Thursday Mashup…. (giveaway, giveaway, giveaway!)

Gosh it seems like FOREVER since I’ve had a mashup!

Here’s a few #giveaways you need to know about:

1. The Book Wheel is giving away a SIGNED copy of The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer! SIGNED folks- you don’t want to miss out!

2. Read Baby Read is giving away Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn- again, it’s SIGNED. Get thee over there to enter!

3. Luxury Reading is giving away The Good Wife by Jane Porter!

4. She Reads is giving away all 3 of Jojo Moyes books- The Last Letter To Your Lover, Me Before You, and The Girl You Left Behind.

5. Traveling With T has 3 giveaways going on this week: Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn, Weak at the Knees by Jo Kessel, and So Tough to Tame by Victoria Dahl.

6. Book-Alicious Mama is giving away Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn!

7. River City Reading is giving away Cartwheel by Jennifer Dubois!

Pssssst…. Book Lovers Unite just announced that Hush Little Baby will be the November Book Club Selection! So, you might want to head over and enter Read Baby Read, Book-Alicious Mama’s or stay here and enter my giveaway! I’d be trying to triple my odds- though, if I were you!

Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing and featuring in an author spotlight for Suzanne Redfearn, debut author of Hush Little Baby.

Today, I post my review of Hush Little Baby (and have a special treat for readers of Traveling With T!

Hush Little Baby

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Look at them. Picture perfect family. Loving. Happy. Mom-perfectly put together. Dad- loving and caring. Kids- happy and thriving. Look closer. Look beyond what they want you to see. Some monsters live under the bed. Some, though, live out in the open- living, breathing, kind and gentle. Until the door is closed, the windows are covered and the monster can show it’s true colors. This is the story of a monster.

Jillian Kane lives a life that looks perfect on the outside- she is a well-respected architect, has every creature comfort she could want, 2 beautiful children, and a husband who appears to adore her. Inside, Jill is dying a slow and terrible death- all at the hands of her wonderful looking husband. Gordon is abusive- not just physically, but emotionally. Gordon beats Jill, is horribly abusive to her- and yet Jill stays. She doesn’t tell. She hides the bruises. Why? Her 2 kids.

One day, though, Jill begins to realize that Gordon will kill her. He will kill her and he will get away with it. Jillian knows then that she must get away- she must get her kids from him. Jillian does not under-estimate Gordon on his level of violence- but his smart and cunning ways, she does. Systematically, Gordon has painted Jillian as the bad mother- he used her vanity against her, her questioning of her motherhood skills- he even used a time that he almost killed her against Jillian.

When Jillian begins to realize that she has nothing to lose, absolutely nothing- she does the thing that no one expects- she takes the kids. She runs. She knows that if she is found- she’ll not live long. Gordon will make sure her punishment is brutal and permanent. But Jillian knows that if she is to even have a chance at a happy life- she, and the children have got to get away from Gordon.

Hush Little Baby tells the story of a mother who is pushed to the limit. A mother who knows that she has 2 choices- stay and be killed or run and hope for a better life. Hush Little Baby tells the story of a mother, a woman who makes a desperate choice- a choice that was made after her back was pushed against the wall. Does Jillian live to tell her tale? Or like so many others- is her tale silenced by a man who promised to love, honor and cherish her for the rest of their lives?

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

Hush Little Baby is a quick, engrossing tale- a tale that will make you wonder about life behind the perfect picture. Short chapters, tension filled scenes- a book that is discussable. Suzanne Redfearn does an excellent job of showing off Gordon’s Jekyl and Hyde sides; as well as the creation of Jillian- her victim side. However, Suzanne does not make Jillian one-dimensional as only a victim- she shows the sides of Jillian that led a town to believe in Gordon and to question Jillian.

Believable, interesting and worth a read- Hush Little Baby should be put on the to be read list.

*Giveaway: I have 1 copy of Hush Little Baby to give to a lucky commenter! Comment on this post for a chance to win! Please leave your email (You may use the AT and DOT). Giveaway is open to US only (sorry!) Oh and did I mention that it will be a SIGNED book?! Giveaway begins October 15th and ends October 24th at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be notified October 25th.

