It’s time to Bloggiesta! List of goals…

It’s time to Bloggiesta! For people who don’t know what Bloggiesta is- it’s 3 days of working on your blog, participating in mini-challenges, networking with other bloggers and just having fun!

Because I’d already planned to do quite a bit of reading this weekend (Bloggiesta totally surprised me this weekend!), my goals are going to be simple-ish; yet important things for my blog.

1. Begin a Review, Interview, Author Spotlight, Book Lovers Unite tab and archive.

2. Update my Goodreads page.

3. Post my Review Policy.

4. I plan to participate in a couple of challenges, as well!

I stay pretty busy with my blog, connecting with readers and friends on Twitter- and yet, lately, I’ve been feeling a need for a shake-up. Bloggiesta may have arrived just in time!

Literary Friday ya’ll…..

Friday, Bloggiesta, and lots of reading! What’s your Friday plans?

1. Deep South Magazine and their #literaryfriday: News of James Franco as Faulkner, SoFest of Books in Nashville, 11 scariest mothers in books, upcoming book signings, what Erin is reading now (some good looking books that *may* be on the upcoming Fall Reading list!) and much more!

2. Bloggiesta is happening this weekend! Basically, it’s a 3 day weekend to work on your blog, make connections and visit the other blogs hosting the mini-challenges. It’s blog love, baby! I don’t always participate in Bloggiesta- but I try to do some work when I can during these 3 day blog-love weekends! This time, I’m REALLY trying because 2 of my fav blog buddies- Rebecca @ Love At First Book and Allison @ The Book Wheel are both hosting mini-challenges (Whoo, Rebecca and Allison! Proud of you girls!)

Here are some interesting Bloggiesta-related things I’ve found today:

Love At First Book: How To Host (and participate) in a Digital Book Club & Giveaway!

The Book Wheel: 50 Bookish Things

Always With a Book: Bloggiesta.. My To Do List and Updates

Books Speak Volumes: Ten Things Every Book Blog Needs

3. Did you know that I’ll be co-hosting the Hank Phillippi Ryan chat with Literary New England on September 25th at 8pmEST? You didn’t?! Well, I am! Be there as we talk about THE WRONG GIRL and giveaway some books! Use hashtag #LNEChat to join I the fun! This will be the first of 2 scheduled Literary New England/She Reads chats- and everyone is very excited!

My blogger friend, Always With a Book, got to meet Hank Phillippi Ryan this week (and was kind enough to pick me up a signed book!) Read about K meeting HPR- Author Meet and Greet: Hank Phillippi Ryan

4. This isn’t Bloggiesta related, but Ivory Owl Reviews blogged this week about what she learned in her first year of blogging- and it’s worth a read!

5. #giveaway: Have you heard of The Returned by Jason Mott? The blog-osphere is all a-twitter about this book! And you are in luck! Luxury Reading is giving away a copy! Need more of The Returned? The Book Wheel was lucky enough to get an interview with Jason Mott (that girl is a mover and shaker- folks!)

6. 2 reviews posted this week on Traveling With T: Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand and What A Mother Knows by Leslie Lehr.

7. Holly Goddard Jones, author of The Next Time You See Me, stopped by Traveling With T this week for an Interview and Author Spotlight.

8. Book Lovers Unite September read Astor Place Vintage is still going on at Book-alicious Mama and October’s book has been announced for when it returns to Traveling With T: The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman I’m very excited for this discussion- and I hope you will join in the fun! Reading schedule to be posted next week!

9. Catching up on posting about 2 fab authors I met over the summer: Meeting Anton DiSclafani and Meeting Susan Crandall

10. Another Blogger Made of AWESOME: Drey @ Drey’s Library!

11. My #fridayreads: Astor Place Vintage, Wedding Belles by Beth Albright, and maybe 212 by Alafair Burke! What are you reading for #fridayreads?

Happy Reading and good luck with Bloggiesta if you are participating!

