Thursday, December 31, 2015

Q & A with Susan Meissner, Author of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard + Giveaway!!


 I am beyond thrilled to have Susan Meissner, author of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard (check out my review HERE) on the blog today with a lovely Q & A. I really hope you enjoy it! Continue after for more information about the book and Susan, and leave a comment on this post with a question or comment for Susan relating to her Q & A for your chance to win a SIGNED copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard (please leave a relevant comment to be entered. This is open to US/CAN). Enjoy!


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Hi Susan and thank you so much for taking the time to stop by A Literary Vacation! To start off, can you tell us where you got the idea for Stars Over Sunset Boulevard? I was so happy when I discovered it had a connection to the Gone with the Wind movie...it's my favorite movie of all time!


I’ve only read Gone with the Wind once, but I’ve probably seen the movie a dozen times. There’s something about those characters, the cinematography, the costumes and that sound track that have always wooed me. I’ve wanted to set a story on the 1939 movie set of this film for a long time; I knew it would provide a detail-rich environment. Gone with the Wind is not very often described as being a story about friendship, but the more I’ve watched the film version, the more I’ve seen how complex Scarlett O’Hara and Melanie Hamilton’s relationship was. I long wanted to explore how these two characters at first glance seem to be polar opposites but are actually both fiercely loyal and aren’t afraid of making hard choices to protect what they love. I knew I could use Scarlett and Melanie’s fictional friendship as a template for telling a story about two studio secretaries who, like Scarlett and Melanie, are not as different from each other as we might first think.



So the story has a strong theme of friendship running through it?


Most definitely. I think friendship is the most remarkable of human relationships because it is completely voluntary. We choose our friends. There is no civil or legal code that demands we stay friends; no vows are spoken and no contracts are signed to be or remain in relationships with each other. And yet most of us have friends whom we love as deeply as those people we are legally and morally bound to. I know I have friends like that.  C.S. Lewis aptly describes friendship this way: “I have no duty to be anyone’s Friend and no man in the world has a duty to be mine. No claims, no shadow of necessity. Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”  I love writing novels about relationships, and friendship is a relationship unlike any other.


I've heard from other authors that they find quite a few surprises pop up during the research process. Where there any surprises you came across while writing Stars Over Sunset Boulevard?


Hollywood was like a dream factory in the 1930s and ‘40s. It was a place that produced in fantasy what people imagined life could be like after the horrors of the First World War and the demoralizing years of the Depression. The Golden Age of Hollywood was a chance to indulge again in beauty and wonderment. This era also interests me because Hollywood’s Golden Years ended so suddenly and without any warning. After World War II, most in Hollywood thought they could just pick up where they left off before the war started. But the arrival of television just a few years later changed everything. The beginning of WWII was actually the beginning of the end of Hollywood’s Golden Age and no one really saw it coming. I also didn’t fully appreciate how much easier it is to write a book in which the setting is hostile! I wrote SECRETS OF A CHARMED LIFE against the backdrop of World War II and A FALL OF MARIGOLDS employed the historical Triangle Shirtwaist Fire as well as 9/11 as settings. Hollywood in its heyday was a glamorous and benevolent location, so all of my tension had to come from within the characters. Yikes! I had forgotten how helpful it is to have a setting provide some of the angst!



 Is there anything in particular, other than the importance of friendship, that you hope readers will take away from their reading of the story?



I hope the theme that will resonate most is that love and fear can sometimes feel the same, though they influence our choices differently. When I have a decision to make that involves another person, fear often motivates me to choose what’s best for me. But love motivates me to choose what is best for the other person. Fear urges me to hang on to what is mine, while love can actually lead me to let go. My hoped-for takeaway from the novel is the idea that when you hold something you love tightly to your chest for fear of losing it, you actually risk crushing it against you.


Finally, because you know I'm already waiting excitedly, what are you working on now? 


I am two-thirds through the book I am writing next, which is tentatively titled A BRIDGE ACROSS THE OCEAN. One of its key settings is the HMS Queen Mary during one of its many GI war brides crossings. The Queen is such a perfect place to set a story, because she has such a marvelous past. She started out as a luxury liner, was remade into a troop carrier during the war, and has been a floating hotel here in California since 1967. She is also fabled to be haunted by numerous ghosts, a detail I simply cannot ignore. So there will be a ghost or two in this next book! This story thematically, though, is about three female characters, two of whom are war brides who meet on the Queen Mary in 1946. The current-day character, Brette, has the family gift of being able to see ghosts though she very much wishes she couldn’t. She also doesn’t want to pass along that hereditary gift to a child but her husband is anxious to start their family. All three characters will face a bridge they need to cross where the other side is hidden from their view. The concept of a bridge across the ocean – which seems impossible -- speaks to how difficult it is to go from one place to another when you can’t see what awaits you. This book will release in 2017.