Interview with Joanne Phillips, author of Murder at the Maples

Photo Credit: Escape With Dollycas

Today’s interview with Joanne Phillips, author of Murder at the Maples is part of the MURDER AT THE MAPLES blog tour that is an Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book sponsored blog stop! Read about Joanne here and be sure to visit other stops on the tour for more interviews, reviews and giveaways! Read on for giveaway info!

Interview with Joanne Phillips, author of Murder at the Maples

Joanne- thank you for agreeing to be interviewed at Traveling With T!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog for the very first stop of the tour J

“A reluctant sleuth” is part of the tag line for Murder at the Maples, which I find interesting, because most cozy mysteries I read have a sleuth who is definitely not “reluctant”. How did you decide on a “reluctant sleuth”?

This is the first in a series, and when we meet Flora Lively she has no idea she’s going to end up investigating a murder! In fact, if you told her what she’d soon be up against she’d probably run screaming – Flora has enough on her plate recovering from the loss of her parents and taking over the running of her dad’s pride and joy, Shakers Removals. The odd happenings at the Maples could easily be written off as the ravings of an old lady, and at first Flora is reluctant to see any more to it than this. Of course, once she’s got the bit between her teeth she’s absolutely determined to solve the mystery, and is no longer a reluctant sleuth. By the time book two comes along I’ll have to think of a very different tag line!

Murder at the Maples is the first book in the Flora Lively mysteries. When writing this book, did you know how it would end? Or did the ending reveal itself as you wrote?

I didn’t know how it would end when I started writing – I just had Flora’s character and the initial scene, and an idea of a sixty year old secret that would rear its ugly head. When I got to the end of the first draft I saw that the ending I’d arrived at wasn’t powerful enough and it needed a completely different ending, and that was when I had the most fun, planting clues and plotting the trail that would lead to the new climax.

Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

I have a lovely office in my home, but I’m also really lucky to have a brand new summerhouse that we’ve just built in the garden where I can go and write. I plan to get it set up so I can write out there all year round – blankets and a heater a must! My routine is fairly flexible as I have a five year old daughter to look after too, and I work part-time as a freelance indexer for publishers, but I do write every day, or work on some book-related task like marketing or reaching out to readers.

If Murder at the Maples was made into a movie- do you have a dream cast in mind?

I think it would make a great TV series J Well, we can dream … But no, I don’t have a cast in mind. I see Flora as very petite and quite quirky-looking, physically a lot stronger than she looks, pretty but also someone who doesn’t try too hard with her looks. Marshall – one of my favorite characters – is gorgeous, a real charmer, but scruffy as they come. That said, I like for my readers to imagine characters for themselves, and I expect any TV producers would reinvent them completely anyway!

What can readers expect next from Flora? Can you give any hints about the next book in the series?

The next book is called ‘A Date With Death’ and is due out next year. Flora’s best friend Celeste returns from her travels abroad, but when her new boyfriend dies in mysterious circumstances, Celeste is under suspicion and Flora finds her investigative skills in demand once again. I’m really excited about Book 2 because I think in the first book of a mystery series there’s a lot of setting up to do – particularly with characters who aren’t actual private detectives or police officers: you have to explain why they would even be investigating in the first place. But with the rest of the books in a series you can just dive right into the action! In ‘A Date With Death’ I’m planning an Agatha Christie-esque set up, where the reader has to try and work out who’s guilty from a narrow cast of characters all holed up in one place. Oh, and Flora goes undercover, which should be a lot of fun.

*Special thanks to Joanne Phillips for agreeing to be interviewed!

Photo Credit: Escape With Dollycas

Joanne is hard at work on the second book in the series- A Date With Death! Look for it in 2014! Joanne can be found on Twitter and Facebook, as well!

*Giveaway: 1 Lucky winner will win a copy of Murder at the Maples by Joanne Phillips. Just comment, leave you email (you may us the AT and DOT) and GOOD LUCK! Giveaway runs from October 8- October 14th at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be notified October 15th. **NOTE: This is an e-book giveaway!

