Interview with Kelli Lawrence, author of Skating on Air

How did you get first get interested in skating? How about broadcasting?

I saw Dorothy Hamill skate on TV during the ’76 Olympics and BOOM, that was it! I started with lessons that fall and went on to compete locally (the Chicago area) for about three years.

Ironically, it was when I got more into broadcasting that I didn’t follow skating as closely! I majored in radio/television at Drake University in the mid-late ‘80s, and was interning at an NBC affiliate during the 1988 Winter Games. I remember working the night of The Battle of the Carmens, struggling to keep an eye on the TV monitors in the back of the newsroom and wanting to cry when Thomas underperformed...

I was still watching skating every chance I got, but in college, those chances dwindled—and I didn’t know much about what was going on other than (maybe) who’d won Nationals/Worlds. Paul Wylie changed all that for me when he won silver in ’92; I was beside myself with happiness for him and my deeper interest in the sport was rekindled. As for broadcasting, I worked at TV stations as a director/producer for the first part of my career before moving into corporate video for a small publisher. I moved into freelance writing/producing from there.

Why did you decide to write this book?

I was working with a sports publisher in central Illinois when Matt Savoie (also from central Illinois) qualified for the 2006 Olympics, and initially suggested a book and/or video deal between Savoie and this publisher. When that didn’t pan out, I ended up writing a number of published articles about Savoie and/or his lifelong coach Linda Branan. This led to working with the Branans and the Savoies on a different book idea about Matt. And when that didn’t pan out either, I looked back at the research I’d done and realized no one had ever done a book that studied the unique relationship TV and skating had cultivated through the years. (This was right around the time when ABC had aired its final Worlds in 2008, so the idea of “broadcast history” was in the forefront of my mind anyway.) As someone with an inside familiarity with both skating and TV, my determination to write the book grew from there.

What makes skating stand out as a sport?

At first glance, it’s easy to say “the costumes”! But I think it goes much deeper than that. There’s music involved with every program, there’s grace, there’s mind-blowing athleticism, there’s drama. A lot of the people I interviewed for the book alluded to getting “hooked” on figure skating by these all-encompassing factors, and who can blame them?

So many skaters, accomplished or otherwise, decided they wanted to skate after seeing it on TV (often the Olympics). TV promoted interest in skating; in turn, ratings grew for the sport with each Winter Olympics. Then the Harding/Kerrigan incident erupted in 1994 and turned the whole dynamic on its ear! What a fascinating narrative figure skating has told, and continues to tell.

What kind of research did you to write the book and can you share any fun anecdotes about the process of writing it?

I started by tracking down three key people: Doug Wilson (producer/director at ABC from the early 60s onward), Rick Gentile (Executive producer at CBS Sports during the ‘80s/90s, when CBS was behind 3 Winter Olympics in a row), and David Michaels (the director behind much of the skating we’ve seen on NBC). From there I gathered names and contact info for others involved with skating, both on- and (especially) off-camera. When all was said and done I had over 30 sources: commentators, producers, directors, executives, production coordinators, videographers... the goal was to tell skating’s story in a cohesive way from all these individual perspectives, and I think the book gets that accomplished.

As for anecdotes—wow, so many! Each of the men I referenced earlier (Wilson, Gentile, Michaels) brought skating to the TV masses for DECADES, so each of them have a mountain of tales to tell. Sifting through what made the most sense to share with readers was quite the process. Then there were those I wasn’t sure I’d get to talk to at all—huge names in the sport such as Janet Lynn, Scott Hamilton, Kurt Browning, people like that—where I had to keep my fangirling tendencies in check as I went about the business of interviewing them (Talking to Browning came with the additional challenge of trying to pin him down for more than a few minutes since his show Battle of the Blades was just launching at the time—we did most of his interview in fits and starts on email.) Terry Gannon and Susie Wynne are both as engaging as you might expect and shared great behind-the-scenes details from the ABC late-90s heyday. Meg Streeter got her start as a production associate for ABC in the early 80s and ultimately directed skating for several different networks, so her perspective was invaluable. Ken Woo and Rob Dustin were the videographer and producer, respectively, who got the first post-attack interview with Kerrigan for CBS—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg on their stories (no pun intended!). I was also blessed to have a several key production people, especially Kirk Hepburn, Dick Buffinton, and Jack Morris, that contributed photos to the book from their personal collections. Having received no advance from my publisher, I was working on the tightest of budgets... so their offerings meant the world to me!

Something that struck me as I talked to all these people were the common threads shared... not just an across-the-board appreciation for skating, but an uncanny sense of community. Spending days or weeks in a production truck, on headsets, with the same 10-12 people will do that to you. I’d mention talking to so-and-so while interviewing such-and-such, and such-and such would say “Oh! How’s so-and-so been? Can you give them my best if you talk to them again?” It happened over and over. Skating has mass appeal, but it’s still enough of a niche sport that it attracts a band of personnel that is relatively narrow compared to those of other sports.

Who is your all time favorite skater?

No way to pick just one! I’ve mentioned some of my favorites already—Hamill, Savoie, Wylie, Browning. Someone like Michelle Kwan is far too important to be left out of any discussion of favorites, of course. Others, like Lynn, Peggy Fleming, and Toller Cranston were ahead of my time but the magic that is YouTube helps me “get” them in a way I couldn’t when I was younger.

In terms of the current crop of elite skaters, I have many soft spots… Akiko Suzuki, Takahiko Kozuka, Javier Fernandez, Kiira Korpi… and among the U.S. skaters I’m especially fond of Ashley Wagner, Alissa Czisny, Samantha Cesario, Jeremy Abbott, and Adam Rippon.

I felt like you did an excellent job of explaining why coverage of figure skating has decreased but I can't help but wish it would grow in popularity again. Do you think there's any chance it might? What do you think it would take?

Thank you! One of the challenges of writing a book like this was finding (for lack of a better phrase) a bright side… not because it doesn’t exist, but because it’s often easier to locate problems rather than solutions. What hits us all particularly hard, I think, is how insanely popular the sport was in the mid-late 90s compared to the past 8-10 years. We got spoiled! Not many “niche” sports have attracted that kind of attention for that long… then came over-saturation, the judging scandal in Salt Lake City, the complete scoring overhaul, Kwan’s retirement, and all the other parts of “the problem” that I laid out in the book.

