Interview with Kim Foster- A Beautiful Heist Author

Photo credit: TLC Book Tours

Kim Foster was nice enough to find some time in her schedule to stop by, answer some questions about her debut book, A Beautiful Heist, her #literaryconfessions and #literarycrush- and many other things. Plus, we know she’s all cool and everything- because like most of us- she also has a bit of a Pinterest obsession!

Interview with Kim Foster:

1. What was the inspiration for A Beautiful Heist?

I thought it would be fun to write a story about a woman who is basically a good person, but whose job happens to be entirely illegal. I personally love stories with criminal protagonists—heists and capers, with lots of action, and you find yourself rooting for the people who would traditionally be the villains. It’s a common setup for the big screen (Ocean’s Eleven, The Italian Job…) but I don’t see it in books very often. I thought it would be fascinating to explore what motivates people to either do good or do bad…and all the shades and nuances in between.

2. From the beginning to end, how long did A Beautiful Heist take to write?

I had the initial germ of the idea when my firstborn was about 1. He just turned 8. But the path to publication was long and convoluted (as I suspect it is for every writer) because over those years I had another baby, went through two literary agents, lived in the UK for a year, and wrote two entirely different versions of the story.

3. Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

I’ve had to readjust my writing schedule many times—through various stages of motherhood, maternity leaves, and overseas moves. Currently my writing schedule starts at 5 am and I write until 7 am, when my day as a working mother begins (I’m a family doctor in my regular life). Recently I’ve been writing in the evening, too, after the kids are in bed…and then on the weekends, whenever I can sneak out to the nearest Starbucks.

A coffee shop is my preferred writing space. The ambient sound, the comforting aroma, the endless supply of caffeine…but mostly I like to write in a café because there are no kids there. Well, that’s not strictly true–there are kids there, of course, but they don’t happen to be mine, and conveniently enough, nobody seems to need me to feed those kids or change their diapers or anything. It’s great.

4. Are any of the characters based on people in real life? Or just figments of your imagination?

Some of the characters are inspired by people in real life—not wholesale, but little pieces of them, stitched together with other bits, like Frankenstein. My protagonist, Cat, has a rival in this story, Brooke—and she’s an amalgamation of all the mean girls I’ve encountered in my life. Most characters, though, are pure figments of my imagination.

5. Kim, do you enjoy hearing from fans about their thoughts of the book?

Yes, of course! If I wasn’t interested in hearing what people think, I might have been satisfied leaving this story on my hard drive, for my own entertainment alone.

It’s especially fun to hear people’s feelings about the love triangle in A Beautiful Heist. I’ve heard from a few readers about this recently, and it’s so fascinating. A friend—someone I would have pegged as Team Jack—just told me she was totally Team Ethan, so we giggled about that.

6. Do you want A Beautiful Heist to be made into a movie one day? If so, who are the actors that would comprise your dream cast?

That would be a dream come true. And to be honest, I’ve thought about it a lot, because my book is very visual and the scenes have plenty of action. I created Pinterest pages, in fact, for my dream cast for the major characters, and wrote a post on my blog about that when I was counting down to book launch.

For Cat, my protagonist, I see Rachel McAdams, or maybe Emily Blunt. Jack (her FBI agent ex-boyfriend): Hugh Jackman or Eric Bana. Ethan (the charming art thief): Chris Pine, perhaps, or Bradley Cooper.

7. Are you working on another book? If so, can you tell us what the book is about?

A Beautiful Heist is the first book in the Agency of Burglary & Theft series, so I’m absolutely working on the next stories. I just sent the manuscript for the second book to my editor this week, actually.

In book two (which is slated for publication in June 2014), you’ll see Cat’s adventures become even more international—the story is set, in large part, in Paris. The heists in the next stories get even bigger (she goes after a very famous target in book two—and it’s something everyone has heard of) and the personal stakes get deeper. She comes face to face with some of her deepest fears and has to struggle with those, while attempting to pull off an impossible job. As far as romance goes: sadly, I don’t make things easy for Cat. Let’s just say the love triangle that emerges in book one gets a lot more pointy in subsequent books.

8. Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?

I have eclectic tastes in fiction, and there are so many fabulous authors out there it’s hard to narrow it down. That said, I love Kate Morton and Diana Gabaldon and Ken Follett. Philip Pullman and JK Rowling are the masters when it comes to combining action and suspense with humor. I recently read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and that book rocked my world, to be honest, so I’d like to read more of her. Probably my all-time favorite author, though, is Jane Austen.