Meeting Anton DiSclafani, author of The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls

The Yohnalossee Riding Camp for Girls was on many people’s lips over the summer. Quickly catching the hearts and attentions of various book clubs, Yohnalosse for debut author Anton DiSclafani was a book that was enjoyed by many. I met Anton at Lemuria Books in Jackson over the summer- and enjoyed listening to her talk about the writing process. Anton and I may not have met, though, if her book signing tour had not been extended past the original 14 locations- but as the summer went on, her tour was extended! I was super excited to see that Lemuria made the list for the extension because everyone had been telling me “you have to read this”! Confession: I’m blogging about meeting Anton- and yet still haven’t read her book. However, it’s coming up fast in my TBR list!

Anton talked of how she was interested in the Great Depression after doing a bit of research on YRCFG. When asked if she has read the book since she wrote the book, she confided that she had not read Yonahlossee in over a year (since final edits). Someone in the crowd questioned Anton on the best parts of the book tour- and Anton says ” The audience, the interaction is the best part. The traveling is the annoying part.”

Anton has started writing a new book- but talks of how different the writing process is since she’s published. When she was writing YRCFG, she did not get many opinion of feedback (well at least till the editing part). Now, she has people that have opinions and suggest feedback- which makes writing a different process for her. Anton started YRCFG when she was 24- she’s now 32. Writing YRCFG was a process- and one Anton enjoyed!

When asked if she had a #literarycrush or #literaryconfessions- Anton confessed that her crush is Mr. Rochester and that her confession is that she did not like War and Peace (however, she loved Anna Karenina). Anton’s pick for best book of 2013: Brewster by Mark Sloulka.

Meeting Susan Crandall, author of Whistling Past The Graveyard

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet Susan Crandall, author of Whistling Past The Graveyard at TurnRow Books in Greenwood. Funny, charming, and kind enough to pose for a picture, Susan’s book signing was a good one. She had a nice crowd, and was chock-full of stories about her book, writing, and other things.

Whistling Past The Graveyard is Susan Crandall’s 10th book, however, it is her first book published in hardcover. A book that made several reading lists, and was highly publicized for being a book to read for book clubs, fans of The Help or several Southern books- “Whistling” is no stranger to praise- even making TurnRow’s Top 20 list.

Susan began talking about Whistling Past the Graveyard happened- and it happened quite by accident. She started writing a suspense novel, but because she kept hearing a little girl’s voice- she quit that and decided to listen to the girl. The girl, who we all know and love, is Starla.

“Writing about a character that is so unlike you is usually a hard thing”, Susan confides to the crowd as we listened intently. But with “Whistling”, she did not feel this problem- even though in past, she might would have inserted parts of herself into the character- but with Starla, the little spit-fire, she felt content to let Starla be Starla.

One of the audience members asked “Why did you choose Mississippi as the background for the book?” Susan Crandall replied, “I know about Mississippi. The story line worked for Mississippi.” Part of the reason “Whistling” was based in 1960’s was not so much because of the Civil Rights movement, but more because Susan needed a time frame for this story before things such as Code Adam and Amber Alerts- as that Starla runs away, and a later time frame, she would have to allow for things of that nature.

Whistling Past The Graveyard is potentially being considered to be made into a movie- and when asked more about a cast, Susan says she does not have a cast in mind. However, because of her disappointment over The Thorn Birds mini-series (in the movie Meggie has different colored hair than the book)- Susan tried to keep her characters looks vague as possible.

Questioned about the person she would love to meet in history and Susan just smiled for a bit, and said “Normally, I have trouble with these type of questions. But I’ve decided it would be Mark Twain”.

To read my review of Whistling Past The Graveyard, visit here.

Author Spotlight: Holly Goddard Jones

Today, Holly Goddard Jones is back to reveal her #literaryconfessions and #literarycrush!

Author Spotlight: Holly Goddard Jones

What are some of your favorite books, Holly?