As for what a comeback in the U.S. would take… I steered clear of offering my own two cents in the book, as it didn’t seem relevant in the midst of so much expert opinion. But since you asked:

1) I think a U.S. champ with longevity and international success would be a BIG help—someone (or two) that people can really rally around. World and Olympic medalists like Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi and others are rock stars in Japan; skating’s popularity has never been higher over there (Same for South Korea, of course, thanks to Kim Yu-Na’s success.) Yes, the U.S. has Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and thank goodness for that! But historically speaking, this has been a nation of singles successes when it comes to skating. Hopefully Davis/White (and, before them, Olympic Silver Medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto) have planted the seeds for a more receptive/appreciative mainstream U.S. audience in the future.

2) I think the ISU (International Skating Union) needs to get its head out of the sand and realize the sports’ progress (for the skaters as well as the audience) is stagnating under current management. I’m not particularly optimistic about the odds on that, but I’d be remiss if I failed to mention the elephant in the room (or skating rink).

And 3) The folks at NBC had some sizable shoes to fill when they assumed the role that was held for decades by ABC (and then ABC/ESPN as ABC phased out its sports department). Talk about a brand! Talk about glory days! I honestly don’t think NBC—or any network—could pull it off. Especially when said network tends to give off the vibe that it is only covering skating in October and November because it hopes for a big Olympic ratings payoff, whereas ABC somehow seemed to genuinely care about the sport every time it took it to the airwaves. So… I think NBC needs to take a fresh approach, and try a little harder to meet fans where they are-- from commentator choices, to social media involvement and beyond. Don’t assume the viewers just aren’t there like they used to be… go find them. And cultivate some new fans of the sport while you’re at it.

One of the things I enjoyed reading about in your book was the history and evolution of the sport. I feel like one of the obstacles figure skating faces now is the IJS and how to communicate it to casual audiences. Do you think broadcasters could once again have an impact on the state of skating or is this something of the past?

I give them credit for continuing to try! NBC (and I think ESPN before it) has offered point “ranges” before events get underway as a means of explaining whether a program score is great, average, or abysmal. They’ve given little tutorials on the way elements are scored (typically led by Tracy Wilson, another great voice heard in the book). The commentators, especially newer ones who competed in IJS themselves, do their darndest to explain to viewers why a seemingly good jump is downgraded, or why this combination earned more points than that one. But explaining IJS kind of reminds me of the pieces ABC occasionally aired about compulsory figures: it can be fascinating for the hard-core fans, but can completely sail over the heads of the Olympic viewers. So they have to try and ride a very delicate balance between engaging new viewers, and driving them away in frustration.

Midway through the recent Grand Prix events, we started seeing a box in the upper left corner of the screen that totaled a skater’s technical score in real time (as they skated the program) while comparing it to the tech score of the current first-place competitor. I’ve no idea if they’re going to continue doing that, or what NBC has in store during February. But Scott Hamilton said something in the book about “dancing with the date you brought” with regards to dealing with IJS… and I respect any broadcast operation that continues to find new ways to “dance”, some ten years after the new system was launched.

I have always loved pairs and ice dance but these disciplines are the least popular in the United States--even with Davis and White being a dominant team for the past few years! I find this team incredibly appealing and likeable and I don't understand why their exposure has been so limited. Do you think NBC has made a mistake in not promoting their skates more during the Grand Prix season? If they manage to win gold in Sochi, as I am of course hoping they do, do you think ice dance could help revitalize skating's popularity? Why do you think ladies figure skating is the most popular?

This points a little to what I was saying about NBC needing a fresh approach. With Davis/White being pretty much the U.S.’s only hope for a figure skating gold medal this time around, yes, you’d think they’d get more buildup and more attention. But I think NBC’s decision is mired in history. The Winter Olympics have received regular U.S. TV coverage since 1960, and since then America has had more gold medals with the ladies than with any other discipline—6, compared to 4 for the men and none for pairs or ice dance. Ladies have traditionally been the centerpiece of the TV coverage… and despite the fact that the U.S. hasn’t seen a lady atop the Olympic podium since Sarah Hughes in 2002, NBC appears convinced that they are giving fans exactly what they want by keeping the centerpiece as-is.

And yes, I LOVE the thought of ice dancing taking off in the U.S. if they win gold.

Care to share any predictions for the Olympics?

Yikes! Well I’ve been talking a lot on my blog (State of the Skate) about the spoiler possibilities of Gumbyskaia—that is, Russian newcomer Julia Lipnitskaia (who recently won silver at the Grand Prix Final). Kim and Asada may want to pick up where they left off with their 2010 Olympic battle for gold, but I would not be shocked to see Lipnitskaia make the podium. Having said that, I really do think Wagner (2-time U.S. champion) has a legit shot at a medal as well. For the men, I’m okay with (heavy favorite) Patrick Chan of Canada winning the whole thing, so long as he is truly the best all-around athlete on the ice that night. As for the U.S. men, I’ve NO clue which two will even qualify, let alone how they’ll finish! Crazy amounts of up-and-down skating from them of late. Davis/White definitely have my prediction for ice dance, as we’ve talked about… for pairs, the Russian team of Volosohzar/Trankov are favorited, and rightly so. The German team of Savchenko/Szolkowy won bronze in 2010; they could upset, as they just did at the GP Final, but I’d predict silver for them. Caydee Denney and John McLaughlin will likely be our best finishers among U.S. teams, but I’d be surprised if they make it anywhere near the Top 5.

I should caution that I only had about a 60-70% accuracy rate with my Grand Prix predictions this year, so take my words with as much salt as you like :)

(note from Amy: aw I love Julia Lipnitskaia!)

Your book was published in 2011...has anything changed during the time of publication to now that you would like to comment on?

The good news is that things continue to evolve—maybe not always at the pace we’d like, but they do. I completed the text of Skating on Air just after the Vancouver Olympics ended in 2010, and as I awaited its publication I remember thinking “They better not award the 2014 Olympics to ESPN!” because there was talk of that at the time, and I’d have been mad for the book to have missed that.

