Dear Bloggers,
In the nerve-wracking weeks before the Aug. 25th publication of my first book, "After the Fire," I searched the web daily for something - anything - that might give me an idea about how my book would be received. That's when I first discovered the power of the book blogger.
It was sometime this past June, and a blogger who calls herself "Literature Chick" ran a review of "After the Fire" based on an advance copy she'd received from the publisher. "A must read," she wrote. She likes me! I cried to my sister. She likes me! I shouted to my friends. I was so happy. And I was hooked.
After that, I searched the web not once, but five and six times day, hoping another book blogger would weigh in. Then, one day, there it was! Book blogger "Tee" called "After the Fire" "beautiful" and "moving." I called Tee my new best friend. Others followed at a regular pace and finally publication day arrived!
The book has been out for a couple of weeks now and the "official" reviews - from national publications such as Publisher's Weekly, People Magazine and USA Today, as well as regional newspapers across the country - have been unimaginably positive.
It was book bloggers, though, who sustained me during those uncertain weeks before publication and book bloggers who gave "After the Fire" its positive introduction to the rest of the reading public. It is book bloggers I continue go to for feedback and for reading recommendations, too!
I'm so glad I discovered you. Thank you all for helping others discover "After the Fire" and for helping me discover so many wonderful books.
With much respect and appreciation,
I am gratefully yours,
Robin Gaby Fisher
Hachette Book Group is giving five copies of After the Fire away!
About the Book: On January 19, 2000, a fire raged through Seton Hall University's freshman dormitory, killing three students and injuring 58 others. Among the victims were Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos, roommates from poor neighborhoods who made their families proud by getting into college. They managed to escape, but both were burned terribly. AFTER THE FIRE is the story of these young men and their courageous fight to recover from the worst damage the burn unit at Saint Barnabas hospital had ever seen. It is the story of the extraordinary doctors and nurses who work with the burned. It is the story of mothers and fathers, of faith and family and the invisible ties that bind us to each other. It is the story of the search for the arsonists--and the elaborate cover-up that nearly obscured the truth. And it is the story of the women who came to love these men, who knew that real beauty is a thing not seen in mirrors.
Hachette will only ship to United States and Canadian mailing addresses. To enter leave a comment and tell me about a book you read about overcoming adversity that inspired you. Giveaway is open until Friday.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
BBAW Guest: Robin Gaby Fisher + BBAW Giveaway
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38 comments:
I just finished one called COURAGE IN PATIENCE. It was about a teenage girl who was abused as the hands of her step-father.
Definately Jeannette Walls' memoir called The Glass Castle.
Where Is the Mango Princess? by Cathy Crimmins--it's a wonderful memoir by a woman whose husband suffers a traumatic brain injury.
3 Cups of Tea was an inspiring book (although the writing style left me cold). Talk about adversity! Mountains, frigid weather, language barriers, The Taliban, al Queda, religious differences, culture clashes, the lack of technology, etc. and yet he still managed to build dozens of schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Amazing.
I always think about the Everest climbers memorialized in the book "Into Thin Air," a few of whom made it back alive, and a few of whom did not. The story is riveting.
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
One inspiring book that I really loved is "Couldn't Keep it to Myself", edited by Wally Lamb. It's stories written by women currently being incarcerated. Lamb taught a writing class at a prison and the stories these women were able to create, depite their circumstances, lack of education, etc.... amazing.
I've read "Memories of Summer", by Ruth White. It was so interesting, that I had to buy it after I read it.
It is about a family with a Schizophrenic daughter/sister and they have to over come all odds to stay together.
Adayla S.
emaildayla(at)yahoo(dot)com
Terrific post - I'd love to read this book. I read a very moving, inspirational book about overcoming adversity called: Stolen Lives, by Malika Oufkir. My review of the book is here.
That touches me. As a book blogger, sometimes I feel like I'm doing nothing but rambling, but the fact that maybe an author will read my review and maybe other readers will be influenced gives me the desire to keep on going with it!
Overcoming adversity... it is a different kind of adversity, but I'd have to say "The Oak Leaves" by Maureen Lang. the way her main character had to deal with strangers and even family shunning her to an extent and surviving through it. She influenced me and encouraged me.
Oh, that's cherryblossommj (at) gmail [dot] com *sorry*
First, thank you, Robin, for your support of book bloggers! We may be an uncoventional channel of marketing, but it works, right?!
Now, for my pick for an inspiring book about overcoming adversity ... I'd have to say that Ayaan Hirsi Ali's *Infidel* had a big impact on me. This is an amazing memoir.