Felicia’s Journey, by William Trevor, anything by Margaret Atwood, several Stephen King novels but especially The Stand, Faulkner’s Go Down, Moses, Cloud Atlas, State of Wonder, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Serena, by Ron Rash. A recent favorite is Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life.

If you could choose to be a character in a book- who would you choose?

Most characters in books have it pretty hard—much harder than I have it. If I’m being realistic, I’d choose a boring character with a nice life, which would mean someone on the periphery of a good story. But if I mean a character who has qualities I admire, and I wish I could respond to adversity with the wisdom and grace that they do? The first two to come to mind are Elizabeth Bennet and Daenerys Targaryen. Ha!

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

I have a layperson’s interest in criminal psychology, which is pretty analogous to what I do as a writer. Or I’d like to be in some zoological field and work with primates.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

God, too many to own. I haven’t read tons of things I’m supposed to have read, like Moby Dick and Mrs. Dalloway.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I’m still smarting over the fact that Cassandra spurned Stephen Colley in I Capture the Castle.

What is your favorite song?

It depends on the day. But because I love The Beatles best overall and have a sentimental attachment to it, I’ll say, oddly, “You Never Give Me Your Money.”

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

I don’t feel guilty about any of my pleasures, except the time I waste on the internet. Just because it’s more habit than pleasure.

What books are in your to be read (TBR) pile?

I just started Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. I’m also in the middle of the fifth book from A Song of Fire and Ice. I’d like to read Alyssa Nutting’s Tampa and Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings. Oh, and Stephen King’s Joyland.

* Thank you Holly Goddard Jones for the author spotlight!

To connect with Holly, please visit her website or Facebook.

Bloggers Made Of AWESOME: Drey @ Drey’s Library

Another AWESOME blogger! Drey of Drey’s Library is a blog I started keeping up with months ago. Why? I never knew what to expect at Drey’s blog- 1 day it’d be a fantasy type book, another a chick lit- maybe some historical fiction- and on and on!

Drey’s Library was like walking in a candy store and being able to sample all the goodies in one place!

So I approached Drey about an interview- and I’m so glad she said “yes!” Even better- I found out she was totally Team Peeta (I knew I liked Drey!)

Bloggers Made Of AWESOME: Drey @ Drey’s Library

Drey- when did you begin blogging?

I started in November 2008, so it’s been a few years now. O.o

How did you come up with the name Drey’s Library? Did you consider other names? Or did you want something simple and to the point?

Well, my real name’s Audrey, and a lot of friends shorten it to “drey”. And when I started blogging, I wasn’t sure if I was going to stick to books, or if I wanted to chat about movies, TV shows, and music too. I did the others for a bit on my other blog, but it’s probably defunct now – I haven’t updated it in over a year, I think. *hides in shame*

What are your thoughts on blogging today in an ever-changing book-ish world? Are blogs helping other readers connect with good books?

Bloggers do help readers find good books, and vice-versa – I’ve had quite a few awesome titles recommended by readers. I’m also glad that publishers work with us – I wouldn’t be reading as much as I do now if they didn’t. And while not all the books sent out are out-of-this-world awesome, there’re still gems to be found. I’ve been introduced to so many new authors (new-to-me, that is), and I’ve had the pleasure of sharing these with my readers. Hopefully they feel the same!

When you are not blogging (or reading!)- what do you like to do?

I don’t have much time to do anything else! I work full-time, and between that and running my son all over (school, sports, etc.) I’m happy to be able to blog and read! J

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

Hmm. Do I really want to share? I’ve had a copy of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five sitting on my shelves for YEARS. I want to read it, I really do. One of these days…

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Ah, how does one pick and choose? I read a lot of fantasy, and while I love the characters, I wouldn’t say I had a crush on them… On the other hand, I also read a lot of romance novels, and it would be fair to choose one (or two). Now, if you’d asked Team Peeta or Team Gale, it’s Peeta all the way. 😉

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2013?