So what has changed? Five things off the top of my head:
1) The ISU now has its own YouTube channel on which it keeps videos from all the Junior Grand Prix performances (the up-and-comers in the sport; JGP runs between August and October). This is significant because the ISU didn’t seem to know what to do with YouTube in the past, treating it almost as an enemy rather than a fantastic promotional tool.

2) Ashley Wagner has emerged as a leader among the U.S. ladies; in 2011 we didn’t really have one. (And Gracie Gold, current U.S. silver medalist who was an unknown in 2011, appears poised to do the same beyond Sochi.)
3) Twitter has become more relevant to the sport—not just for its “live Tweeting” capabilities during any international event, but because streaming links to said events can frequently be found there without difficulty. That used to be a much more covert operation!

4) Both the ISU and USFS (United States Figure Skating) have been slow to move with the times, as I mentioned... but just the other day, USFS set up for the first time a Google + “hangout” at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, following an hour-in-the-life of a few Olympic hopefuls as they went about their workouts. They streamed it live; they took questions from fans and had the skaters answer several of them. What a great use of technology, not to mention help fans get to know the skaters better! So I’m hopeful that experiments like that will continue.

5) This part’s a little tongue-in-cheek, but another change is the publication of two other books that cover figure skating from a broadcast perspective. One is by Doug Wilson, the veteran ABC producer/director I interviewed extensively for my book. The other is by Dick Button, arguably the sports greatest living legend on multiple levels. (Unfortunately, I couldn’t convince him to give me an interview... friends/insiders told me at the time it was because he was still saving his stories for his own book, so there you go.) I haven’t read either book yet, but I’ve heard (unsurprisingly) that both are stellar memoirs, rich in anecdotes, knowledge and personality. How does mine compare? It’s a comprehensive approach, with stories and perspectives not only from ABC folks but CBS, NBC, and beyond. It’s got the CBS perspective on three Olympic Games (’92, ’94 and ’98), during which figure skating found its biggest audience in the wake of the Harding/Kerrigan scandal. And it’s got a very detailed chapter on the day-by-day (or even hour-by-hour, in some cases) media coverage of that scandal. It has a wonderful foreword (as well as interviews) contributed by sports commentating legend Verne Lundquist, who is the quintessential example of someone who didn’t “get” figure skating until he was assigned to it, but quickly came to adore it!

But mostly, the difference in our books is in those words “comprehensive approach.” My book could never compete with the amazing, rich perspectives and experience of Mr. Button or Mr. Wilson, but Skating on Air tells an amazing story, woven together with threads from dozens of different storytellers... and I like to think it does it pretty well.

Interview with Jane Porter

I read and reviewed Jane Porter's book, The Good Woman, yesterday (and loved it) and now I'm pleased to share an interview with her.

How did the idea for the Brennan sisters trilogy come to you?

My little brother, Rob, lives in downtown San Francisco, and is married to a gorgeous girl whose father was a San Francisco firefighter. Andrea is a 5th generation San Franciscan, and because Rob and Andrea are raising their children in the city, their young children are now 6th generation San Franciscans and they love the city, and cherish their history and relationship with the city. Over the years I’ve gotten to know Andrea’s father and her father’s stories of being a firefighter in San Francisco stirred something in my imagination, and before I knew it, I had created my own Irish-American family called the Brennans, and yes, their father is also a firefighter, but I’ve added a lot of siblings and sisters to the mix, and its been wonderful writing about one of my favorite cities in the world.

You write in a variety of genres. Is there one you prefer?

Romances are love stories. Family relationship novels are love stories. Self-discovery novels are love stories. So I don’t think there is a genre I prefer, but a theme—love. Love ties us, binds us, hurts us, heals us. Love is complex and both steadfast and changing. It can dazzle us and mystify us. Comfort us and then break us. There are times we need it, crave it, and there are other times we push it away, and choose to go without. I don’t think I will ever get tired of writing about people and what we want and need, which is almost always acceptance, validation, hope, and love.

Flirting with Forty was made into a Lifetime movie. What was that experience like for you as a novelist? Did you enjoy the movie? Would you like to see more movies made out of your books?

I really enjoyed having a movie made from my book, and have come close two other times to it happening again, (Odd Mom Out and She’s Gone Country were both optioned and turned into screenplays and reached varying stages of development) but in the end, were never greenlighted. While I was intrigued by the process of Flirting with Forty being adapted, it was, at times, uncomfortable. I had to really step back and let go.

Gradually I came to understand that what makes a great novel isn’t necessarily what makes a great film, and vice versa. Now I’m more experienced (and tough!) and I appreciate the creativity, and work, that goes into both.

How do you feel about term women’s fiction?

I’m actually okay with it. I use it to describe my books, because honestly, I don’t expect men to line up to read my books and it’s a quick way of heading off the folks who don’t want to read stories about women. My books aren’t action drama adventure stories. They are domestic drama adventure stories, which are my favorite adventure stories because I’m fascinated by women, and I find our lives complex and compelling.

What has been your most rewarding experience as an author?

The most rewarding experience is probably hearing from a reader that I wrote a story that made her happy, or helped her feel valuable and important. I’m also thrilled when I hear that I have made someone fall in love with reading again. I know as a former English teacher, that reading isn’t easy or comfortable for everyone, so if I can make someone fall in love with reading, or have given them happiness, or hope, then I have done a very good thing!

Who are some of your favorite contemporary authors? What one book has influenced
you more than any other?

I read so widely that it would be hard to pin me down to a couple contemporary authors,and I’m a big genre nut—I love romances, historical fiction, literary fiction, young adult novels....but my all time favorite author has to be Georgette Heyer, and no, she’s not contemporary, she died in the ‘70’s but I have every book she’s written and she’s my ultimate comfort read.

Thanks Jane!

Class of 2k12 Intervew with Robin Bridges, Author of The Gathering Storm

Throughout the year I'll be bringing you some interviews with the authors over at the Class of 2K12! I hope you will enjoy getting to know these authors and thoughts on their books better. Today I'm bringing you an interview with Robin Bridges. Her book, The Gathering Storm, comes out today!