9. What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

Well, this is an ongoing problem, of course, because who has the room for all the wonderful books out there? Actually, I thought I’d solved this problem once, because my husband and I opened a secondhand bookstore in Vancouver several years ago—and for a little while I had the most kickass personal library. It was great fun running that store. But, alas, we had to sell it when life became crazy with the birth of our first son.

Our house now has bookshelves covering pretty much every spare wall. Technology has provided the most recent answer to the bookshelf space conundrum, however, in the form of my beloved e-reader. Hundreds of books in my purse!

10. Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

My #literaryconfession is that I’m not a very fast reader. And it’s not for lack of trying; I’ve read tons of books throughout my life. But somehow I just didn’t get that gene. My dad and my sisters have the lightning fast reading gene—my baby sister can polish off a book standing in the bookstore (something I’ve scolded her for: give the author the sale, for crying out loud!).

11. Do you have a #literarycrush?

Jamie Fraser, hands down. And both of the Darcy reincarnations (Mr. in Pride and Prejudice, and Mark in Bridget Jones). *Editor’s note: For those that have been living under a rock like me- Jamie Fraser is from Outlander.

12. What are some of the books that will be in your beach bag for 2013?
A Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling has been sitting on my TBR list for a few months, so I’m pretty excited to dive into that. Also, I’m curious to try A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. And I’ve been meaning to read something by Sarah Jio for a while; her stuff has piqued my interest. Maybe Blackberry Winter, or The Last Camellia. We’re taking our boys on a road trip to California this summer, so I’m positively salivating to do a little beach reading.

*Special thanks to Kim Foster for this interview.

Photo credit: TLC Book Tours

For more information on Kim, visit her Facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest, and website.

Want to win a copy of A Beautiful Heist? Sure you do! Visit Traveling With T’s review of A Beautiful Heist– leave a comment and an email address- and you are entered to win! *Note this is book is in e-book format only.

Interview with Kimberly McCreight: Author of Reconstructing Amelia

Kimberly McCreight’s novel, Reconstructing Amelia, had me hooked from page 1. Dark, twisty, and full of surprises- it was a book that I enjoyed.

With this being Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club’s inaugural pick, I was beyond excited at the response we received from people in the group. But, even more, when the author agreed to an interview.

Kimberly McCreight Interview

Kimberly, Reconstructing Amelia has parts that remind me of Gossip Girl and a movie called The Skulls. Did either the TV show or the movie I mentioned have any influence in your writing process of Reconstructing Amelia?

No, neither did. I’ve never seen The Skulls and, though I did watch the first episode of Gossip Girl, I didn’t watch long enough to even realize that the voice over was a gossip blog. I found that out long after, when I was finished Reconstructing Amelia and an early reader mentioned it. But I would like to go back and watch Gossip Girl now. The fact that I didn’t keep watching wasn’t a reflection on the quality of the show, only that I had a colicky infant at the time.

How long did Reconstructing Amelia take to write?

It was about two years from the time I started it until the book was sold.

Are any of the characters in Reconstructing Amelia based on people you know in real life? Or are they created from your imagination?

None of the characters are based on people I know, though Adele, physically, is based on a very beautiful friend of mine. I pictured her when I was writing. But again, just the physical aspect. Unlike Adele, my friend is a very lovely person!

Social media plays a large role in Reconstructing Amelia. What do you think of social media? Do you have advice for parents who have teenagers about social media?

Social media is a wonderful way to connect if used properly and with good intent. But it’s a pretty frightening tool in the wrong hands. Particularly for teenagers who are still developing their decision making capabilities.

I consider myself a very liberal person and a forward thinking parent. I believe in allowing my children to be themselves. I believe in early sex talks and truthful answers to genuine questions. And I definitely believe that each family has to make their own decisions about what their values are with respect to social media. These are not one-size-fits-all solutions.

Personally, though, I will monitor my kids’ online activity heavily, but not secretly. In other words, I think it’s wrong to snoop, to give the illusion of privacy and violate it. But I don’t think teenagers have an inalienable right to online privacy. I have no doubt that there are experts that may disagree with me, and I certainly am not an expert. But I object to the message in our culture these days that there’s something wrong with us as parents—or wrong with our relationship with our kids—if we don’t trust them enough to set them loose online. I disagree. I do trust my kids. Totally. They are good kids with big hearts and great values. I just don’t trust the world.