I can’t wait for Max Gladstone’s follow-up to Three Parts Dead – TWO SERPENTS RISE comes out in October. And add me to the list of fans waiting for Veronica Roth’s ALLEGIANT (Oct.), Jay Kristoff’s KINSLAYER (Sept.), Maggie Stiefvater’s THE DREAM THIEVES (Sept.), Margaret Atwood’s MADDADDAM (Sept.), Seanan McGuire’s CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (Sept.), Kiersten White’s THE CHAOS OF STARS (Sept.), Julie Kagawa’s THE IRON TRAITOR (Oct.), Devon Monk’s HELL BENT (Nov.), Cherie Priest’s FIDDLEHEAD (Nov.)… The list goes on. And on, and on, and on…

In your opinion, what book has been the best book you have read (so far!) in 2013?

Well, let’s see. I loved Stephen Dobyns’ THE BURN PALACE, Susanna Kearsley’s THE FIREBIRD, Sandra Byrd’s ROSES HAVE THORNS, Rod Rees’ THE DEMI-MONDE, and R.S. Belcher’s THE SIX-GUN TAROT. But my favorite has to be Elizabeth Chadwick’s SHADOWS AND STRONGHOLDS. I love her historical fiction, her characters are always three-dimensional and real.

You have a beach vacation planned. What are the 3 books that you must bring?

Beach vacations are for books yet unread. And so it’ll have to be 1 contemporary romance (Jill Mansell, Jill Shalvis, etc.), 1 urban fantasy (I have tons of favorite authors, so it’ll be whomever has just released a novel), and 1 funny, no-thinking-required mystery or chick-lit.

Are you an e-book or tree book lover? Or does it not matter?

It doesn’t matter, I’ll read both. I do prefer review copies in print though, because then I can arrange them in the order I need to read them in. J

Drey, your blog is an eclectic mix of books that you review. Did you consider narrowing your blog to focus on only 1 or 2 genres- or is variety the spice of life?

Ah, if only I could narrow it down! I think genre-specific blogs are more popular than the eclectic mix on mine, but I cannot bring myself to drop genres. I read EVERYTHING – well, almost! I skip the memoirs (though I’ve reviewed a couple of ‘em!), biographies, and all non-fiction. If I dropped mysteries and thrillers, I never would’ve read Elizabeth Haynes. And how can I not pick up multi-cultural fiction? There’s just no way. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

If you could best friends with a character from a book- who would you pick? And why?

I couldn’t. Don’t make me – I might spontaneously combust!

If the books on your book shelves could talk, what would they say about you?

Either that I’m very eclectic, or that I can’t make up my mind! There’s everything from fantasy to YA to thrillers to President Obama’s The Audacity of Hope and Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture. Folk tales from China and Malaysia. Amy Tan and Gail Tsukiyama share space with Neil Gaiman, Ian Tregillis and Scott Westerfeld.

Liked reading about Drey @ Drey’s Library? For more information- blog, Twitter, Facebook

October Book Lovers Unite: The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman

I debated. I hem’ed. I haw’ed. I looked at tons of books. Pro and con lists were made. I even considered calling a psychic about what should the October Book Lovers Unite book be. I was *this close* to naming MOONRISE by Cassandra King- and yet, I held off. And then I made a choice (and one that I hope you, Book Lovers Unite folks, will like!) I chose: THE LIFE LIST by Lori Nelson Spielman!

Here’s the synopsis from Goodreads:

In this utterly charming debut — one woman sets out to complete her old list of childhood goals, and finds that her lifelong dreams lead her down a path she never expects.