Looking for more stops on the tour? Here is the list! Want to win a $10 Amazon gift card? Visit the Rafflecopter giveaway!

Interview with Emily Liebert, author of You Knew Me When

Emily Liebert, debut author of You Knew Me When, has stopped by to talk today about her book- and to make someone very happy: She’s graciously offered to give away a book and the Zoya nail polish that was created especially for this book! A great book AND pretty nail polish- oh be still my heart!

Interview with Emily Liebert, author of You Knew Me When

What was the inspiration for You Knew Me When?

I’ve always been interested in female friendships and how bonds can be severed and mended over time. When I was younger, I had a best friend who promptly dumped me as soon as I started dating my first serious boyfriend. We reconnected years later, but it was never the same.

Emily- the role of an author is changing. At one point, before social media, an author did not have Facebook or Twitter. Now, most authors have, at the minimum, those 2 services. In your opinion, why is social media so important for authors? Is it more or less important for debut authors?

Social media plays a major role in publicity for most authors and especially for debut authors. It’s the fastest and most efficient way of targeting a large group of people all at the same time. And, if you’re posting information via a fan page, even better—you know you already have a captive audience. For obvious reasons, Facebook was integral in promoting my first book—Facebook Fairytales. Now, with my debut novel, I regularly use Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. I’m also getting into Instragram. Social media is also an excellent tool in the way of networking. I’ve met so many professionals through these various outlets who’ve helped me along the way and vice-versa. I’ve long maintained that there seems to be a generosity of the human spirit via social media that doesn’t necessarily exist in the “real world.”

How long did it take to write You Knew Me When?

I’m fast! So it took me about five months. I just finished writing my second novel in about four months. Of course, that’s only for a first draft. After that, there’s an editing process which takes a couple of months.

How involved were you in the choosing of the cover for You Knew Me When?

I’ve been so fortunate that my fabulous publisher, Penguin, has allowed me to be a part of the process every step of the way. When it came time to design the cover, my editor and I brainstormed and came up with two directions we thought would work. Then she took our ideas to Penguin’s talented designers and they ran with one of our concepts. When I first saw the cover, I was blown away by how they transformed our nugget of an idea into something so vibrant and eye-catching. Right now, we’re in the process of discussing ideas for the cover of my second novel—so fun!

Do you have a writing space? Or a writing routine?

Oh yes! I have a routine for everything and writing is no exception. I work out of a home office which is far removed from the main area of the house—I have two little boys (ages 3 and 4), so it would be difficult to concentrate if my office was right near, say, their playroom. It’s really the best of both worlds. Working from home allows me the time to write in privacy and—at the same time—take lots of breaks to have meals with my kids, play with them, and pick them up at school and camp. I like to think of myself as a full time author and a full time mom, even though I have help in place! When I’m in working mode, I usually write for about four hours/day—in the morning and early afternoon. The rest of my working time is spent on publicity, partnerships, conference calls and all the other things (outside of writing) that go with publishing a book! If I get a lot of writing done Monday-Thursday, sometimes I’ll give myself Friday off from writing to give my brain time to “think.”

You Knew Me When is a debut novel. Do you have advice for other writers who have debut novels releasing soon? Did someone give you advice that really helped during this time?

My advice is to be your own best publicist and to hire one, if you have the means. I have an excellent in-house publicist at Penguin, but one person can’t do everything, especially when they have other books to concentrate on. So I hired an independent publicist for five months surrounding the launch. And I pound the pavement every day devising ways to get the book in front of as many eyes as possible. You can write a masterpiece, but if no one knows it exists, you’re in trouble! I also tell debut authors that you have to stay passionate and believe in yourself. This is not the time to be modest! I’ve had so much great advice from friends and colleagues—including my dear friend Kerry Kennedy whom I worked with on her book, Being Catholic Now. She gave me a wonderful quote for the cover of You Knew Me When. My literary agent, Alyssa Reuben, has offered invaluable advice along the way, as has my editor, Kerry Donovan. My author friend Jill Kargman has been a huge supporter as well.

When writing You Knew Me When– did you, Emily, ever think about the book potentially being made into a movie? Do you have a dream cast in mind?