And, I know, it’s easy for me to say I’ll watch them like a hawk. My kids are still little. They’re not yelling that they hate me because I don’t give them privacy. That’s why I’m writing it down here. To remind myself when the going gets tough.

What are you working on next, Kimberly? Can you give us any hints?

It’s another dark mystery from multiple points of view with a deep emotional center. And one of the characters from Reconstructing Amelia makes an appearance!

When people finish Reconstructing Amelia, what do you hope they take away from the reading experience?

First and foremost, I hope they find it an entertaining mystery. I also hope they ask themselves about the secrets that might be impacting their own lives, whether it’s the ones they are keeping or what their children are keeping from them. I also hope that its gets us all talking about the role of electronic media.

*Special Thanks to Kimberly McCreight for agreeing to the interview.

Kimberly McCreight, author of Reconstructing Amelia, is working on her next book. To find out more about Kim, visit her website and follow Kim on Twitter. If you loved reading Reconstructing Amelia, you’ll be happy to know that HBO has optioned the film rights- and Nicole Kidman is to play the role of Kate!

Kimberly McCreight Answers: Reconstructing Amelia (Spoilers Possible!)

It’s here! Today is the day that Kimberly McCreight stops by and answers questions for Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club about her book- Reconstructing Amelia.

NOTE: There is the potential of spoilers.

Thank you, Kim, for taking time today to answer questions!

Questions for Kimberly McCreight:

1. Did you know from the very beginning who would hurt Amelia?

2. What is your all-time favorite book?

3. What kinds of books do you like to read?

4. Did you attend a prep school like Amelia’s or participate in any sororities?

5, Where did you get the idea for this story?

6. Is any of this story based on personal experience?

7. Did you have a target audience in mind when writing the book?

8. What are you currently reading?

9. If RA was turned into a movie who would you cast?

10. The ups and downs of family relationships is at the heart of RA. Was it easy or difficult to write about this?

11. Where do you write? Do you have any rituals?

12. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

13. What is your advice for parents on how to deal with parenting in the digital age?

14. Any truth to what happens in RA? Was there an inspiration?

15. What is the best book you’ve recently read?

16. The cover of Reconstructing Amelia– is there significance to not really being able to see the girl’s face? Is she covering herself? Or possibly revealing herself bit by bit?

17. The school and police was quick to write off Amelia’s death as a suicide. Possibly did some of that quick conclusion come from a motive of wanting a quick answer so Kate would never get involved in the school and learn things?

18. Amelia’s downfall- what ultimately lead to that? Loving Dylan? Or being a good friend? Or does Kate not being truthful about Amelia’s father lead to her downfall?

19. Why did the principal target Amelia for the truth about the Magpies? Was it because of Amelia’s good girl reputation? Or because, unlike other parent’s, Kate was not involved in the school- therefore Kate would not be in his business like other parents?

20. The author of graceFULLY- how did you decide who that should be?

Thank you again, Kimberly McCreight! Answering our questions about Reconstructing Amelia is 100% appreciated! I think I can speak for everyone when I say how great Reconstructing Amelia was- and that we are anxiously awaiting another book!

The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison

Jodi and Todd- a couple in their 40’s. Not married; but have been living together for 20 years, so a commonlaw marriage. Jodi works part time as a psychologist, Todd works full time as a developer and renovation expert in Chicago. Jodi likes denial, and Todd likes his life- a wife at home to cook and pamper him- but one who won’t ask too many questions about his late nights.

Todd and Jodi, a marriage, a relationship that has been falling apart for some time- and yet has stayed together because they fulfill a want, a need in each other. Todd becomes careless, though, and leaves proof that Jodi cannot deny about his other life. This little action sets forth a series of events that bring Todd and Jodi to a place that no marriage of any sorts should find itself.