1. Go to Paris
2. Perform live, on a super big stage
3. Have a baby, maybe two
4. Fall in love

Brett Bohlinger has forgotten all about the list of life goals she’d written as a naïve teenager. In fact, at thirty-four, Brett seems to have it all—a plum job at her family’s multimillion-dollar company and a spacious loft with her irresistibly handsome boyfriend. But when her beloved mother, Elizabeth, passes away, Brett’s world is turned upside down. Rather than simply naming her daughter the new CEO of Bohlinger Cosmetics, Elizabeth’s will comes with one big stipulation: Brett must fulfill the list of childhood dreams she made so long ago.

Grief-stricken, Brett can barely make sense of her mother’s decision. Some of her old hopes seem impossible. How can she possibly have a relationship with a father who died seven years ago? Other dreams (Be an awesome teacher!) would require her to reinvent her entire future. For each goal attempted, her mother has left behind a bittersweet letter, offering words of wisdom, warmth, and—just when Brett needs it—tough love.

As Brett struggles to complete her abandoned life list, one thing becomes clear: Sometimes life’s sweetest gifts can be found in the most unexpected places.

Reading schedule will be posted later this week- but go ahead and reserve the book from the library or buy from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local indie!

*Current prices: Amazon: $10.99 for paperback, $7.99 for Kindle; Barnes and Noble: $11.55 for paperback, $9.99 for Nook.

Lori has already agreed to a Q&A session- the format is to be determined, though. We may email her questions or have a set time for discussion with author on blog. As soon as I have those details finalized- you will know!

Spread the word- and tell your mama and friends to come to discuss this book with us!

What A Mother Knows by Leslie Lehr

Photo Credit: Amazon

Imagine being the only survivor of a fatal car crash? Imagine suffering incredible pain, then being in a coma for months, to wake up and have to go through months of physical therapy? To not have a memory of how you ended up in the hospital? And to feel like people are keeping secrets from you? This is Michelle Mason’s life.

Michelle knows that a person died in the car crash. What she doesn’t know is this: Why was the boy riding in the car with her? What caused the accident? And is it better to be alive and have these questions or to be dead?

As Michelle tries to figure out what happened that fateful night, she’s also trying to find her daughter. Because she knows her daughter is the key to helping her remember the night. Michelle does not know why her daughter left. What she is running from. Or if her leaving had anything to do with the fatal accident. She does know this: She won’t rest till she finds her daughter. Till she finds out the answers to the questions that have been plaguing her.

With a husband who may or may not be keeping secrets, friends who are unsure of how to treat Michelle now, and secrets and betrayal all around- Michelle has a long way to go before she can feel good about life.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

The reader starts off knowing what happened- but the why and how are slowly revealed. Like Michelle, the reader is not sure who to trust- who has an agenda, who doesn’t. The reader is not even sure if they can trust Michelle since her memory is compromised. Interesting. Mysterious. Psychological thriller.

Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand

Wedding day- arguably one of the happiest day of a woman’s life. Beginning your life with your love, creating a new family, and basking in the love of your mom and dad as they watch their little girl take the steps into her new life as a married woman.

However, when your mother has already passed away- this day can be bittersweet. Beth Carmichael knew her days were numbered- so instead of focusing on what she was going to miss about Jenna, her youngest child’s life, she channeled her energy into making a notebook, a plan for Jenna’s future wedding. Jenna, armed with The Notebook, feels her wedding day will be in fact, a beautiful day.

While Beth may have given Jenna a game plan for her wedding day, several of the other family members need a game plan as well. There’s a maid of honor who does not believe in love, a bridesmaid who is turning into a bridesmaid-zilla, and a marriage that is falling apart. The Carmichael children are having hard times knowing that Beth would have loved to be at the wedding, and that each problem they are facing- she would have advice or at least be able to listen.

As the wedding day approaches, tensions arise. People are reminded of past betrayals. One person finds out what love truly means. Another begins to question everything they thought they knew about love. And new families and relationships begin.

A wedding- happiness, sadness, beginnings and endings. Elin Hilderbrand covers it all.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Enjoyable. Fun. Heartwarming at times. Sad- especially how some of the characters are treated. Overall, if you enjoy Elin Hilderbrand books- this will be right up your alley!