If you had to describe your book in one word what would it be?

Spooky.

How did you react when you saw the cover of your book?

I was ecstatic when my editor emailed me the cover art. I thought the design department had done an excellent job portraying my main character. But when she mailed an actual copy of the jacket with the shiny paper and the embossed title, I sorta got teary eyed! (And I put the jacket around one of the hardback books on my bookshelf to see what it looked like!)

What was your reading life like as a child?

My grandmother taught kindergarten, so I was surrounded by books when I was little. It was a treat for her to read “The Elephant’s Child”, or “The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat” out loud to us. And I practically lived at the library. Once I finished every Little House book and every Nancy Drew book in the children’s department, I discovered fantasy and science fiction. I loved Andre Norton and Madeline L’Engle.

What was your favorite book as a young person?

THE QUEEN OF SPELLS by Dahlov Ipcar

Would you rather deal with an alien invasion or a zombie apocalypse?

Zombies, definitely. I have an almost irrational fear of aliens! Close Encounters scared the pants off of me when I was little. And those were friendly aliens.

What are you working on next?

Revisions for the third Katerina book and a new YA fantasy for my agent.
Thanks Robin!
About The Gathering Storm: Saint Petersburg, Russia, 1888.

As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe’s royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina’s strength as a necromancer attracts unwanted attention . . . including from two young men.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?
Learn more about Robin at her website!

Class of 2K12 Interview with Caroline Starr Rose, Author of May B

Throughout the year I'll be bringing you some interviews with the authors over at the Class of 2K12! I hope you will enjoy getting to know these authors and thoughts on their books better. I'm so excited to kick off this series with Caroline Starr Rose who has been a long time commenter here.

How has your personal history influenced the writing of your book?

I grew up reading The Little House books and talked about Laura Ingalls like she was someone I knew personally. Her books were my first exposure to the American frontier, a time and place that has fascinated me ever since. I think part of the draw is the knowledge I would have made a wimpy pioneer woman. The courage, fortitude, and plain hard work these women needed just to live a regular life -- who’s built like this anymore? Before I started May B., all I knew was I wanted to write about a pioneer girl and trusted that as I researched a story would surface. It did.

My teaching background also played into the storyline. I’ve always wondered how children with learning disabilities would have coped in an era before their struggles were identified and understood. May’s dyslexic but at the same time loves to learn and wants desperately to be a teacher. In 1870s Kansas, Her disability marks her as flawed. Even her family finds her expendable, she feels, when she’s pulled from school and made to work for the Oblinger family. Writing her story, I couldn’t help but think of the students I’ve had over the years, especially the ones I might have done better by. It’s a tremendous responsibility, teaching a child, and I’m haunted by some whose needs I didn’t fully understand or meet. In a large part, this book is for those kids, for any kid who’s been marginalized or feels she doesn’t measure up.

If you had to describe your book in one word, what would it be?

Hopeful.

How did you react when you saw your cover?

You have to understand that I had another cover to begin with, one that was very Laura-like and that I loved. When Random House closed my first imprint, Tricycle Press, I lost my editor, my cover, and even for a time the certainty my book would be published. Thankfully another Random House imprint, Schwartz and Wade, swooped in and picked up May a month later.

My new editor had other ideas for my cover. She wanted something unique and eye catching, but something that also sent a message to teachers and librarians (because let’s be honest, they’re a huge part of my audience) about the type of book inside. This was hugely flattering because my art director chose to work with C. S. Neil, who created the covers for Laurie Halse Anderson’s Chains and Forge. I’m no Laurie, but to have my cover echo her historicals and even hint at some sort of similarity is both amazing and terrifying.

Why do you write for young people?

I love being able to validate children through story, their experiences, fears, and dreams. Books are a place we get to examine life intentionally, its big events and small. Writing for children allows me to share the profundity of the ordinary, small moments that make up our lives.

Middle grade books are really the first children explore on their own. As independent readers, kids start to develop their interests and preferences in literature while growing into their own personhood. I know Young Adult fiction is often described as the genre for firsts: first love, first big decisions, etc. But to me, mid-grade is the ultimate genre for the first experiences and emotions that are all a part of growing up.

What’s the last book you read?

I’m in the middle of two books right now, If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler and The Night Children. Before that it was The Dark and Hallow Places.

What was your biggest challenge in writing your book?

The fact that it ended up in verse. I’d only read two verse novels prior to writing May, and I wouldn’t let myself anywhere near one while working on the first draft (I figured what I’d created would fail so miserably in comparison, I’d get discouraged and never finish).

I initially tried a few scenes in prose, but everything felt too far away from the character and her circumstances. When I went back over the first-hand accounts of pioneer women, I was struck by the spare, matter of fact tone of their letters and journals. That’s when I turned to verse. I wasn’t really sure what I was doing, but I could tell what I was writing felt like the most honest way to write May’s story.

Thanks so much Caroline!

May B is available January 10th from Schwartz and Wade (Random House Children's Books).

About the book: Abandoned in a one-room soddy, May Betterly must withstand a blizzard and face her own shortcomings in a solitary struggle to survive.
I watch the wagon until I see nothing on the open plain. For the first time ever, I am alone.

May is helping out on a neighbor’s homestead—just until Christmas, her pa promises . But when a terrible turn of events leaves her all alone, she must try to find food and fuel—and courage—to make it through the approaching winter.

This gorgeous novel in verse by Caroline Starr Rose will transport you to the Kansas prairie—to the endless grassland, and to the suffocating closeness of the sod house where May is stranded.

May’s eloquent, straightforward voice, and her bravery, determination, and willingness to risk it all will capture your heart.

Learn more about Caroline by visiting her at her website!

Interview with Claudia Gray, Author of Fateful

What inspired this story?