I always think big! So, yes, I have thought about it in great detail. Not only that, but there are producers/production companies currently reading the book. As it happens, I do have a dream cast in mind! I’d love to see Emily Blunt in the role of Katherine, Kate Hudson in the role of Laney, Helen Mirren in the role of Luella, and Jake Gyllenhaal in the role of Grant. Don’t worry, if they’re not available, I have plenty of other names!

How did you create the characters in You Knew Me When? Do you have a favorite character?

I based them on people I know. (So watch out!) It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’d have to say Katherine. I see a lot of myself in her and also a lot of things I’d like to change about myself in her!

If you were asked to inscribe You Knew Me When at a book signing with your favorite line from the book- what would it be?

“Every woman needs a best friend or a sister.”

Will you be going on a book signing tour with You Knew Me When?

Yes! I already have 10 appearances lined up—from multiple stops in New York to Vermont to Connecticut to California for the launch at Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles! And there will be many more to come. They can all be found on the events page of my website: http://www.emilyliebert.com/events/

Emily- what are you working on next? Can you reveal any hints about your next book?

I have a second novel coming out in September 2014! I just finished writing the first draft and sent it to my editor. This book is also about friendship and about finding happiness. The characters and plot are very different, but the themes of love and relationships remain the same.

*Special thanks to Emily Liebert for agreeing to be interviewed!

Emily Liebert is an award-winning author, New York Times bestselling editor, and TV personality.

Liebert’s debut novel, You Knew Me When, will publish on September 3, 2013 and a second novel to follow will publish in September 2014, both with Penguin Group USA.

Her first book, Facebook Fairytales, is available across the globe.

Liebert has been featured by: NBC’s Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Anderson, FOX News, NBC’s LXTV, Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Radio, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Woman’s Day, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, and Celebrity Parents Magazine, among many others.

She has also served as a spokesperson for Microsoft, appearing on TV and radio stations nationwide.

If you liked my interview- be sure and come back on Wednesday for an Author Spotlight! If you’ve read You Knew Me When– drop by and tell Emily you LOVED it! Here’s the info: website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Instagram and Pinterest.

Giveaway information: Simply comment on this post- make sure to include your email address- you may use the AT and DOT. Giveaway is open to US residents only (sorry!) Giveaway begins September 2nd and ends September 9th at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be announced September 10th.

Look for my review of You Knew Me When to be posted this week!

Literary Friday ya’ll……

Happy Labor Day weekend!

1. Deep South Magazine #literaryfriday is filled with mentions of Donna Tart, literary Iphone cases, and news about Southern Festival of Books. Plus many other things!

2. Next week on Traveling With T, I have a pretty awesome giveaway: book and nail polish 🙂 What more could a girl want?! Check back on Monday for more details!

3. THE PERFUME COLLECTOR discussion is still going on strong at She Reads. Come. Discuss. Talk to me about the book.

4. In more She Reads news: I’m soaking up and announcing my 15 minutes of fame to EVERYONE! Guess who is one of the people featured in The Blog Network Recommends? Come on guess! Oh you’ll never guess, so I’ll tell you: It’s ME! I recommended Erika Marks THE GUEST HOUSE (which if you remember I raved about it here first!) Pssst…. Even more good news: Get over to She Reads and comment for a chance to win ALL 3 BOOKS! Naturally, you’ll want to read the 1 I recommended first, right? 😉

5. My #fridayreads While We Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax, The Sassy Belles by Beth Albright, Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand and I’m considering adding another book to the rotation- suggestions? What are your #fridayreads?

6. Today is August 30th which means that #ctbs is almost over. For the unfamiliar, #ctbs is Conquering The Book Stacks. So far, August was not kind in my mission- but I’m hoping to knock another book out before August ends. However, I stood tall and strong and did not buy any books this August. I looked temptation in the eye and walked away. My bookshelves thank me.

7. Book Lovers Unite- Jen @ Booka-licious Mama has announced the September read in Ashtor Place Vintage. Before I hand the reigns over to her, though, I have 1 more surprise cooked up from our August Book Club Selection, The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers. Check the blog later today for the surprise! In related news, I’m hard at work for the October pick- and trying to decide if October should be spooky or not in our selection!