War brides, the HMS Queen Mary, ghosts....oh my gosh, you have no idea how excited I am now! I'll be over here waiting as patiently as possible for this next adventure :). Thank you again Susan for stopping by and providing my readers with such in depth and intriguing information. Your books are always fascinating and immersive experiences and I cannot thank you enough for the hours of delight they've provided  me.



Readers, if you would like to enter my giveaway for a signed copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard  (open to US/CAN) please leave a question or a comment below for Susan regarding her post. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner from the relevant comments on January 7th, 2016.


Good Luck!!


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Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: January 5th, 2016
Pages: 400


In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship.



Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind  ends up in Christine McAllister’s vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie… 


Los Angeles, 1938.  Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her  dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires collide.  What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future. 


Praise for Stars Over Sunset Boulevard



“Susan Meissner tackles Old Hollywood with her trademark heart, depth, and lyrical style. A touching portrait of two memorable women who will remind readers of the friendships that shape us.” —Michelle Gable, International Bestselling Author



“Susan Meissner deftly casts a fascinating friendship between two complex women against a glittering 1930s Hollywood backdrop. You will love this book for its very human characters and for its inside look at one of the greatest movies ever made.”— Marisa de los Santos, New York Times Bestselling Author


“Beautifully simple yet impactful" Romantic Times, 4 stars


"A lovely, well-crafted story that peeks at a fascinating moment in cinematic history and examines the power and vulnerability of sincere friendship." - Kirkus Reviews

 

 

Buy the Book





About the Author



Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a backgroundA Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten Women’s Fiction titles for 2014, and The Shape of Mercy, named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Novels of 2008. A California native, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University. Susan is a pastor’s wife and a mother of four young adults. When she’s not working on a novel, Susan writes small group curriculum for her San Diego church.
in community journalism. Her novels include
For more information on Susan and her books visit her website, and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.



Tuesday, December 29, 2015

My Best Books of the Year List


Ah, the ubiquitous "Top Ten" list of the year. It might seem silly, but being my first year of blogging I can't tell you how excited I've been anticipating what my list will be. And, of course, I couldn't keep within the ten allotted, so I'm giving you my "Top Eleven" instead! Click on the title of each book to read my review, and let me know if you've read any of these and if you enjoyed them as much as I did, or if you have other books within your top ten. I'd love to add some more books to my wish list for 2016!



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Secrets of a Charmed Life
Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: February 3rd, 2015
Pages: 416


She stood at a crossroads, half-aware that her choice would send her down a path from which there could be no turning back. But instead of two choices, she saw only one—because it was all she really wanted to see… 

Current day, Oxford, England. Young American scholar Kendra Van Zant, eager to pursue her vision of a perfect life, interviews Isabel McFarland just when the elderly woman is ready to give up secrets about the war that she has kept for decades...beginning with who she really is. What Kendra receives from Isabel is both a gift and a burden--one that will test her convictions and her heart.

1940s, England. As Hitler wages an unprecedented war against London’s civilian population, one million children are evacuated to foster homes in the rural countryside. But even as fifteen-year-old Emmy Downtree and her much younger sister Julia find refuge in a charming Cotswold cottage, Emmy’s burning ambition to return to the city and apprentice with a fashion designer pits her against Julia’s profound need for her sister’s presence. Acting at cross purposes just as the Luftwaffe rains down its terrible destruction, the sisters are cruelly separated, and their lives are transformed…





Rodin's Lover
Publisher: Plume
Publication Date: January 27th, 2015
Pages: 320


A mesmerizing tale of art and passion in Belle Époque France.

As a woman, aspiring sculptor Camille Claudel has plenty of critics, especially her ultra-traditional mother. But when Auguste Rodin makes Camille his apprentice—and his muse—their passion inspires groundbreaking works. Yet, Camille’s success is overshadowed by her lover’s rising star, and her obsessions cross the line into madness.

Rodin’s Lover brings to life the volatile love affair between one of the era’s greatest artists and a woman entwined in a tragic dilemma she cannot escape.






The Magician's Lie
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: January 13th, 2015
Pages: 320


Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus in The Magician's Lie, a debut novel in which the country's most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husband's murder - and she has only one night to convince a small-town policeman of her innocence.

