Monday, October 31, 2011

String Bridges...Launch Party: Bloggy Friend Jessica Bell Makes Good!

 Jessica Bell lives in Athens, Greece, but is actually from Melbourne, Australian from Melbourne.  If you don't know Jessica, hop over to her blog and say hi. 


Jessica writes literary women's fiction, poetry and  is a singer/songwriter who grew up in Melbourne, Australia,with her parents who were successful gothic rock musicians  during the '80s and early '90s.

She spent much of her childhood travelling to and from Australia to Europe, experiencing two entirely different worlds, yet feeling equally at home in both environments. She currently lives in Athens, Greece and works as a freelance writer/editor for English Language Teaching publishers worldwide, such as HarperCollins, Pearson Education and Macmillan Education.

In addition to String Bridge, Jessica has published a book of poetry called Twisted Velvet Chains. A full list of poems and short stories published in various anthologies and literary magazines can be found under Published Works & Awards, on her website.

From September 2012 Jessica will be hosting the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca, home of Odysseus.

I have to tell you I love Jessica's voice!  She'll make you feel like she ripped your heart out!  Her writing tunes you into every feeling you've ever had, both in  her poetry book, Twisted Velvet Chains (which I bought about a month ago)  and her novel, String Bridges .  I was so pleased to find some of her poetry in her newest novel, String Bridges.  I asked if I could share one of those poems with you.  Of course, she said yes...
Selfish Heartbreak
I used to thrive on hate
until I learned to love
you.

I used to bite my tongue
until betrayal scarred
virtue.

I used to feel selfish
til you proved it weren't
true.

Look at this.
Look at this selfish heartbreak.
Look at this.
Look as this selfish heart break.

You destroyed what I learned to value most
the reason behind my
tattoo.

See what I mean!  Whew!
 Here's the blurb on the jacket flap...


Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a ‘proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage—and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits ....



Here are the links you'll need to get the whole scoop:


Make sure you stop by here  to congratulate Jessica and enter her contest!

Natalie Aguirre & Tess Hilmo are the winners of beautiful White Assassin bookmarks...

Monday, October 24, 2011

THE WHITE ASSASSIN WICKED AWESOME BLOG TOUR! (a winner & a drawing)


If you love reading or writing mid grade novels and you don't know Hilary Wagner you are missing out on something special!  Hilary writes epicly beautiful stories about rats.  How could a story about rats be epic?  Hilary is a master writer.  Her words are beautiful.  She wraps you up in the story and the characters lives.  She causes you to love or hate with your whole heart.  (I'm really seeing a movie in her future...)


 In book one, Nightshade City I fell in love with Vincent, Victor and Clover.  I even fell in love with Billycan one of the evil doers.  Once you open the first page of this book you won't want to put it down.  You'll be fully immersed in Nightshade City and entranced by all the characters.  But then the book ends...And you'll be sad...because you want more.


Thankfully, Hilary is willing to give us more!  The White Assassin leaves off right where Nightshade City ends....but be ready to not put this book down until you are finished reading it.  There are twists and turns and new (creature) characters introduced and some old ones creep out of the catacombs.....This is a book you will not be able to put down.  I know The White Assassin has just been released, but I'm desperate for the next book already!  (hint hint hint Holiday House Publishers)

Christmas is just around the corner...if you have any 8-12 year olds on your shopping list Nightshade City and The White Assassin would be awesome gifts for them.  Kids who read do better in school.  Hilary is cranking out more books as we speak...So the lucky kids who get hooked on Hilary will have many books to read in the future.  (Still thinking there's going to be a movie...hint hint hint MZ)


Here's the official information...

The White Assassin
Book II of the Nightshade Chronicles
by Hilary Wagner
Publisher: Holiday House
Pub Date: October 2nd, 2011
ISBN: 9780823423330
Ages: 9 up
Official Website: www.nightshadecity.com
Blog: www.hilarywagner.blogspot.com

About the THE WHITE ASSASSIN:
Book II in the Nightshade Chronicles begins three years after Juniper and his rebel band of rats liberate the Catacombs and defeat their oppressors.

A sense of peace has settled over Nightshade City, but it is a false one. Billycan, the white assassin, has been found. Deep in the southern swamps, he now rules a primitive horde of savage swamp rats eager to overrun Nightshade City and claim it for their king. With the help of an ancient colony of bats and an uneasy alliance with the swamp snakes, Juniper and his Council set out to thwart Billycan’s plans. When an old secret is revealed—one so shocking it shakes both Billycan and Juniper to the core—the fate of Nightshade City and the life of Juniper’s only son depend on Juniper’s decision: should he help his mortal enemy? The past resurfaces with devastating impact in this exciting sequel toNightshade City, a dark tale of intrigue, deception, and betrayal.