Happy Reading!

Literary Friday ya’ll…..

It’s Friday- I don’t know about where ya’ll are- but we’ve been having some nice days. Good breezes. Not as high humidity (my hair says a big THANK YOU!)

1. This week, I’ll be posting about 2 weeks of #literaryfriday from Deep South Mag! August 16th’s #literaryfriday is all about some Best Debuts of 2000- I see some #southernlit writers that made that list! Also talk of the AJC Decatur Book Festival, literary colleges and more!

Last week’s #literaryfriday: Joshilyn Jackson & Pinterest, Interview with Ashton Lee (interviewed by yours truly 😉 and Lucy Burdette news (among other things!)

2. Book Lovers Unite online book club is reading The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers- week 2 questions have been posted! Book-alicious Mama is announcing September Book Lovers Unite pick today- and she has a good one!

3. Rita Leganski took some time off from her busy schedule and stopped by Traveling With T to talk about The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow this week!

4. Bloggers Made Of AWESOME feature had a new AWESOME blogger: Jen H @ The Relentless Reader. Read on for her #literarycrush! I won’t reveal- but on Twitter she said “does he have manly muscles? I don’t know and I don’t care! I love him for his MIND!”

5. Two new reviews posted this week on Traveling With T: Speak of the Devil by Allison Leotta and The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Café by Mary Simses!

6. Traveling With T has 2 (count them, 2!) giveaways this week! Both end Monday night, the 19th, at 11:59pmEST- Brenda Janowitz is giving away her first 2 books: Scot on the Rocks and Jack With a Twist AND Courtney Miller Santo is giving away The Roots of the Olive Tree!

7. Don’t forget: Twitter chat with Kathleen Tessaro about The Perfume Collector– Monday, 8/19 8pmEST! Use #srbkchat to join in! Here is the Twubs room for #srbkchat

8. What is your #fridayreads? Mine are: Hotshot by Julie Garwood, Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard by Susan Crandall, The Tao of Martha by Jen Lancaster, The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro and The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers!

9. Psst….. Check out Traveling With T next week- another giveaway is coming up!

Happy Reading!

Interview with Courtney Miller Santo, author of The Roots of the Olive Tree

Courtney Miller Santo’s debut novel, The Roots of the Olive Tree, came to me through TLC Blog tours. I had not heard of the book before; but the description sounded like something I normally read. As I read, I found myself immersed in the life of these women- the secrets, the struggles, the questions, and much more.

After reading it, I knew I wanted to talk to Courtney more- and lucky for me (and my readers!) she agreed to an interview! Haven’t read The Roots of the Olive Tree? You’re in luck! There’s going to be a giveaway!

Interview with Courtney Miller Santo

Courtney, I read on your website that your most prized possession is a picture of the 5 generations of women in your family. Did that influence the story of The Roots of Olive Tree?

The novel, in many ways, is an exploration of the family dynamics I grew up with. I had the fortune of having a long line of matriarchs in my family and I’d never found a book that explored the dynamics that arise when you get to talk with your great-grandmother about what your grandmother was like as a teenager. The matriarch of the book, Anna, is a fictional version of my own great-grandmother, who I lost this last October at age 104. My most prized possession now is a video of my nine-year-old daughter playing piano with her great-great grandmother.

How long did it take you to write The Roots of the Olive Tree?

Two pregnancies—that is to say the initial version took about nine months and then I spent nine months in revision.

Are any of the characters based on people you know? Or figments of your imagination?

When I wrote the book, I started with a clear picture of Anna (who is based on Winifred Rodgers, my own great-grandmother) and Erin, who is a version of me when I was in my twenties. The women in-between all contain characteristics of women in my life who I didn’t understand. In the case of Bets, I tried to work out questions I had of who my mother was as a woman (as opposed to my Mom) but in creating these characters, they very much became their own selves. At times, I find myself having imaginary conversations with Callie and Anna about Deb.