The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. One night in Waterloo, Iowa, with young policeman Virgil Holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an all-too-real murder? When Arden's husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later that night, the answer seems clear.

But when Virgil happens upon the fleeing magician and takes her into custody, she has a very different story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless-and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding. Over the course of one eerie night, Virgil must decide whether to turn Arden in or set her free... and it will take all he has to see through the smoke and mirrors.




Sisters of Shiloh

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: March 3rd, 2015
Pages: 256


 
A best-selling novelist enlists her own sister to bring us the story of two Southern sisters, disguised as men, who join the Confederate Army—one seeking vengeance on the battlefield, the other finding love.

In a war that pitted brother against brother, two sisters choose their own battle. Joseph and Thomas are fresh recruits for the Confederate Army, daring to join the wild fray that has become the seemingly endless Civil War, sharing everything with their fellow soldiers—except the secret that would mean their undoing: they are sisters.

Before the war, Joseph and Thomas were Josephine and Libby. But that bloodiest battle, Antietam, leaves Libby to find her husband, Arden, dead. She vows vengeance, dons Arden’s clothes, and sneaks off to enlist with the Stonewall Brigade, swearing to kill one Yankee for every year of his too-short life. Desperate to protect her grief-crazed sister, Josephine insists on joining her. Surrounded by flying bullets, deprivation, and illness, the sisters are found by other dangers: Libby is hurtling toward madness, haunted and urged on by her husband’s ghost; Josephine is falling in love with a fellow soldier. She lives in fear both of revealing their disguise and of losing her first love before she can make her heart known to him.





The Seven Sisters
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: May 5th, 2015
Pages: 480


Internationally bestselling author Lucinda Riley returns with THE SEVEN SISTERS, the first novel in a spellbinding new series (seven books in all) inspired by the ancient myth of the Seven Sisters of Pleiades. THE SEVEN SISTERS takes readers from the shores of Lake Geneva to modern day Rio de Janeiro to bohemian Paris of the 1920s in a sweeping saga of passion, sacrifice, and the enduring power of art.

Upon the death of their wealthy, enigmatic father, Maia D’Apliese and her sisters convene at their family home, a secluded estate on the shores of Lake Geneva. Each of the sisters had been adopted at birth from a different part of the globe. Maia, the eldest, is the first to learn of their adoptive father’s death. Confusion is added to her grief when the sisters — Maia, the beauty; Ally, the leader; Star, the peacemaker; CeCe, the pragmatist; Tiggy, the nurturer; and Electra, the fireball – gather to hear the reading of the will. Their father has left each of his daughters a simple clue about her birthplace.

Until now, Maia has constructed her life so that she does not have to leave the safety of the family nest. But spurred by her father’s final bequest, Maia embarks on a journey to Rio de Janeiro to discover the truth of her origins. In Rio, Maia is accompanied by Floriano Quintelas, a novelist and amateur historian, who is intrigued to discover that Maia is apparently descended from the Aires Cabrals, an aristocratic Portuguese family who have been prominent in the country for the past two centuries. Together, they delve into her complex family history, a quest that is helped by their discovery of the crumbling mansion where an elderly woman – Maia’s biological grandmother — is on the verge of death. When the old woman’s caretaker secretly slips Maia a stack of old letters, an astonishing family history unfolds.




The House We Grew Up In
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: August 12th, 2014 (reprint)
Pages: 416/13 hours, 25 minutes



Meet the Bird family. They live in a honey-colored house in a picture-perfect Cotswolds village, with rambling, unkempt gardens stretching beyond. Pragmatic Meg, dreamy Beth, and tow-headed twins Rory and Rhys all attend the village school and eat home-cooked meals together every night. Their father is a sweet gangly man named Colin, who still looks like a teenager with floppy hair and owlish, round-framed glasses. Their mother is a beautiful hippy named Lorelei, who exists entirely in the moment. And she makes every moment sparkle in her children's lives.

Then one Easter weekend, tragedy comes to call. The event is so devastating that, almost imperceptibly, it begins to tear the family apart. Years pass as the children become adults, find new relationships, and develop their own separate lives. Soon it seems as though they've never been a family at all. But then something happens that calls them back to the house they grew up in -- and to what really happened that Easter weekend so many years ago.

Told in gorgeous, insightful prose that delves deeply into the hearts and minds of its characters, The House We Grew Up In is the captivating story of one family's desire to restore long-forgotten peace and to unearth the many secrets hidden within the nooks and crannies of home.




