



Me: I can't wait for Lake Como either and I just realized your main character has my LAST NAME!?!? Coincidence? Hmmmm… Hahahah!



Thanks to Anita for taking the time to answer my questions, and here's a question for you if you would like to enter to win Market Street! If YOU could open ANY kind of shop of your own, what kind of 'emporium' would you want to open - what would you want to sell at your store?



I would probably want to open a kitschy little store that sold stationery, unique books and chocolates and also had a little section where women could sit and chat. But not a coffee shop -- maybe a spot where the women could go and then write letters to their friends --you know, write out the cute cards they just bought from my store!

You can still enter to win: 
The Sunshine When She's Gone

Winners have been announced for the following:
Check to see if you've won!!! Click below and find out if you've won the previous books:
A Whole New You by Brett Blumenthal


The Crooked Branch by Jeanine Cummins

Covet by Tracey Graves Garvis  

If you've never been here, you gotta read the fine print:
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 leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. 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 a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR 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. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. 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[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Summer Book Celebration MAJOR GIVEAWAY





Happy Middle of the Summer Book Celebration!

I'm on vacation and since I didn't want to leave you all hanging, I thought I would offer a fun giveaway while I'm lounging away on a beach. Sounds fun? Well, I hope you enjoy it because I've got a load of great books to offer to ONE LUCKY WINNER!

I decided to put all my new-found-faves into one batch of great reads for you. These are all relatively newly released books from authors I have recently discovered that I think would make great summer reads. Whether they have water themes (some of them do), or just were really great books with characters that I couldn't get out of my mind, I want someone to have a collection of them all. So, thanks to these authors and their publicists, it's going to happen for YOU!

Here is the list of books that are up for grabs to ONE LUCKY WINNER, in no particular order: 

(Click on the title of the book for the full previous Manic review)

Can I Get An Amen - Sarah Healy
I’m in love with Ellen who gets dumped by her husband because of their infertility problems and she finds herself back at home with her very God-loving, God-fearing mom, who spurts phrases about the Lord every other sentence, and suggests that Jesus will show Ellen the way. 


On the Island - Tracey Garvis Graves
People love this book. It's got a great catch to it -- two people are stranded on a deserted island -- a 16-year-old boy who's in remission from cancer, and his 30-year-old tutor. And yep, they get BUSY! But, Tracey doesn't get all Fifty Shades of Grey on us … however, I can guarantee there is some steamy scenes and you'll definitely be thinking about TJ and Anna long after you close the pages of On the Island

The Underside of Joy - Sere Prince Halverson
A stepmom loses her husband to a drowning, and the birth mother comes back to reclaim her two children. A custody battle ensues. It’s not your basic stepmom fights birth mother story – the writing is so lyrical and fluid, and the setting adds so much to the novel in the fictional Elbow, California, with its Redwood trees, the lush forest, and the flowing river that runs through it.

Saving Ruth - Zoe Fishman

 
A near-drowning at the pool occurs and the events that transpire afterward put the whole story into motion – Saving Ruth deals with issues of eating disorders, depression, racial indifferences, marriage problems, sibling rivalry, and family relationships. 



The End of Everything - Megan Abbott
The End of Everything is another one of those books that I read about and I KNEW in my gut I just had to read ASAP. There are very few books like this that I just feel in my soul when I read about it that I just KNOW I have to get my hands on it or I will die won't be able to stop thinking about it. (Megan's got another one I'll be featuring very soon called DARE ME that you'll LOVE as well!)

Attachments - Rainbow Rowell
The story is set in 1999 when email is just coming onto the scene. Two of the main characters, Beth and Jennifer, both who work at a newspaper, correspond with one another through email. The guy whose job it is to monitor email at the company, Lincoln, falls in love with Beth through her emails, never having seen her because he works nights.

The Art of Forgetting - Camille Noe Pagan
I cracked it open thinking I would take a sneak peek and suddenly I was on chapter six dying to know what was happening with the mystery behind Nathan, Marissa’s ex-love, and wondering about the brain injury that her best friend, Julia sustains. I read this book at a super-fast pace and couldn’t recommend it enough! Such a great read!

Monarch Beach - Anita Hughes
This is the one I have actually been savoring to take to the beach with me as a special present to myself to enjoy! Already going into second printing! Yay Anita! 

This is one of those books that I hunted down myself. I saw it on FB or somewhere on another author’s page and I knew I had to get my hands on it so I contacted the author’s publicist and asked for it. The whole mystery of the story caught my eye; the fact that the main character is already gone and her best friend has to put pieces of the mystery together by reading her journals, and the fact that it’s actually two stories in one. I just love journal stories! And I wanted this book!

Spin & Arranged - Catherine McKenzie
SPIN: I loved SPIN because it was a little like peeking into the life of a starlet like Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears in rehab, and the ways that Katie matures during her rehab stint shows that it’s possible for even the most skeptical to gain a little insight in rehab. And yes, there’s also a little love connection going on in rehab too, so you won’t want to miss out on SPIN!

ARRANGED: Anne Blythe has just broken up with another one of her boyfriends and finds a business card in the street promoting what she thinks is a dating company. She keeps the card and eventually calls this ‘dating’ company only to discover they really arrange marriages. Tired of picking the wrong men, and after deep contemplation, she agrees to be matched for marriage. Soon, Anne is on her way to Mexico to meet, Jack, the man who’s the perfect match for her, sight unseen.

So, if you want to receive ALL 11 of these books by these 10 authors to watch for, leave me a comment on what the most exciting thing you've done or will do this summer! 

A random winner will be chosen when I get back from my very own summer week at the beach. 

Please note we can only send winning books to a U.S. or Canada winner!

Thanks, and I hope you've enjoyed this little extra surprise giveaway on 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. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher 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!