In the book, Anna, longs to be the oldest living person, but she’s also superstitious about the research Dr. Hashmi wants to do. I found that so interesting and such a telling story of the ages- because I think if I lived as long as Anna- I would not want to know the why; but being Callie’s age- I would be very interested. How did you decide on that particular angle?

Dr. Hashmi added an outside perspective to the Keller woman and helped raise the issues around aging and longevity that I was interested in. You are exactly right that Anna is much more interested in myth and accepts her longevity as an expectation, but Callie is much more troubled by it—in part because she has had a near death experience and because her body is damaged. In writing the book, I found that the natural questions and dilemmas about aging that arose as I wrote were all byproducts of the characters themselves. Once I started writing Callie’s section, I understood her view on aging and how different it was from her grandmother’s.

The distance between mothers and daughters can be measured in secrets is on the cover of The Roots of The Olive Tree. That statement is so true. How did you come up with that statement? Are other readers of The Roots of Olive Tree finding truth in that statement?

That tagline came pretty late in the production of the book and is a product of a conversation I had with my sister about our mother. We were up late talking about all that we don’t know about our mothers and what we as mothers conceal from their own children. It occurred to me the next day that distance can be measured in secrets and it felt especially applicable to Roots of the Olive Tree and the Keller women. I find that readers respond well to the idea that there is a natural distance between mothers and daughters—that grows out of having to be a parent—and the more time we spend with our mothers as adults, the fewer secrets they hold onto.

Do you have a favorite character in The Roots of the Olive Tree?

That is a Sophie’s Choice question! For me, I think that Bets is the heart of the book because hers is the only story that is complete by the end of the book—the other women’s journeys are ongoing and I expect them to show up again—especially based on the stories they keep telling me when I’m driving the car or in the shower.

Would you like The Roots of the Olive Tree to be made into a movie? If so, do you have a dream cast?

I discovered some of my favorite books because I saw the movie first—so of course I’d love for Hollywood to take an interest in Roots (especially considering how few parts there are for women over the age of forty). As far as a dream cast goes, I’d love to see the powerhouse combination of Vanessa Redgrave as Anna and Helen Mirren as Bets. For Callie, I always pictured Cybill Shepherd (who grew up in Memphis where I now live) because she can play sexy at sixty. Deb is the hardest for me to dream cast because she has to have that hard edge and yet also embrace redemption. Melissa Leo would be amazing. And for Erin, I’d love to see another Memphis actress, Ginnifer Goodwin play her.

Courtney- do you have a writing space? Or a writing routine?

I am a creature of routine! I try to write in the mornings for at least two hours—and preferably three. However my work space is always changing—especially since I just moved. Most of this book was written on my living room couch and the next one has been written in my office (which is literally a cement box with no windows. I can hear when it rains, but I can’t see it).

Are you working on another book? If so, can you give some hints at to what it will be about?

I am in the process of final revision on the next book. It deals with the troubles of three cousins (who just happen to be related to Bets). They come to Memphis to try and save a family house, which was built out of spite instead of necessity. There is this amazing tradition of building houses to make someone else angry or just to prove you could. One of them, in Virginia, was built in an alleyway because the owner didn’t like all the buggy traffic going through, another owner who had a view of the beach, had an addition built specifically to block his neighbor’s view. In the case of these cousins, the house was built on an odd plot of land that overlooks the Mississippi.

Courtney Miller Santo is hard at work on revision of her 2nd novel. To connect with Courtney, visit her website, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter pages. If you enjoyed, The Roots of the Olive Tree, let Courtney know (and consider posting a review to Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble).

*Giveaway: One lucky winner will score a copy of The Roots of the Olive Tree. To enter, comment on this post and include your email (you may use the AT and DOT). Giveaway is open to US only (sorry!) Giveaway is open from August 12- August 19 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced August 20th.

To read Traveling With T’s review of The Roots of the Olive Tree, visit here.

Brenda Janowitz: Hybrid Author (plus giveaway!)

Today, the adorable Brenda Janowitz is back at Traveling With T! Not only is she adorable (look at that face and hair!) but she is also GENEROUS! Thanks to Brenda, 1 lucky winner will win her 2 previous books, Scot on the Rocks and Jack With a Twist! *Note: Both books are Kindle books.