Maybe In Another Life
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Publication Date: July 7th, 2015
Pages: 352


From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.




Come Away With Me
Publisher: Mira
Publication Date: August 25th, 2015
Pages: 368


A heartbreaking and emotional story of love and loss, COME AWAY WITH ME is one woman’s discovery that life is still worth living, even if it’s not the life you planned.

One minute, Tegan Lawson has everything she could hope for: an adoring husband, Gabe, and a baby on the way. The next, a patch of black ice causes a devastating accident that will change her life in ways she never could have imagined.

Tegan is consumed by grief—not to mention anger toward Gabe, who was driving on the night of the crash. But just when she thinks she’s hit rock bottom, Gabe reminds her of their Jar of Spontaneity, a collection of their dream destinations and experiences, and so begins an adventure of a lifetime.

From the bustling markets of Thailand to the flavors of Italy to the ocean waves in Hawaii, Tegan and Gabe embark on a journey to escape the tragedy and search for forgiveness. But they soon learn that grief follows you no matter how far away you run, and that acceptance comes when you least expect it. Heartbreaking, hopeful and utterly transporting, COME AWAY WITH ME is an unforgettable debut and a luminous celebration of the strength of the human spirit.




Sisters of Treason
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Penguin Books Limited
Publication Date: July 8th, 2014/July 24th, 2015
Pages: 449/15 hours, 28 minutes



From the author People called “a must-read for Philippa Gregory fans,” a “terrifically entertaining” (The Sunday Times, London) novel about two sisters who must survive life in the Tudor court after the execution of their sister Lady Jane Grey who was queen for just nine days.

Early in Mary Tudor’s turbulent reign, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary Grey are reeling after the brutal death of their elder seventeen-year-old sister, and the succession is by no means stable. In Sisters of Treason, Elizabeth Fremantle brings these young women and their perilous times to vivid life.

Neither sister is well suited to a dangerous career at court. Flirtatious Lady Catherine, thought to be the true heir, cannot control her compulsion to love and be loved. Her sister, clever Lady Mary, has a crooked spine and a tiny stature in an age when physical perfection equates to goodness—and both girls have inherited the Tudor blood that is more curse than blessing. For either girl to marry without royal permission would be a potentially fatal political act. It is the royal portrait painter, Levina Teerlinc, who helps the girls survive these troubled times. She becomes their mentor and confidante, but when the Queen’s sister, the hot-headed Elizabeth Tudor, inherits the crown, life at court becomes increasingly treacherous for the surviving Grey sisters. Ultimately each young woman must decide how far she will go to defy her Queen, risk her life, and find the safety and love she longs for.




The Conqueror's Wife
Publisher: NAL/Penguin Group, LLC
Publication Date: December 1st, 2015
Pages: 496


We are the women who loved Alexander the Great. We were lovers and murderers, innocents and soldiers.
 

And without us, Alexander would have been only a man.
 

Instead he was a god.


330s, B.C.E., Greece: Alexander, a handsome young warrior of Macedon, begins his quest to conquer the ancient world. But he cannot ascend to power, and keep it, without the women who help to shape his destiny.

His spirited younger half-sister, Thessalonike, yearns to join her brother and see the world. Instead, it is Alexander’s boyhood companion who rides with him into war while Thessalonike remains behind. Far away, crafty princess Drypetis will not stand idly by as Alexander topples her father from Persia’s throne. And after Alexander conquers her tiny kingdom, Roxana, the beautiful and cunning daughter of a minor noble, wins Alexander’s heart…and will commit any crime to secure her place at his side.

Within a few short years, Alexander controls an empire more vast than the civilized world has ever known. But his victories are tarnished by losses on the battlefield and treachery among his inner circle. And long after Alexander is gone, the women who are his champions, wives, and enemies will fight to claim his legacy…




Stars Over Sunset Boulevard
Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: January 5th, 2016
Pages: 400



In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship.


Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind  ends up in Christine McAllister’s vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie…

Los Angeles, 1938.  Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her  dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires collide.  What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future.




Monday, December 28, 2015

Review: Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner

Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: January 5th, 2016
Pages: 400


Synopsis



In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship.



Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind  ends up in Christine McAllister’s vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie… 

Los Angeles, 1938.  Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her  dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires collide.  What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future. 


What Did I Think About the Story?