Told in alternating tales of Jodi and Todd’s view point, this psychological thriller has much to recommend. As the reader gets deeper into Jodi and Todd’s story, sees how the past affects the present- it might look easy to take sides. However, by the end of this book- things such as guilt and innocence will be blurred almost beyond recognition.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

The Silent Wife, A.S.A Harrison’s debut novel, has much to offer. There is a psychological thriller aspect, there is guilt, blame, and denial. Affairs and family secrets also play a role. There is even a slight Gone Girl feel to this book. I was drawn in and captured by Jodi’s thoughts because she lets the reader in on a secret at first- and the reader spends the rest of the book putting it all together. The idea of the book was good. The plot was fine. The story told from each of their perspectives- I loved that. But, Jodi and Todd- they are an unlikeable set of characters- and that’s a good thing. Each of them have traits that are annoying, and yet, understandable as the reader gets further in the story.

This is not a book that is to be read and tossed aside. This is a book that is to be read, discussed, thought about and discussed some more. This is a book that could lead to frank discussions amongst book lovers.

*This book was requested through Netgalley. All above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Interview with Susan Rebecca White author of A Place At The Table

Susan Rebecca White, author of A Place At The Table, stopped by to answer a few questions.

If you have not read A Place At The Table– go immediately to the nearest bookstore and buy it. Borrow it from library or a friend! Just get your hands on this book. Trust me.

Interview with Susan Rebecca White:

Susan, what was the inspiration for A PLACE AT THE TABLE?

Though A Place at the Table is a work of fiction, and neither Bobby Banks nor Alice Stone are stand-ins for Scott Peacock and Edna Lewis, the seeds of inspiration did indeed come from the friendship between Scott and Edna, dubbed “the odd couple of southern cooking.” Miss Lewis has now gone on to her glory, but back in the day she and Scott were great friends, despite the many outward differences between them, most notably race and age. Raised in a community of freed slaves in Virginia, Miss Lewis was over fifty years older than Scott, a young white boy who hailed from a tiny town in Alabama. The two bonded over cooking. Eventually they wrote a cookbook together, The Gift of Southern Cooking, which is a fantastic record of the South’s long and esteemed culinary tradition and heritage, the roots of which come from Africa.

My mom gave me a copy of The Gift of Southern Cooking when it was first published, and I fell in love both with the recipes and the story of Scott and Edna’s friendship. That was long before I ever thought I might write a novel inspired by the two of them. Instead I cooked nearly every recipe in the book, especially when I was living in San Francisco, far from my native South. I would make Scott and Edna’s roast duck stuffed with red rice or something simpler, cheese straws or preacher’s cookies. Doing so allowed me to be back in the South, at least while eating.

This is a long way of saying that while I had my own story to tell in this novel, I wanted to pay homage to Scott and Edna’s atypical and beautiful friendship, to shed light on the unexpected connections between us, rather than the things that keep us divided and suspicious of one another.

The characters of Alice and Bobby were inspired by the real life friendship of chefs Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock. Was Amelia or Kate inspired by any real life people? Or are they created from your imagination?

On some levels every single character I write about contains some element of me within them. I guess stating that is to admit that I have many flaws, because my characters are all far from perfect! When I was writing the character of Amelia I was living in the carriage house of my good friends Peter and Bruce, and spending a lot of time with their family, including their daughters Teagan and Olivia. I got to participate in the daily routines of life with young kids: the afternoon bike rides, the early dinners, the bath time rituals before getting to choose a treat for dessert, the stories read and songs sung before bed. I loved the gentle rhythm of family life (though my friend Peter would laugh at my use of the word “gentle” to describe getting his girls to bed—they often fight hard against the day ending.) My time with Teagan and Olivia really influenced my understanding of the type of mother Amelia was to her two girls. I wrote lots and lots of detailed scenes showing Amelia raising her kids, but I ended up cutting a lot of those scenes because while they were important for me to understand, they weren’t important to show the reader in order to carry the story forward. But having written about Amelia as a mother helped me to better know her as a woman. I guess what I’m trying to say is that my personal experience with my friends’ kids helped me build the character of Amelia.

As for Editor Kate, well she’s sort of my ideal. I’ve known a few women like Kate in my life, women who are utterly competent and forthright. Women who make it a point of pride to always keep their word, to be someone their friends and family can rely on. This type of woman doesn’t let society define who she is—or at least she resists definition. For example, Kate doesn’t mind being traditional (she has prepared many dinners for her husband) but she also has no qualms breaking all types of boundaries in terms of the work she does and the space she makes for herself in the world. Through Kate I wrote a model of a woman I would one day like to be.