The inspiration for FATEFUL came from attending an exhibition of artifacts brought up from the Titanic wreckage site, which was beautifully done. Although the recovered treasures were amazing -- jewelry, playing cards, people's letters, sets of china without a single cracked late -- what really got to me were the recreated rooms. The exhibit featured rooms the exact size as those on the Titanic, decorated in precisely the same style, so you could walk down a corridor, peer into a third-class cabin or a first-class deck. What else could make you imagine more vividly that you were really there? And, of course, me being me, I quickly began thinking of supernatural twists on the tale -- and there you go.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing Fateful?

In this case, the most difficult part was also the most fun: Staying true to the real physical layout of the ship and the real timeline. While the story of FATEFUL is supernatural, the setting is very real and I was determined to respect it. But jumping through those hoops was a delight, too, and gave me an excuse for tons of fun research.

What are some of your favorite books that mash-up the supernatural and historical fiction?

I know this isn't usually thought of as a book that features the supernatural, but the first one I thought of was CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR by Jean Auel. The psychic powers of the Neanderthals are very normal in their world -- but supernatural in ours, and doesn't every paranormal novel embrace its supernatural qualities as real? One I read recently and greatly enjoyed was THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE, which actually manages to tell a fresh story about the Salem Witch Trials, which I thought was impossible. And of course, Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles are forever going to be classics of historical paranormal fiction.

Why do you think The Titanic is such a great setting for romantic stories?

It's beautiful and it's doomed. I don't know what it says about people that those two elements together almost always feel romantic, but they do, don't they?

What's the best feedback you're gotten with regards to your books?

The best feedback is when someone says my stories inspired her to write her own. There's really no higher praise than that.

What are you working on now?

Right now I'm writing the first book of a YA trilogy, which is both paranormal (focusing on witchcraft) and thriller. The tentative title is SPELLCASTER: THE FIRE. It's a story that's very dear to me, and I can't wait to hibernate with it over the next month or so.

About Fateful:
In Fateful, eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, overbearing family she works for. Once the ship they’re sailing on reaches the United States, she’ll strike out on her own. Then she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets....

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves are real and they’re stalking him—and now Tess, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

Featuring the opulent backdrop of the Titanic, Fateful’s publication is poised to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the ship’s doomed maiden voyage. It is sure to be a hit among Titanic buffs and fans of paranormal romance alike

Q&A with Stephanie Cowell and Giveaway!

Stephanie Cowell is the author of Claude & Camille a book I read last year and really enjoyed. I got the chance to ask her a few questions to share with you now in celebration of the paperback release. Read my original review.

What drew you to writing this story?
I am fascinated by the early struggles of artists who to us seem as if they were born famous, which of course they weren’t. We know their futures but they had no idea. (Someone once said, “Shakespeare wrote without ever knowing he would be Shakespeare.”) We see these people in sound bytes really, knowing nothing deeply about their lives. I am terribly interested in how artists manage the demands of love and family together. Claude did not make a sufficient income for years and if he fed his family, he had no money to buy paint. So Camille whom he loved and who was used to an upper-class life had a lot to get used to. She pawned her clothes, she was thrown from her rooms. It is the conflict of the need to support a family and be an artist where you never know if you’ll make any money, no matter how brilliant you are. And Camille is herself a difficult young woman even if she is loyal. (And besides I was in the arts myself as classical singer, actress and now novelist and I also had children who needed clothes and etc.! So I know about this personally! But my sons grew up and now the younger one created my book trailer and the older has promised to build me a robot and I bet he will!)

I loved the feeling of artistic community in the book. Have you experienced a similar community in your writing?

Yes, I have experienced it absolutely and do now! In 1989 before I was published group of us formed a writing support group which grew out of a class with our mentor Madeleine L’Engle. We stayed together ten years; at first none of us were published and by the time we ended, we were almost all professionally published. We were the dearest friends, helping each other in every aspect of our lives. We still are the dearest friends, though the young women married and moved away. And now I have a wonderful online support community and a lot of us will be meeting at the Historical Novel Conference in San Diego this June.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Oh my goodness, this calls for a list! Claude Monet, of course, and Renoir’s tender people and Pissarro for his landscapes, and the back some centuries I love a lot of the Renaissance artists. I love the artists who were often anonymous and who painted the illustrations back when books were made by hand. I don’t like very much 20th century art. I like Picasso before he went into cubism and not after. I am missing many artists in this list.

What have been some of your greatest inspirations in writing?

Every time I read another marvelous novel I am inspired. I had an odd combination of inspiring writers as a child. I adored The Secret Garden and A Little Princess and of course the Bronte sisters. I remember finishing Wuthering Heights and immediately starting it again. I read it one summer while we stayed by the sea, and always associated it with the waves. I read all of Dickens but my greatest single inspiration remains Shakespeare. I have read him all my life I love E.M. Forster and when I was twenty I just swooned over Tolstoy’s War and Peace. I found a very old collection of Jane Austen in my school library when I was 17 and read them all. The edition was at least 100 years old and no one had yet cut the pages! I am amazed at the technique and heart in the books of my colleagues. I am just amazed.

What other great books have you read about artists?
I think my top favorites would be Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland (she wrote it when recovering from leukemia and not knowing for sure if she would live); the writing is so gorgeous. And her books about Artemisia and Renoir. And Tracy Chevalier’s Girl in a Pearl Earring, which I think was sent to her by an angel. I love Dunant’s The Birth of Venus. There is a new one coming out Leaving Van Gogh by Carole Wallace, very deep, very touching, very real. Oh and yes! There’s one other one about Monet which takes place on one single day when he is 60 and in Giverny and it’s called Light. It’s by Eva Figues. It’s very short and done from many points of view but the main character is the light over all of them. The writing is so gorgeous. Harriet Chessman’s book about Mary Cassatt’s sister (I think it’s Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper) is quiet and beautiful. There are so many I have forgotten a great deal. Bundrick’s Sunflowers is also quite beautifully done.

Are you working on anything now?

I am well into the second draft of new novel set in Victorian London about the love story of the poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. She was an invalid of 40 and still very beautiful when he found her in her father’s house and snatched her away from her family to live in Florence with him. I am also working on a 16th century novel set in an English abbey, about the goddaughter of the abbot who grows up in the monastery working in the library with her father and falls in love in a dangerous way. And the terrible truth is I was forever getting rather far into novels and then leaving them for other novels. I hope to live to be very old to finish them all!