Susan Meissner's last novel, Secrets of a Charmed Life, was my first 5-starred book of 2015. This being the case I was beyond excited to read her newest, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard, not only because she's one of my favorite authors but because Gone with the Wind is my all time favorite movie. I've watched it more times than I can count and have always marveled at the costumes and complicated characters. Getting to see beyond the spectacle into the real world making of the movie....yeah, sign me up for that! Sometimes this kind of high expectation has lead me to disappointment, but I'm delighted to say Stars Over Sunset Boulevard was just as wonderful as I expected!


The modern storyline involving Christine McAllister and her discovery of the iconic green curtain hat from the making of Gone with the Wind is told more as small snippets that connect Christine's past to one of our characters from the 1930's than as its own standalone storyline. The small mystery of how the carpet hat made its way out of the hands of the movie makers and into a woman's private collection and how that woman connected to Christine kept the snippets interesting, but the real heft and emotion of the story resides in Violet and Audrey's relationship starting when they meet as secretaries on the set of the movie.


Audrey and Violet make wonderful counters for each other and serve to represent two distinct kinds of women during this vibrant and unique time and place in history. Audrey wants nothing more than to be a movie star and is as vivacious, beautiful and outgoing as one could want in a woman with this ambition. Violet, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to be a wife and mother and is shy and naive to the ways of Hollywood. Both are hiding secrets from their pasts that hamper there ability to get what they want most. However, when circumstances present themselves that will allow both women the chance at their greatest happiness, they take it, not realizing the consequences that might come. Watching each sacrifice so much and make choices they know aren't right in the hope that the outcome will be was poignant and touching.  In the end the saying "be careful what you wish for because you just might get it" comes into play for both and they have to face the fact that what they thought they wanted might not have been worth what they did to get it.


While the gold of the story is the relationship between Audrey and Violet, I can't forget to mention the behind the scenes view into the making of Gone with the Wind, as it is as fascinating as you would imagine. Learning little tidbits, like the fact that Vivienne Leigh was not cast as Scarlett O'Hara when filming started, really fed my need to know more about the making of the movie. Susan Meissner did an exceptional job of perfectly describing this world so I felt completely immersed and could envision it all, from movie sets to Audrey's bungalow to the streets and sounds of old Hollywood. It was a perfect backdrop for this exceptional story.


I can't recommend Susan Meissner's novels enough for those that love glimpses into interesting times in history mixed in with a modern storyline that connects to the past. The characters are always well drawn and interesting and never fail to tug at my heart. Stars Over Sunset Boulevard is now another favorite of mine, and I cannot help but get excited to see what she comes up with next.  


What Did I Think About the Cover?



This might be my favorite cover of the year (it's a close tie between this and the cover for The Conqueror's Wife)! The woman on the front is just so elegant and her dress is to die for!! The green and blue and pink (my favorite!) all compliment each other so nicely. Great job cover designer!!


My Rating: 5.0/5.0 


I received a copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard from the author in exchange for an  honest review. Thank you so much, Susan! Continue below for more information about the author and her delightful new novel!


Praise for Stars Over Sunset Boulevard



“Susan Meissner tackles Old Hollywood with her trademark heart, depth, and lyrical style. A touching portrait of two memorable women who will remind readers of the friendships that shape us.” —Michelle Gable, International Bestselling Author


“Susan Meissner deftly casts a fascinating friendship between two complex women against a glittering 1930s Hollywood backdrop. You will love this book for its very human characters and for its inside look at one of the greatest movies ever made.”— Marisa de los Santos, New York Times Bestselling Author

“Beautifully simple yet impactful" Romantic Times, 4 stars

"A lovely, well-crafted story that peeks at a fascinating moment in cinematic history and examines the power and vulnerability of sincere friendship." - Kirkus Reviews


Buy the Book






About the Author



Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a backgroundA Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten Women’s Fiction titles for The Shape of Mercy, named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Novels of 2008. A California native, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University. Susan is a pastor’s wife and a mother of four young adults. When she’s not working on a novel, Susan writes small group curriculum for her San Diego church.
2014, and
in community journalism. Her novels include
For more information on Susan and her books visit her website, and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.







Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Guest Post: Aren’t All Presidents Mama’s Boys?—Not Our Founding Father By Stephen Yoch , Author of Becoming George Washington + Giveaway!!


Please join me in welcoming Stephen Yoch, author of Becoming George Washington, to A Literary Vacation! He's provided us with an excellent guest post regarding the relationship between George Washington and his mother. I hope you enjoy it and continue after the post for more information about Becoming George Washington, the blog tour and how you can enter to win your own paperback copy (US only)!
 