Nightshade City, Book I of the Nightshade Chronicles is a CBC Best Book of 2011 and a Crystal Kite finalist.

I'll be giving away two The White Assassin bookmarks to two lucky readers...All you have to do is be a follower and a follower of Hilary's blog and leave a comment here. (I'll announce the winners on November 1st.)


Drum roll.....
The winner of Tess Hilmo's book With A Name Like Love is:
SA Larsen
The following readers won With A Name Like Love Bookmarks:
Shelby
Stina Lindenblatt
Ms Hatch
Jemi Fraser
Melissa Sugar
Mary Mary
Please email me at sharon k mayhew at gmail dot com with your address.

Have a wonderful week and be sure to pick up a copy of The White Assassin and With A Name Like Love...You won't regret spending the money for them.   

OMGoodness!  I just won a copy of Open Minds from the Awesome Susan Kaye Quinn.  FYI: Friday she is going to post the first chapter to this awesome sounding book...

Do you collect bookmarks? or do you use them?  I love bookmarks!  I buy the as souvenirs...

Thursday, October 13, 2011

With A Name Like Love...(give-a-way)

This beautiful woman is Tess Hilmo.  Do you know Tess?  She writes the most thoughtful blog posts and is one of my critique partners.  We met at the Highlights Foundation Summer Workshop in Chautauqua, New York in 2008.  We immediately connected.

When I grow up I want to write like Tess... (I'm hoping that happens really soon.)  I've had the privilege of reading her beautiful words before she was signed by Steve Chudney and sold her first book.  It's been an honor to be one of her critique partners. (*waves to the rest of the WAD*)

This beautiful hardback book is now available.  
You can get it on Amazon or at B & N.  
(B& N has an outstanding price on it!)

While I was in England my copy of With A Name Like Love arrived.  I was so excited!  Any time one of your writing friends has success, it's like you have a little success and a lot more hope for your own success.

I mentioned to Tess that I would like to do a post about WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE and she said she'd like to donate a copy for a drawing (U.S. only).   She also sent me 6 beautiful bookmarks to give away (everyone is eligible).  To win,  follow Tess and leave a comment here.  I would love it if you would Tweet or post on Facebook about the give-a-way (I have those handy little buttons at the bottom on my posts.)...I want everyone to know about WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE!

Here's what Kirkus said about WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE  when it gave it a starred review...

Kirkus gives With A Name Like Love a starred review!


Hilmo creates a family, a town and a mystery that readers won’t soon forget.

In July of 1957, the Love family rolls into the tiny town of Binder, Ark. Reverend Everlasting Love, his wife Susanna and their daughters Olivene (called Ollie), Martha, Gwen, Camille and Ellen set up camp so Reverend Love can preach for three evenings before they load it all up again and head to the next small town down the road. Such is the life of an itinerant preacher’s family. But there is something different about Binder, Ark., something strange enough to cause the family to stay a while longer. Ollie meets a boy named Jimmy, whose mother is in jail for killing his brutish father. Jimmy insists she didn’t do it, but everyone else in town is convinced she did. Poor Jimmy could certainly use a friend. The Love family, particularly Ollie, cannot abide the injustice, but what can they possibly do to help? And just how long will they stay in Binder, anyway? There is, after all, a boarded-up church in the center of town needing a preacher, and Ollie, for one, would sure love to stay put for a good long while. Hilmo relishes her small-town setting and develops her characters with affection. Readers will become caught up in events as firmly as Ollie is.


A story about the meaning of home, justice and love, beautifully told. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

(Big smile!) 


 I hope you will hop over and check out Tess here and here...then wait until October 24th to see if you won a copy of WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE or a bookmark...then...if you didn't win click here or here to buy your own copy.  You won't regret it!

Monday, October 10, 2011

The Winners Are...


The winners of the top two prize packages are Maeve Fraiser & The Desert Rock!
 Consolation prizes go to Gail, Medeia Shariff, Crystal & Melissa Sarno!

If you are a winner (I know all of you are winners in life), please email me your full name and address so I can post you your prize.  

I'll be back to my normal Thursday postings this week...I had a super trip in England and plan on doing a post with photos (hahaha) later this month, along with a vacation souvenir giveaway.  It will include chocolate!

Have a wonderful week!