I think I just added a ton of books to my TBR list! Thanks Stephanie!

Thanks to Crown Publishing I have 5 paperback copies of Claude & Camille to give away! To enter just fill out the form below. You must have a United States mailing address. I will notify the winner by email. Giveaway closes April 15th at 11:59 PM EST.

Interview with Author Kat Martin

RT's Booklovers Convention is coming to Los Angeles next week! For the next few days, I'll be spotlighting a few authors who will be there. To find out more about what authors will be there please visit the RT website.


Can you tell us a little bit about the books you write?

I've been writing for 25 years, in the early days, mostly historical fiction, but in the past few years I've moved into Contemporary Romantic Suspense. I’m proud to say my latest series, the Raines Brothers Trilogy, AGAINST THE WIND, AGAINST THE FIRE, AGAINST THE LAW, spent a number of weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list.

You write many different genres. Do you have a favorite?

I love what I am writing now, which is Romantic Suspense. There is a great deal more flexibility in writing in a modern day setting, more freedom of the use of language, etc. And a greater range of what modern heroines can do as opposed to those in the past.

What has been one of the most rewarding experiences you've had as a writer?

I think one of the best things about being a writer is meeting great people. Other writers, editors and agents, the wonderful readers you meet at conferences. And my husband and I enjoy the travel for research, going to the places where my books are set. I especially love going to Europe.

What are some of things that have happened over the years that have surprised you?

A big surprise was how difficult the publishing business actually is. I have a great number of friends who wrote several book and then quit because of the stress. A number of friends wrote for years and yet are no longer being published. I feel fortunate to be able to continue doing the work I love.

What are your favorite books? Can you recommend a new and upcoming author to us?

I made a list the other day of some of my older favorite books. Winds of War, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Thornbirds, Forever Amber, The Eagle in the Sky--just to name a few. I love Kathleen Woodiwiss’s books: Flame and the Flower, Wolf and the Dove. I’d recommend Joanna Bourne, a marvelous new historical author.

What's your favorite comfort food?
Chicken Noodle Soup and chocolate milkshakes.

Learn more about Kat at her website.

Interview with Author Margaret Brownley

RT's Booklovers Convention is coming to Los Angeles next week! For the next few days, I'll be spotlighting a few authors who will be there. To find out more about what authors will be there please visit the RT website.

More Love and Laughter in the Old West
From Margaret Brownley

Some Timely Advice for Photographers from Margaret’s June 2011 Release:

A Vision of Lucy

A Rocky Creek Romance

• Doctors, do not look at the camera like it’s a patient needing help through death’s door. Such a pose will speak ill of you, and it won’t do much for your practice, either.
• When photographing stampeding cattle, charging bulls or blazing shoot-outs, use a fast shutter speed
• A man imagines himself more handsome than his photograph; a woman believes herself more homely
• To photograph well, women should dress in sedate colors and unobtrusive patterns. Even the most morally challenged woman can be made to look chaste given suitable attire and lighting
• While posing for a photograph spinsters should avoid looking desperate or deprived. A serene smile will show that your circumstances are by choice and not for lack of beauty or character.
• The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. For this reason a woman wishing to look appropriately domesticated for her Mail-Order Bride photograph should wear an apron and wield a kitchen utensil (preferably not a rolling pin).

About Margaret:
Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: I penned it all. Nothing wrong with that—except I happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, my former pastor took me aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction."

So that’s what I did. I now have more nearly 25 novels to my credit, including bestselling and RITA finalist A Lady Like Sarah—not bad for someone who flunked 8th grade English. Just don’t ask me to diagram a sentence.




Can you tell us a little bit about the books you write?

First of all, I want to thank you for inviting me here today.

Currently I’m writing inspirational historicals for Thomas Nelson. My Rocky Creek series takes place in Texas in 1880s. A Lady Like Sarah was about a preacher and a lady outlaw. A Suitor for Jenny is about a woman who tries to find husbands for her two sisters and goes about it in a most unusual way. A Vision of Lucy (which is available for preorder) is about a lady photographer who finds nothing but trouble as she tries to uncover the secrets of the past. I write serious themes with a touch of humor and, of course, all my books have happy endings.


Out of the books you have written, do you have a favorite?

My favorite is always the one I’m working on. Once the book is written I generally tend to forget it. The one character I couldn’t forget is Sarah in A Lady Like Sarah. She has a distinctive voice that kept waking me up in the middle of the night.

I didn’t always write inspirational novels but I love what I’m doing now. Everything that happens to us changes our faith in some ways, sometimes for the better, but not always. The same is true of our characters. I love writing about characters struggling with faith because I think that speaks to our own private struggles. None of us have all the answers, and neither do the characters I write about.


What makes a love story interesting to you?

Chemistry. There has to be that special spark between a couple—that indefinable something that rises from the printed page and draws me into the story. I love reading (and writing) about how two people are able to overcome impossible odds to be together.

The thing I love most about writing romance novels is that every theme and human emotion can be written through the eyes of two people falling in love. You don’t need casts of thousands.


What has been one of the most rewarding experiences you've had as a writer?

After writing a story about a hearing impaired woman I worried that I got it right. I did my research, of course, but there’s always the possibility of striking a wrong note when you’re writing about a subject that affects so many lives. During a book signing a hearing impaired reader slipped me a note that said, “You nailed it.” I’ll never forget that

Another time I was asked to sign a book for the Make a Wish Foundation. A teen asked for an autographed copy of my book. I couldn’t believe it. All the things she could have wished for…That made me cry.

What are some of things that have happened over the years that have surprised you?

The fact that I’m a writer with 25 published books surprises me (but probably not as much as it surprised the 8th grade English teacher who flunked me). I’m surprised that my life has been so very blessed and that my dear husband still puts up with me after all these years.

What are your favorite books? Can you recommend a new and upcoming author to us?
I’m about to meet my author friends at the RT Booklovers Convention in Los Angeles so stating favorites could get me in trouble. I will say this, the writers that most inspired and influenced me when I first started to write were Maggie Osborne and Lyverle Spencer. It was a sad day when those two ladies retired. Today my writer role model is Debbie Macomber, whose faith shines through everything she does. She’s also one of the nicest people I know.