 
 
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Little Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and FDR were mama’s boys. Isn’t that a prerequisite to being president?



The father of our country was the exception that proved the rule.



The paradigm for U.S. presidents is an absent father and an overprotective, doting mother. There is certainly evidence that a number of presidents were heavily influenced by their mothers. Indeed, many were literally named after their mothers:



    Rutherford Birchard Hayes was named after his mother Sophia Birchard
    Woodrow Wilson was named after his mother Janet Woodrow
    Franklin Delano Roosevelt was named after his mother Sara Delano
    John Fitzgerald Kennedy was named after his mother Rose Fitzgerald
    Lyndon Baines Johnson was named after his mother Rebecca Baines
    Richard Milhous Nixon was named after his mother Hannah Milhous
    Ronald Wilson Reagan was named after his mother Nellie Wilson



Whether it was Abraham Lincoln or Woodrow Wilson, they all were unabashed devoted and dutiful sons. But what about George Washington, the father of our country?


Washington’s father died when he was only 11 and his mother never remarried. The oldest of six children, he never had a close or loving relationship with his mother. While some historians would disagree, most acknowledge that from the beginning, young Washington bristled and resisted his mother’s controlling hand.


At only age 14, Washington sought to join the British navy. The steadfast resistance of a demanding mother prevented him from leaving the colonies and likely changing the course of history. Mary Washington’s refusal was not driven solely by a desire to protect Washington, instead she focused on having him working on the family farm and providing leadership to his younger siblings. What is clear is that her compulsion to keep him under her thumb had exactly the opposite effect. It energized Washington to take chances and seek opportunities early in life to escape her clutches.


At age 19, Washington sought a military position as a major in the Virginia militia. Over his mother’s strenuous objections, he obtained the position and ultimately played a central role in the French and Indian War, raising him to national prominence. Yet, despite his success, Mary Washington repeatedly objected that he had “abandoned her” and was not fulfilling his family duties.


The relationship was so troubled that Mary Washington refused to attend her son’s wedding to Martha Custis or his presidential inaugurations. Throughout his life, Washington maintained the role of supportive son, attending to her financial needs, but they never developed the warm and loving relationship that is the characteristic of so many of our presidents.


Washington often set the pattern for many subsequent presidents, including achieving great success in the face of an early loss of a father, however, he sought desperately to avoid those traits he saw in his mother that he disliked the most. While it was certainly not her goal, her actions motivated Washington away from her and toward his destiny.
 

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
 
 
 
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Paperback & Ebook; 382 Pages
 
Genre: Historical Fiction
 
 
 
George Washington, action hero . . .
 
 
Long before Washington was the old man on the dollar bill, he was a fatherless boy with few resources and even less education. So how did he become the most famous person in American history?
 
 
Becoming George Washington tells the story of a young man with boundless energy, bravery, and passion, who grew from a fatherless boy into a self-confident leader. At the same time, he struggled to suppress both an awful temper and his love for a married woman, Sally Fairfax. A courageous war hero, Washington rose to the pinnacle of Virginia politics. His experiences as a young man allowed him, decades later, to lead the Revolution.
 
 
This compelling historical novel reveals the person behind the famous face and how he grew to become America’s leading Founding Father.
 
 
 
 
 

Buy the Book

 
 
 
 
 

About the Author

 
 
Steve doesn’t golf or fish and is a below average hunter, but his love of history and writing compelled him to pick up his pen and tell the little-known stories behind the men that made American history. After years of extensive research, Steve wrote his first book on young George Washington.
Steve lives in a suburb north of St. Paul, Minnesota with his supportive wife and two fantastic teenage sons. He graduated with honors from Boston College and the University of Minnesota Law School. He has enjoyed over two decades of practicing law in the Twin Cities, helping individuals and businesses solve complex problems.


Find out more about Stephen Yoch on his website and connect with him on Facebook.



Giveaway Time!!

 
 
I am thrilled that, thanks to wonderful Amy at HF Virtual Book Tours, I have one paperback copy of Becoming George Washington up for grabs! This giveaway is open to US residents only and all you have to do is enter your name and email address on the giveaway form HERE. Please be sure to enter BOTH your name and email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.
 
If you would like extra entries you can follow me on various social  media sites (links are on the right hand sidebar) just be sure to leave the name/email address you follow with on the giveaway form (I check!).
 
That's it! I'll pick a winner on December 30th and the winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before I have to pick another winner.
 
Good Luck!!
 