Have we, as readers, heard the last from Bobby, Amelia and others in A PLACE AT THE TABLE? Or are you open to revisiting those characters in a future book, perhaps?

Oh wow, I haven’t ever thought about writing a sequel to this book but I appreciate the question because it makes me think you want to read more! I would certainly be interested in knowing what happens to both Amelia and Bobby over the next fifteen years. I have a feeling that Bobby will settle down with another partner at some point. Maybe he’ll even become a dad. As for Amelia, I think her life will be much calmer than it was when she was with Cam. She’ll live lower on the hog but she’ll be happier, more content. The problem is that happy and content lives aren’t always the most interesting to write about. So I wouldn’t hold your breath for a sequel, but I can promise you that there will be another novel from me. I’m working on it now!

*Special thanks to Susan Rebecca White for answering the questions and to Al for her help as well.

Susan Rebecca White is working on her next novel. For more information on Susan, please visit her website.

* Traveling With T’s review of A Place At The Table can be found here.

Literary Friday ya’ll….

Friday!

1. Deep South Mag and their #literaryfriday is posted! Erika Robuck chat was wonderful- her #literarycrush was revealed: It’s a tie between Tatiana de Rosnay and Simon van Booy (she calls it #swooncity!) Tatiana de Rosnay must know how Erika feels- because she wrote a beautiful blurb for Call Me Zelda! Read over #southernlit

More #literaryfriday news: Interview with Beth Albright, The Sassy Belles, news about Kimberly Brock, Georgia Author of the Year First Fiction Award winner, a play about Zelda F (She’s HOT now, folks!) and more!

For more Twitter chat info- check out Deep South Mag’s Twitter chat schedule!

2. Katherine Scott Jones reveals her Summertime Reading, One Book at a Time!

3. Kimberly McCreight is coming to my blog to answer questions about Reconstructing Amelia! Here are the details!

4. Week 4 of Reconstructing Amelia discussion questions have been posted!

5. Author Spotlight for Beth Albright– find out her #literarycrush and #literaryconfessions! Plus a #giveaway of The Sassy Belles!

6. My Thursday Mashup was filled with #giveaway information! Check it out!

7. My #fridayreads- I must confess: I’ve been lying- I keep saying the past 2 weeks, I’m going to read The Engagements ( I haven’t! This weekend is changing that, tho!) Other #fridayreads Restrike by Reba White Williams, Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella, and Chose The Wrong Guy, Gave the Wrong Finger by Beth Harbison.

Happy Reading 🙂

Ask Kimberly McCreight author of Reconstructing Amelia (spoilers possible!)

Attention: Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club- it’s time to announce the surprise: Kimberly McCreight author of Reconstructing Amelia has agreed to answer questions for us! (I’ll pause for applause for a minute!)

The Details:

Wed June 26th, there will be a blog post here on Traveling With T. It will be titled Kimberly McCreight Answers. Kim has graciously offered 2 hours of her time to answer questions that I’ll have posted in that blog post.

Because of her schedule- and because she graciously offered to help- all questions for her will be posted ahead of time. This will not be a chat. However, do stop by sometime that day (the 26th) and offer thanks (if you don’t mind).

Kim will be answering the questions from 2-4pm EST on the 26th- I’ll be here keeping an eye on the page- and I hope you stop in and tell her how much you enjoyed the book!

Guidelines:

On this post, write the questions you wish to ask Kimberly McCreight. As this is public, let’s try to not be just too #spoilery if possible- but do ask questions you want to know.

You have from now till June 25- around 5pm EST to post your questions. I need time to get the questions posted myself.

In trying to not spoil the book for others, there will be a Spoiler Possible note attached to Wed’s blog post.

If you have any questions about how to do this- please direct a comment at me.

I hope ya’ll enjoy and I hope to see you around on the 26th 🙂

Reconstructing Amelia: Week 4 Questions/Discussion

We’re almost done! Today, you should begin reading the last section. If you’ve already finished- that’s great, too.

I Have 1 more little surprise that will be revealed today- so get ready for that!

June 28th- next Friday will be the last posting about Reconstructing Amelia in the Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club. Overall thoughts and feelings of the books will be discussed that week- I urge you to stop by and let me know how you felt about Reconstructing Amelia.

For today’s questions (Section 4 the last section of reading):

1. #nospoilers: Did anything that was revealed in the last section surprise you?