What's your favorite comfort food?

Give me chocolate, raspberries and nuts and I can handle any crisis.

Thank you!

Visit me at:
www.margaretbrownley.com
I’m also on Facebook and Twitter

Also, I’ll be at the RT Booklover’s Convention in Los Angeles April 6-10, signing books and giving away lots of goodies. I’m also hosting the RT Blood drive during the Convention on Friday.

I don’t know if you can you use this but here is a short blurb for A Vision of Lucy:


Trouble may follow Lucy wherever she goes, but with the help of God and the rugged, reclusive David Wolf, she’ll never face adversity alone.

Lucy Fairbanks dreams of working as a photographer at the Rocky Creek newspaper. If she can earn money making photographs, then maybe her father will see that what she does is worthy, more than just a distraction. And her deepest hope is that he’ll see her as an artist, the way he thought of her deceased mother, whose paintings still hung on their walls.

But trouble follows Lucy on every photo shoot: a mess of petticoats and ribbons, an accidental shooting, even a fire.

When Lucy meets David Wolf—a quiet, rustic man who lives on the outskirts of town—she thinks she can catch the attention of the town with his photograph. She doesn’t count on her feelings stirring whenever she’s near him.

Two things happen next that forever change the course of Lucy’s life: David says the words Lucy has longed to hear since her mother died: that she is a compassionate, creative young woman that God made in His image. And in return Lucy helps David change his perspective on an event that wounded him long ago.

God’s arms are around this unlikely couple as they leave behind long-held assumptions and discover the true freedom of forgiveness.

Interview with Andrew Himes, author of The Sword of the Lord: The Roots of Fundamentalism In An American Family

Celebrating the release of The Sword of the Lord

I'm really excited to share this interview with Andrew Himes, author of The Sword of the Lord: The Roots of Fundamentalism in an American Family with you. I loved The Sword of the Lord and if you're a blogger who is interested in reading it, be sure to check out the last question!


Let's start out with the obvious question…what brought you to the decision to write The Sword of the Lord?

Andrew Himes: I felt compelled to understand my own life and my family’s history, which has been so bound up with the history of fundamentalism for many generations. I had a pretty tough time growing up in my family, which boasted many Baptist preachers, while I was a black sheep, unreconstructed rebel, and general trouble-maker. I was a special problem for myself and everybody else too, because my granddad, John R. Rice, was perhaps the most influential fundamentalist in the US for decades in the mid-20th century. By the time I was in my 30s, I was powerfully motivated to explore and write about our common history. After Granddad’s death in 1980, it’s taken me three decades to develop enough humility, wisdom, and capacity for love to be able to write this book.

The book is heavily dependent on research. What are some of the challenges you faced while researching the book?

Andrew Himes: First, my own massive ignorance. It turns out that I knew little about religious history or aspects of US history that were informed by evangelical Christianity. I had to read and reference over 200 books in order to write my one book. Every time I thought I had written a complete story, I read yet another author and discovered another gap in my knowledge and understanding. Another challenge was that I wasn’t trained as a professional historian, yet I wanted to write a compelling story that was also accurate, truthful, balanced, analytical, and fully referenced. So I had a lot of learning to do!

The book is obviously deeply personal as it's all about your family. Did you face any resistance in writing about your family's history?

Andrew Himes: No resistance from my family, in the end. During the early part of the writing process, some of my relatives might have been concerned that I would unearth and then write about things that could embarrass the family. But when I began to share drafts of the manuscript and ask for critical feedback, we had some wonderful conversations about the importance of understanding and acknowledging our history, even when it might be painful. For example, we are not proud that an earlier generation of our family owned slaves and participated in that terrible crime against other human beings. But when we acknowledge that past, we are enabled to work for racial reconciliation and healing.

Who do you think will be most interested in reading The Sword of the Lord?

Andrew Himes: I think its most passionate audience will be conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists, because it’s a valuable history of the times and people who framed that religious tradition and community, and largely unknown, especially to younger evangelicals. It will also be fascinating for Christians from mainline Protestant, Catholic, and emergent communities, because it will help them understand the evangelical world in a new and more compassionate way. And it will be interesting to a general secular audience because it reveals core threads of American political and religious history that have been little understood--including both the rise of the Religious Right and the role that evangelicals have played in struggles for separation between church and state, to end slavery, create equality for women, and work for social justice.

Was there anything that surprised you in the research and writing of the book? Did you make any discoveries that changed your perspective?

Andrew Himes: Absolutely yes. I came to a much deeper appreciation of my granddad and grandmother and the rest of my large and wonderful family. I summed up how valuable my upbringing was and how much I am shaped by my family and our heritage. So now I can go on to consciously live up to that heritage. As I came to understand how the trauma of war, violent conflict, and economic insecurity affected the lives of my ancestors, I developed much more compassion for them. From my modern context and point of view, I might judge my ancestors of 150 years ago as doing indefensible, incomprehensible, and evil things. But when I see them in the context of their own place and time, I have to grant that they were doing the best they knew to do, and from motives that they believed were pure. I think we are talking about generations of people suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). And we need to work consciously at our own healing. So I think I’ve become a better listener and more compassionate person as a result of writing the book. Surprisingly, I’ve developed more compassion for myself as well, and the crazy, angry, screwed-up kid I was when I was growing up in my fundamentalist family.

What is some of the initial feedback you've received about the book?

Andrew Himes: So far all the feedback has been unanimous and very positive. Readers say that they have learned something important about themselves when they finish. My objective was to write a truthful and accurate account of a complex and painful history, and to do so with a deep sense of love and fairness for the people I wrote about. I think people are really getting that.

What's next for you and the book? What is the best way for readers to stay updated with you?

Andrew Himes: May 15th is the date for the final release of the book. The final edition will have a new foreword by Parker Palmer, plus illustrations, a timeline, and a study guide. We hope to have 100 blog reviews posted by that date, and are recruiting 1000 people to buy the book on Amazon on May 15th, which will catapult it into the Top Ten bestsellers on Amazon that day. To join the Amazon campaign or to apply for a free review copy if you are a blogger, come to www.swordofthelordbook.com. Click on the Subscribe button to keep up to date with my newsletter.