*Beautiful Day was a book I checked out from the library!

Interview with Holly Goddard Jones, author of The Next Time You See Me

I had the opportunity to review Holly Goddard Jones debut novel, The Next Time You See Me, and I really enjoyed the book! So much so that I decided to ask Holly if she would come by Traveling With T for an interview- and lucky for me, she said yes!

Interview With Holly Goddard Jones

Holly, how did the idea of The Next Time You See Me happen?

I read a story about a little boy going into the woods and getting scared by a hermit, and it got me to thinking about a little scraggly, undeveloped area near the subdivision where I grew up. As a girl, I went into that wooded area sometimes to explore, play pretend, gather bugs and leaves for school science projects. My parents didn’t like me going—partly because it was private property, partly because they didn’t like me venturing so far out of sight of adults—and of course that was part of the attraction and the thrill. When I was a girl, about eight, a woman’s dead body was found about half a mile from my home, and so I always wondered what would happen if I’d have been the one to find the body. So the book took off from that premise: a girl finds a body. In this case, she makes an unusual choice about what she finds.

Are any of the characters based on you, Holly?

All of the characters I write have some of me in them. The story above might make you think that the little girl, Emily, is based on me, and she has a few things in common with my 13-year-old self. Or you might see me in Susanna, an English teacher in her late 20s. But I identify as much with the characters in the book who aren’t obviously like me: Wyatt, Tony, Sarah. In fact, if there are tender truths about me in my fiction, I tend to place them with unexpected characters, as a way of forging a connection with them.

How long did it take to write The Next Time You See Me?

About four years.

Gillian Flynn wrote a blurb for The Next Time You See Me. How was having an author like her, months after her Gone Girl success, writing a blurb for your book?

I was so grateful to her. I loved Gone Girl, and so it was an honor.

Do you think The Next Time You See Me would make a good movie? Have you ever wondered who could make up the dream cast?

I think it would make a better television show than a movie—something in the vein of Twin Peaks or The Killing. As for casting the characters, I find that really hard. I have a vision of each of them in my head, and they’re not really people who’d fit some typical Hollywood standard for beauty. Anna Kendrick could maybe play Susanna, just because she’s close to the right age and to me she’s pretty but very real looking. I had to think hard to come up with that one. It seems to me that there’s someone obvious out there who’d be great as Wyatt, but I’m drawing a blank. Wyatt’s supposed to be 55 in the novel, but I think he’d have to be played by someone older, since your average overweight Kentucky factory worker is going to wear 55 a lot differently from, say, Kevin Bacon, who is 55 according to IMDB. Maybe Phillip Seymour Hoffman in 10 years.

Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

I just moved my office to a downstairs bedroom, so that’s where I’m writing now. I don’t have much of a routine. I wish I did.

Holly, are there any upcoming events that fans can attend to meet and greet with you?

I’ll be doing some festivals this fall: The Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium, the Kentucky Book Fair, and the Southern Festival of Books. All that info will be up on my website at some point.

The ending- did the ending of The Next Time You See Me reveal itself as you were writing? Or, Holly, did you know how the book should end from the moment you began writing?

I had a vague sense of what the tone of the ending would be, but I didn’t know the specifics until about two thirds of the way in. Then I had the idea for the Thanksgiving epilogue. I skipped ahead to write that—I hardly ever write out of order—then went back and wrote to the end. If you write a character-driven novel, I do think that the book you write has to teach you what it’s ending will be.

What are you working on next, Holly? Are you still gathering ideas or do you have a book in mind?

I’m working on a new novel and am perhaps a quarter or a third of the way into the rough draft.

*Thank you Holly Goddard Jones for agreeing to be interviewed!

Holly Goddard Jones debut novel, The Next Time You See Me, was published February 2013 by Touchstone Publishing. To connect with Holly, please visit her website or Facebook page!