2. Amelia is accused of cheating at the first of the book. Knowing things we know- should the teacher have suspected anything? Did she suspect anything?

3. There’s a lot of guilt and blame to go around. Many people were acting with their own selfish intentions- instead of Amelia’s best intentions in mind. Is there anyone who does not need to take some blame? Amelia perhaps? Or does she even need to take blame for her part in this role- even though she def played the ultimate price?

4. What, ultimately lead to Amelia’s downfall? Loving Dylan or trying to be a good friend? #nospoilers, please.

5. What, if anything, should happen to Grace Hall? Note: I’ve always held the thought they were liable for at least some of this- But, should Kate sue them? Or should Kate concentrate on moving on & finding some peace?

6. Zadie/Dylan- we’ve talked for some time about their weird relationship. Now, when the book is closed, and you’ve had some time to think: Who actually is the worst person: Zadie because she’s upfront with her b*tchy attitude and hateful ways or Dylan, because she acts 1 way and is another (or perhaps because she really does not who she is- she only knows how to act when told how to act?)

Beth Albright: Author Spotlight

Ready to find out about Beth Albright- her #literarycrush, her #literaryconfessions, Southern writers that she just gushes over? Grab a salty margarita and get ready to find out all that and so much more!

Author Spotlight with Beth Albright

Beth, when you are not writing- what are some of your favorite things to do?

I love to take pictures! I am never without my camera and literally have thousands of photos, many of my son, but also so many of nature! Living in California, the dramatic scenery beckons and I am always trying to capture it! If not taking pics or writing, you can find me at the movies! I am a movie fanatic!

Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?

I love Mary Kay Andrews! Also Dorothea Benton Frank and Patti Callahan Henry. I read them regularly. And who doesn’t LOVE Janet Evanovich? Early on, when I sent the book to family and friends, so many of them told me I sounded just like a Stephanie Plum novel!! One of my best compliments ever!! I was reading Plantation by Dorothea Benton Frank when I scribbled my first words down. She was an inspiration. Also, I have nearly all of Mary Kay’s books. Hissy Fit was an early inspiration as well. I also love Emily Giffin’s novels. Also, I just LOVE humorist Celia Rivenbark! Have every one of her books—sidesplitting, I swear- you will wet your pants!

What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

The classics, so I can look at them and pretend I read them ALL!

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I have so many! I always wanted to read ALL the classics– alas, when I am in the ever- after, I will have time.

(See question above 🙂 )

Do you have a #literarycrush? (Joe Morelli from Stephanie Plum series is one of mine!)

OMYGOSH, he is mine! But then there’s Ranger…MMMMMM! I like those mysterious chivalrous types. But truly, I love my own hero of Sonny Bartholomew so much. I found myself flying when I was writing about him…getting out 5000 words a day! He makes me very excited!

What are some of the books that will be in your beach bag for 2013?

Just bought the new Dorothea Benton Frank novel, The Last Original Wife, just finished Patti Callahan Henry’s new novel, And Then I Found You. Adding Mary Kay’s new one, Ladies’ Night. And oh yeah, I’ll be working on my next trilogy, first one due in the fall.

What was your favorite childhood book?

Loved Charlotte’s Web. So emotional. I read it several times, over and over.

Was there a person or a book series that helped start your love of reading?

I would say it was Dorothea Benton Frank and all her Low Country tales. I wanted to be just like her. I was not a big reader till I stopped talking…for a living! Haha. When I left talk radio, I started reading and I wanted to read Southern books. I began with hers and migrated to include Mary Kay Andrews. Now my first review, from Booklist, May 1^st, actually compares me to Mary Kay Andrews! I nearly had a fit!!!

If you were not an author, what would you want to be?

Okay, I know this is crazy, but if I had anything to choose from, I would love to be one of the professional dancers on Dancing With The Stars! Also, I would go nuts to act on Broadway…which I could soooo do, if I wasn’t in a musical. Nobody wants to hear me sing!

If you could be a character in a book, who would you be? Why?

I can’t even narrow it down. All the typical ones come to mind, but I like some of the female characters in Emily Giffin’s novels too. I like strong women but I like really feminine women who are ok with being a woman and letting the man be the man, like Stephanie Plum! Oh, too many to choose from.