Thank you, Brenda, for stopping by again!

Brenda Janowitz: Hybrid Author

They call me a hybrid. But, like any obsessive fan of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES would assume, I’m not actually half vampire/ half werewolf. Although hybrids are super hot. I wouldn’t mind sidling up to a hybrid, thank you very much. Especially Klaus. Wait, are you guys not watching THE VAMPIRE DIARIES? Why on earth not?!

But I digress.

What they mean when they say I’m a hybrid is that I’m a hybrid author.

Back in 2007, Red Dress Ink (remember them?!) published my first novel, SCOT ON THE ROCKS. The following year, they published my second novel, a follow-up to the first, JACK WITH A TWIST. It was so thrilling—all of it. First, to be represented by a New York City agent, and then to get a two book deal by a major New York City publishing house? It was all just a dream.

Then, a funny thing happened. Red Dress Ink closed its doors. Most of the titles moved over to Harlequin’s women’s fiction imprint, MIRA, but mine did not. Mine sort of… died.

Both books went out of print. At the time, I was working on a lot of stuff—making babies, trying to write my third novel in the spaces between, and getting adjusted to this new life of mine out in the suburbs. Which included lots of babies and trying to find time to write. My agent told me that when books go out of print, it activates the reversion clause in your contract. I’ll spare you the legal mumbo jumbo, but suffice it to say—I was able to get the rights back to my first two novels.

“What will I do with them?” I asked my agent. “Why do I need them?”

While I was moving out to the burbs and making babies, the publishing world had changed. Author friends of mine were self-publishing their back lists, and my agent (and said author friends) thought I should, too.

So, my books had one life—a fancy NYC publishing house life, and then another—the gritty do-it-yourself indie life. Sort of like a vampire. The books may have died, but they’re back! And they are totally going to suck your blood.

Okay, I’m kidding. My books do not want to suck your blood. (Although I’m sure your blood tastes delicious, I mean no offense.) My books want to make you embarrass yourself in the subway from laughing (I’ve gotten that email from numerous readers and it makes me smile each time someone tells me that!). They want to make you forget your problems for an afternoon (two different people read my second novel while getting chemo and told me that it helped them to keep a smile on their faces through an awful situation). They just beg to be read on a plane, or a bus, or a beach (you could also read them on a subway, on a train, or by a lake. I don’t discriminate.).

So, I’m a hybrid author. I’ve re-published my first two novels myself on Amazon Kindle, and my third novel (RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE) was released by St. Martin’s on July 2^nd.

In honor of my hybrid status, I’ll be giving away copies of my first two novels. Just leave a comment below to enter to win. And if you want to tell me your favorite VAMPIRE DIARIES character, well, that would be very cool, too.

* Want to read more about Brenda? Here is more: Interview With Brenda Janowitz, Author Spotlight: Brenda Janowitz, Recipe for a Happy Life review

**Giveaway ends August 19th at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be notified Aug 20th.

Interview with Wendy Francis- author of Three Good Things

Today, Wendy Francis- author of Three Good Things– was gracious enough to find time to answer some interview questions about Three Good Things, why she’s writing now instead of being an editor, and why a kringle should be something we all can experience. Check back on Wednesday, when she’s back for an Author Spotlight- complete with #literarycrush and #literaryconfessions.

Interview with Wendy Francis

Wendy, what was the inspiration for writing Three Good Things?

After being a book editor for several years, I very much wanted to try my hand at writing. When I was home alone with my one-year-old son, I figured it was as good a time as any to give it a go. At the back of my mind was a story about two sisters whose mother died when they were young. Ellen was the first character I imagined for Three Good Things. I knew she was at a turning point in her life, recently divorced, in her forties, and about to open a bakery. I was also missing the Midwest, where I grew up, and wanted to recapture its spirit – and its signature pasty, the kringle – in my novel.

How long did Three Good Things take to write?

I wrote the first draft probably in a year, but then I did a fair amount of revising over the next year. From start to publication, it was about three years.