You can also find Andrew on Facebook and Twitter.

Interview with M.J. Putney and Giveaway

M.J. Putney is the author of Dark Mirror Look for my review later today! Here's the synopsis:

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted . . . by magic.

When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.

But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.


What was the appeal of writing about a priviledged girl with magical powers? Why do you enjoy writing in a historical time period?


MJP: History allows more room for fantasy and over the plot stories and characters, and I like over the top. An author can pick a time period that enhances her story. As for having a privileged heroine--it makes her fall and attempt to rebuild her life more dramatic. And it's also more fun to identify ;with a historical character who is a lady rather than a scullery maid!

What are some of biggest challenges you faced while writing this story?

MJP: DARK MIRROR was very research intensive. The WWII part is within living memory, and I feel a particular obligation to do my best by the characters of that time, who faced so many challenges with such courage and tenacity. Plus, whenever entering a new genre, a new voice and sensibility have to be developed. At the heart it's still my voice, of course, but tuned in a way that I hope will best suit YA readers.

Is this your first young adult novel? What is different about writing for this age group?

MJP: Yes, this is my first YA. The most obvious difference is having younger protagonists, of course. Plus, the books are a little shorter than my adult books, and for that reason the structure is a little simpler. But the characters face the same kinds of problems and challenges as my adult characters. And a good story is still a good story!

What are some books you've recently enjoyed reading?

MJP: For YA, I really enjoyed the most recent Rick Riordan novel, THE LAST OLYMPIAN. He's a crackerjack storyteller, and I think he did a brilliant job of rebooting his demi-god series in a way that's allows room for a new set of exciting stories. I really enjoyed Sarah Dessen's LOCK AND KEY, too. For adult books, there's Patricia Briggs' latest Mercy Thompson book, RIVER MARKED, and Sharon Shinn's TROUBLED WATERS. I'm just finishing the latest (and last) Dick Francis mystery, CROSS-FIRE. He will be missed.

What's your favorite comfort food?

MJP: A really good warm raspberry pie with ice cream is hard to beat for the sweets. For savories--loaded potato skins with sour cream, yum! I can just feel my arteries solidifying!

GIVEAWAY

The publisher has generously offered five copies of DARK MIRROR to readers of My Friend Amy! Open to residents of the United States and Canada. Entries will be accepted until March 17th at midnight PST. Winners will be notified by email.

Interview with Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson is a multi-award winning author of such prestigious awards as the Coretta Scott King Award, the Newbery, the Caldecott, and a finalist for the National Book Award among others. While these awards can communicate to you that her writing is well respected, what I can tell you is that she's a master of words, and a creator of stories that burrow into your heart and live there. She captures the human experience with heartrending precision, and depth of compassion.

I am beyond honored to share this interview with you, in hopes that if you haven't already, you'll soon discover her writing for yourself.

Amy: You've written books for many different ages, picture books, middle grade, and young adult. Do you a favorite age group to write for? Have you ever considered writing an adult novel?

Jacqueline Woodson: In the 90s I wrote an adult novel, Autobiography of A Family Photo. It was VERY different from my other works but often got confused as a young people’s novel because there was a young girl on the cover. Eeeep!! I’ve written many adult short stories and another novel – that I am finally finishing. I think my heart is in young people’s fiction which makes me a much slower writer of adult fiction. But I do it all.

Amy: I must now read that! Many of your books deal with very serious themes and topics. What draws you to tell these kinds of stories?

Jacqueline Woodson: I write about what’s important to me. I can’t imagine writing about anything else.

Amy: Is there anything about the writing life that you think is misunderstood by the public?

Jacqueline Woodson: I don’t know what the public knows about me…? Can you give me a clue… Should I be nervous?

Amy: If someone was brand new to your work, what would be a good book for them to start with?

Jacqueline Woodson: Hush or If You Come Softly, I think. I’d have to know what the last book they read was.

Amy: If You Come Softly was the first book I read by you! Do you enjoy reading? If so, who are some of your favorite authors or what recent books have impacted you?

Jacqueline Woodson: I love reading and I’m a slow reader. The last book that blew me away was Brother, I’m Dying by Edwidge Danticat. Couldn’t read anything for weeks after that book.

Amy: You have had the opportunity to travel a lot and meet with different readers. Do any particular experiences stick out as special to you?

Jacqueline Woodson: I think I get something out of each place I visit – Not always good but always a learning experience. The kids are always amazing and so alive and thoughtful, the teachers are often passionate… I love that part of writing – getting to meet people who I touched through my writing and then who touch me through their passions. I can go back over the years and get teary over some of the interactions I’ve had. I sometimes have to pinch myself with this gift I’ve been given – to be able to do the work I love and be loved for it!

Amy: What do you think are some of the challenges facing young people today? How can fiction help them deal with them?

Jacqueline Woodson: I don’t know – I’m no longer a young person. I think fiction help us all in its ability to allow to look outside our own worlds into the worlds of people we might not otherwise meet.

Amy: Crossing my fingers...what are you working on now? Will we see anything new from you?

Jacqueline Woodson: You’ll see a few new books soon – In the YA realm, my latest is Beneath A Meth Moon which is still in the making and the story of a young girl struggling with Meth addiction. I feel like I learn something from every book I write and from this, I’ve definitely learned that I’ll never ever do Meth. I mean, not like I was thinking of doing it but talk about a sucky drug!! Wow. I’m so glad to be able to not have to be in the world of Meth everyday. Each Kindness is my newest picture book --- It’ll follow BAMM. Then another YA….

Amy: Many many thanks for taking the time to answer the questions!

Jacqueline Woodson: Great questions. Thanks!

Courtesy of Penguin, I have two copies of the bind-up of If You Come Softly and it's sequel Behind You to give away to residents of the United States. To enter, just fill out this form. But don't forget to leave a comment as well! :) I will leave this open until February 23rd at 11:59 PM PST. I will notify the winners by email.