Being a former Days of Our Lives actress and now an author- how different are the worlds? Did your Days experience give you insight into writing? Into meeting fans and other people?

The worlds are very, very different. While I did love acting, I missed the live audience of talk radio. That’s why I love stage acting so much! The audience is right there and I love the live element of both the stage and talk radio! Days Of Our Lives didn’t really give me any insight into novel writing, but it did help with script writing—two very different things.

Talk radio best prepared me to meet the readers as I did so many live broadcasts in malls and everywhere from local to remote shows broadcast live from Hollywood, CA. I loved those Hollywood shows where I would do my show live with, who else…Soap Opera stars! I loved the idea of playing a bad girl and never messing up my make-up!

#Giveaway time! A copy of The Sassy Belles could be headed your way (perfect for that beach vacation or just lounging by the pool!) To win a copy of The Sassy Belles– tell me one thing you love about Southern Belles! The #giveaway is open to US only (sorry!) and you MUST provide your email in the comment section. You may use (AT) and (DOT) (example: iheartbooks (AT) gmail (DOT) com) as you write your email in the comment section. Comments without an email will not be considered in the #giveaway.

The #giveaway will run from Friday June 21- through Friday, June 28th at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be notified by email on Monday, July 1.

Beth Albright, author of The Sassy Belles, can be found tweeting to her fans on Twitter, talking on her Facebook page, or hanging out at her website. The next 2 books in the series are Wedding Belles (out July 30th) and Sleigh Belles (to be released later in 2013).

Marybeth Whalen: Author Spotlight

Marybeth Whalen stopped by today to tell Traveling With T about #literaryconfessions, #literarycrush, and much more. Enjoy getting to know a bit more about Marybeth Whalen, author of The Wishing Tree.

Author Spotlight

Marybeth, when you are not writing- what are some of your favorite things to do?

Read. Watch movies or crime shows. Go on dates with my husband. Hang out with friends.

Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?
Elizabeth Berg, Jodi Picoult, Sarah Addison Allen, Joshilyn Jackson, Lee Smith

What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

Just one shelf? 🙂

I have a collection of all of Lee Smith’s work, dating back to the first book of hers I ever got—when my father had some people move out of his rental house and leave boxes of books behind. (Can you imagine?) Before he donated them, he let me go through them because he knew how much I loved books. I was 14 years old and plucked a book called Black Mountain Breakdown out of the box. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the beginning of something. I fell in love with southern writing from that moment on, and realized that not all writers have to live in and write about New York City. It gave me hope.

Sometimes I go to my shelves just to run my hands across the book spines, visiting with them like the old friends they are.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

So many great works of literature I’ve never read. <Hangs head in shame.> Seriously. It’s sad.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Ah, Finny from A Separate Peace. I just loved his wildness and his tragic death broke my heart. (Spoiler alert!)

What are some of the books that will be in your beach bag for 2013?

Take a look at our June books at She Reads—that’s my reading list for this summer!

The Books of Summer

There is truly a glut of wonderful titles out this summer. None of us have any excuse to not be reading every minute!

What was your favorite childhood book?

Just one? 🙂

Harriet The Spy taught me what it meant to be an observer and cataloguer. Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards taught me that there were other little girls who existed on the outside of things and longed for a space of their own. From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankwiler taught me that other kids longed to run away and live on their own terms. Danny The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl taught me that parents are just doing the best they can, and sometimes that’s enough. And The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe made me fall in love with the mighty and amazing Aslan.

Was there a person or a book series that helped start your love of reading?

My mom tells me that when I was old enough to walk, I would toddle across the room and bring her a book to read. When she was done with that one, I would go get another. This would go on as long as she would keep reading. I credit her for continuing to read the books I brought her for hours on end. I really did come with a powerful, voracious hunger for words and she had the wisdom to feed it early on.
If you were not an author, what would you want to be?

A Food Network star a la Pioneer Woman. Me, my husband and kids, my wild and crazy house, and easy dinners served up with southern flair.

If you could be a character in a book, who would you be? Why?

Pippi Longstocking. I love her spunk, her daring, and her refusal to live on anyone else’s terms

ICYMI: Interview with Marybeth Whalen author of The Wishing Tree and Traveling With T’s review of The Wishing Tree by Marybeth Whalen.

Traveling With T

Bookish Thoughts, Book Reviews & Tales of Small Town Charms

Author: travelingwitht