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

I don’t have a sister, but I’m very close to my mom. In many ways, she was the inspiration for the bond between Ellen and Lanie. And though Ellen is much more outspoken than I am, I share her affinity for proper grammar, the Midwest, and, of course, kringle. Lanie ended up being the easier character to write, if only because I’d just had a baby myself, so all those great baby firsts (and sleepless nights!) were still vivid in my mind.

Your character, Ellen, opens a shop called the Singular Kringle. Why not a cupcake or cookie store? What, in your opinion, made a Kringle the food to feature at Ellen’s store?

This one is easy to answer! I grew up in Wisconsin, where kringle is a staple for breakfast, tea, you name it. It’s a delicate Danish pastry that has nearly thirty layers of butter and a filling – apple, almond, or blueberry, to name a few. I probably don’t need to say anything more than “thirty layers of butter,” but authentic kringle is mouth-watering. Racine, Wisconsin, is the American home of kringle. In fact, I recently learned that State Representative Cory Mason has proposed that it be named the official “state pastry.” That’s how seriously we Midwesterners take our kringle! Since the book is set in Wisconsin and my own personal dream is to open a kringle shop one day, it seemed natural that it would be Ellen’s dream as well.

If Three Good Things was made into a movie, do you have a dream cast?

Wouldn’t that be fun?! Let’s see. . . I love Rachel McAdams (she played Allie in The Notebook) for Lanie. Ellen would have to be played by someone with humor and sass: maybe Sandra Bullock? As for the fellows, Max has to be sexy and sultry: Eric Dane from Grey’s Anatomy? For Henry, how about Greg Kinnear (he seems as if he has a gardener’s soul)? And Lanie’s husband, Rob, would be well-played by any of those cute, earnest-looking young actors – Jake Gyllenhaal and John Krasinski are a couple who come to mind!

Wendy, you were a former senior editor in publishing. Now you are an author. How are the lives different? How are they similar?

Good question. I wrote a little piece about this called “A Letter to the Author You’re About to Become” on the Huffington Post (http://huff.to/10ZEATC). In a nutshell, it’s a lot harder being an author than an editor! You’re much more isolated, and there are long stretches of time when you wonder if what you’re writing is any good. Self-doubt seems to be an essential part of the writer’s life. On the other hand, so is that wonderful feeling that you’ve created a whole new world on the page.

“At the end of every day, you can always think of three good things that happened” is a phrase that is said in Three Good Things –it’s the advice that Lanie and Ellen’s mother gave them. Is this advice that you pass on to your family and friends?

Though I don’t think anyone in my family would accuse me of being a Pollyanna, I am a big believer in taking time to stop and appreciate the little things in life. Maybe it’s the Midwestern girl in me talking, but I love a good, drenching rainfall, a rosebush in full bloom, an amazing view, a good laugh. I’ve since come to learn that a lot of people try to recall three good things at the end of every day. I think it helps a person keep perspective, even when the world appears to be breaking your heart.

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

I’m writing my second novel, which features three women who are all facing various challenges in their lives. I wanted to write a story that captures the kaleidoscope of experiences that many friends seem to be confronting right now – balancing work and marriage with caring for their children, their own aging parents, and their own health. But it’s also a summer novel, set on the East Coast, so you can count on some romance and a few salty characters as well.

*Special thanks to Wendy Francis for agreeing to be interviewed!

Wendy Francis, author of Three Good Things, a former senior editor and currently hard at work for her 2nd book. Look for Three Good Things in stores or online. Like Wendy’s writing? You can find funny and poignant posts of hers at Huffington Post. Wendy also has a website and Twitter page.

To read Traveling With T’s review of Three Good Things, read HERE.

*GIVEAWAY: A copy of Three Good Things is up for grabs! Comment on this post and tell me what’s the best mother-ly advice you have ever received! Giveaway is open to US only (sorry!) and will run from July 15th- July 22 at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be notified on July 23rd. Please include your email address (you may use the AT and DOT). While no extra entries will be awarded for following Traveling With T or liking my Facebook page- if you’ve been enjoying the content lately- give me a like or a follow!

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.