I very recently read "Freshwater Road" and that was extremely inspiring. It took place in Mississippi during a period of extreme racial tension and inequality and it chronicled one woman's attempt to register african american people to vote. It was a very powerful book and it is so wonderful to hear of people like her who are willing to put themselves in harm's way for the betterment of humankind.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth
seriously a friend gave me billy crystals book 300 sundays- a way to say goodbye and accept alot of things going on in life but just started reading the color purple and its inspiring and emotional
The most recent one I read was actually a series (and a series of adversity) was Heirs of Montana series by Tracie Peterson. Loved it!
sj3girls(at)hotmail(dot)com
Lovely post. I'm so glad you love book bloggers just as much as I do (and that's NOT because i am one myself...i find many good books mainly through bloggers these days!)
As for a book about overcoming adversity that inspired me...I suppose one of my favorite books The Perks of Being a Wallflower has a few different storylines that inspired me. Just the main character, Charlie, in general is all about overcoming his past, his family, his "faults", and learning to love and simply live life. It's a great story.
-Lauren
lauren51990 at aol dot com
Saving Levi by Lisa Bentley would fit the bill on that one. clairjuly at yahoo dot com
Thanks for sharing. I thought Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown was very ispiring - after all she went through and then to become what she is today - amazing.
Old-school and a bit cheesey, but if The Power of One doesn't make you think you can achieve anything you want to, then you're not reading it right.
There are several books that inspired me, all memoirs:
Prozac Nation
Dear Dad: Letters From an Adult Child
Fierce: A Memoir
(the last two I reviewed on my blog)
I really loved the book: Love, Greg and Lauren, about the tragic aftermath of September 11, 2001 as Lauren Manning was burned walking into the Trade Center. Her recovery and strength was/is remarkable.
-Lori
One of my favorite books about overcoming adversity is "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. I first read it when I was about ten years old, and again many times as I grew up.
I just read an excellent book about someone overcoming adversity. It's called Tears of the Desert by Halima Bashir, and is the author's memoir about growing up and becoming a doctor in Darfur, Sudan. Despite not even knowing where her family is, Bashir moved to London and has been doing amazingly courageous things to help the people of her homeland and bring their struggle to the world's attention. Her strength and courage are very inspiring.
I recently read 'Shattered Dreams' a memoir by Irene Spencer. It was a touching and inspiring story.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/2008/07/shattered-dreams.html
I read "Lucky" by Alice Sebold after reading "The Lovely Bones." I loved both books. After reading "Lucky", I realized that I loved "The Lovely Bones" because the narration is so raw and real. You realize just how close the story hits her heart. It's inspiring and captivating.
A book of overcoming adversity that inspire me? Oddly, HOLES by Sachar comes to mind. There they are, these kids, out in the scrub lands, doing what they're overseer roughly requires them to do. Not only do they "beat" him in his plan, but they take care of some inequalities their families encoutered years before. Kids lit? No, it's not just for kids.
Wanda Brunstetter's sereis Sisters of Holmes county is a good one on adversity and overcoming.
I have two books, one is amuch beloved if forgotten book Johnny Tremain, about a boy during the Revolutionary War that has a handicapped hand, when I read it as a child I loved the story, however when I revisited the book as a parent of a child with only 5 fingers and half of the other hand it meant so much more to me.
The other book is Antoine Succeeds, the story of a boy born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and how through the love and encouragement of his parents and teachers he is able to overcome so many things and succeed at life. I was given this book when my FAS son was about 16 months old. It was my mantra as he entered school. He is succeeding.
I enjoyed reading Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope by Jenna Bush and Mia Baxter :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
ols[dot]moonmaiden[at]gmail[dot]com
I read "The Shining Light: Book I" by Ruth Glover. Loved it. Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Christopher Reeve's memoir, Still Me. I don't read celebrity memoirs, but I was stuck at my friend's beach house with nothing to read and I picked it up and couldn't put it down. I never realized what an incredible human being he was until then.
Mostly recently I read THREE CUPS OF TEA. Talk about overcoming adversity! Adversity, cultural differences, finances...just amazing!
Awww, Robin, I'm glad that we were able to encourage you and this book. I also got an ARC of your book and loved it! I'm glad we are able to get the word out about it. =)
(Obviously, this isn't an entry into the contest.)
I would have to say THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls. I imagine if you can overcome such upheavel in childhood you you are a special person which Jannette Walls in my eyes certaintly is.
Ooh, this sounds like a really good book. I can't believe I haven't heard of it already. Off to add it to my list. Thanks for the blog!
RebekahC
littleminx@cox.net
P.S. I was going to say The Glass Castle, but the person immediately above me said that one. So, I'm going to go with Dave Pelzer's books, starting with "A Child Called 'It'". This tale was so disheartening that you couldn't help but hurt on Dave's behalf. However, hearing, how despite everything, he was able to overcome his past and make a great future for himself was more than a little encouraging.
One that touched me was Still Me by Christopher Reeve. He was such a talented man and a wonderful person.
"Run" by Ann Patchett, is a great book and the characters have several adversities to overcome....there is much to learn from the pages of this book!
Darby
darbyscloset (at) yahoo (dot) com
I read it quite awhile ago but the book I am thinking of is " The Diary of Anne Frank". A classic overcoming adversity story.
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