 

Giveaway Rules 

 
You must be 18 years old to enter
 
Only one entry per household
 
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
 
 
 

Becoming George Washington Blog Tour Schedule

 
 
Monday, December 07

Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, December 9

Review at Library Educated

Friday, December 11

Spotlight at The Writing Desk

Monday, December 14

Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Tuesday, December 15

Review at The Maiden’s Court

Wednesday, December 16

Interview at Layered Pages
Spotlight at Historical Readings and Reviews

Thursday, December 17

Guest Post & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Friday, December 18

Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Monday, December 21

Review at Bookish

Tuesday, December 22

Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book

Wednesday, December 23

Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Guest Post & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation

Thursday, December 24

Review at Book Nerd

Monday, December 28

Review at Just One More Chapter
Spotlight at Puddletown Reviews

Tuesday, December 29

Review at The Absurd Book Nerd
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Wednesday, December 30

Review at Luxury Reading
Guest Post at The Absurd Book Nerd

Thursday, December 31

Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books


 
 
 
 



Monday, December 21, 2015

Spotlight on The Last Wife of Attila the Hun by Joan Schweighardt


Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Booktrope Editions
Paperback; eBook; 272 Pages


Genre: Literary/Historical Fiction


Two threads are flawlessly woven together in this sweeping historical novel. In one, Gudrun, a Burgundian noblewoman, dares to enter the City of Attila to give its ruler what she hopes is a cursed sword; the second reveals the unimaginable events that have driven her to this mission.

Based in part on the true history of the times and in part on the same Nordic legends that inspired Wagner’s Ring Cycle and other great works of art, The Last Wife of Attila the Hun offers readers a thrilling story of love, betrayal, passion and revenge, all set against an ancient backdrop itself gushing with intrigue. Lovers of history and fantasy alike will find realism and legend at work in Joan Schweighardt’s latest offering.


Praise for The Last Wife of Attila the Hun



“The hero-tales of the Germanic peoples form a glowing thread in the tapestry of European literature. The Last Wife of Attila the Hun presents one of the greatest of those legends from a woman’s perspective, with emotion as well as action, bringing new meaning to an ancient tale.” – Diana L. Paxson, author of the Wodan’s Children trilogy, and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Priestess of Avalon

“Richly woven, yet simply told, The Last Wife of Attila the Hun is an epic delivered in lucid and lyric verse. Schweighardt creates a mesmerizing story deserving to be read aloud and celebrated like all the world’s best tales.” – Julie Shigekuni, author of A Bridge Between Us, Invisible Gardens and Unending Nova


Buy the Book

 
 
 
 

About the Author

 
 
Joan Schweighardt is the author of five novels. A former independent publisher, she makes her living
editing, writing and ghostwriting for private and corporate clients
 

Learn more about Joan on her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter
 
 
 

The Last Wife of Attila the Hun Blog Tour Schedule

 
 
Monday, December 14

Spotlight at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, December 15

Spotlight at Unshelfish

Wednesday, December 16

Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective

Thursday, December 17

Review at Book Nerd

Friday, December 18

Review at Beth’s Book Nook Blog
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews

Saturday, December 19

Spotlight at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Sunday, December 20

Review at Carole’s Ramblings
Review at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

Monday, December 21

Review at Let Them Read Books
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
 
 
 

Giveaway Time!!

 
 
To win a Paperback copy of The Last Wife of Attila the Hun please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form HERE.
 
 
Rules
 
 
Giveaway starts at 12:01am EST on December 14th and ends at 11:59pm EST on December 21st. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Giveaway is open internationally.

Only one entry per household.

All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion

Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
 
 
Good Luck!!
 
 

04_TLWOATH_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL

 
 

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Review: A Year of Ravens: A Novel of Boudica by the "H Team" + Giveaway!!


"H Team": Ruth Downie, Stephanie Dray, E. Knight, Kate Quinn, Vicky Alvear Shecter, S.J.A. Turney, and Russell Whitfield


Publication Date: November 17, 2015
Knight Media LLC
eBook & Paperback; 440 Pages


Genre: Historical Fiction


Synopsis



Britannia: land of mist and magic clinging to the western edge of the Roman Empire. A red-haired queen named Boudica led her people in a desperate rebellion against the might of Rome, an epic struggle destined to consume heroes and cowards, young and old, Roman and Celt . . . and these are their stories.


A calculating queen sees the sparks of revolt in a king’s death.

A neglected slave girl seizes her own courage as Boudica calls for war.

An idealistic tribune finds manhood in a brutal baptism of blood and slaughter.

A conflicted warrior hovers between loyalty to tribe and loyalty to Rome.

A death-haunted Druid challenges the gods themselves to ensure victory for his people.

An old champion struggles for everlasting glory in the final battle against the legions.

A fiery princess fights to salvage the pieces of her mother’s dream as the ravens circle.


A novel in seven parts, overlapping stories of warriors and peacemakers, queens and slaves, Romans and Celts who cross paths during Boudica’s epic rebellion. But who will survive to see the dawn of a new Britannia, and who will fall to feed the ravens?


What Did I Think About the Story?



I've never been a fan of short story collections in the past, but over the past year or so the author collaboration collections that have been coming out have really caught my fancy. While I've purchased A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii and Grand Central: Original Stories of Postwar Love and Reunion, A Year of Ravens is the first one I've read and, if this is any indication of what I can expect to find within those novels, I am in for a big treat!


A Year of Ravens is, as the synopsis states, a novel told in seven parts. Each part is written by a different author and concentrates on one or two main characters within the larger story arch. I find this process of building the story fascinating because the reader gets to see Boudica's rebellion from just about every possible side, giving a wider scope and appreciation for the bravery, sacrifices, alliances and loss that all of the characters experience. Another fun plus is the fact that many of the characters swing through other stories as well as their own, letting us see them from both within themselves and through the eyes of others. I can't think of a better way to get to really know a character and my only complaint would be that, after really getting to know and love some of them, I wanted a lot more of their story!


All of the stories within A Year of Ravens are wonderful, but I do have a few that ended up being my favorites.  The very first story, The Queen by Stephanie Dray, was my all time favorite. In it we meet Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes, a queen who, while very similar to Boudica in looks and strength, takes the opposite path by working with the Romans for the safety and security of her people. I ached for her as she continued to do what she saw as right for her people even as they began to rebel and hate her for doing just that. I found her determination in the face of their disgust so brave and commendable. I wanted so much more of Cartimandua's story and I can only hope (beg, maybe?) that Stephanie with give her a longer story to tell. The Queen also details the events that begin Boudica's year long rebellion, and what events those are!  The Slave by Ruth Downie was also brilliant, giving the reader the direct aftermath of the Roman's violent annexation of Boudica's lands through the eyes of Ria, a slave girl and half-sister to Boudica's daughters. It is a brutal, emotional and honest look at the Roman attempt to demonstrate their complete control over the Iceni tribe through abuse, rape and destruction. I found it hard to read at times but, at the same time, hard to look away from and the actions and emotions expressed in the story fermented for me the reasons for Boudica's rebellion against  the Romans. The Warrior by Kate Quinn shows us the final battle of the rebellion through the eyes of Duro, Boudica's grizzled right-hand warrior and  his Roman slave, Valeria, wife of the Roman procurator who's actions precipitated the rebellion to begin with. Watching the proud Iceni warrior and the even prouder Roman lady spar, both verbally and physically, was both informative and entertaining and I couldn't help but develop a grudging appreciation for Valeria by the end of the story. It also brings Duro and his son, Andecarus, together again on the battlefield, which I have to admit brought tears to my eyes. I've always loved Kate's writing and this story just cemented that appreciation.


A Year of Ravens is a remarkable story collection and one that has me desperate to know more about Boudica, Cartimandua and so many other people from history that I was either not aware of before or only vaguely so. There is just so much to appreciate within the story, especially the fact that these seven separate authors were able to meld their individual parts together into a seamless, entertaining and emotional story. I can't think of anything that it doesn't encompass, from history to love to ending a military career on the battlefield to coming-of-age within violence and sacrifice, everyone can find something to appreciate here. I'm excited to read more from each of these authors and look forward to reading more compilations such as this.

 

What Did I Think About the Cover?



You know, I can't say I loved it at first but, the more I look at it and after reading the story, it has really grown on me! We've got our fierce female warrior Queen Boudica, raven tattoo and all, against a vicious red background that perfectly represents the blood and battle within, as well as the prophetic ravens above. I also think it's a great idea to showcase each author's name so prominently (instead of, say, having the font smaller or have it just say "H Team" or something) because, for me, one of the big draws to reading this collection is the fact that I've read and really enjoyed novels by E. Knight, Kate Quinn and Vicky Alvear Shecter before.  Not being a huge fan of short story collections, the fact that I've already enjoyed some of these authors before gave me that extra push needed to pick it up and get reading. And I'm so glad I did!


My Rating: 4.0/5.0


 
Thank you to Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for providing me with a free copy of A Year of Ravens in exchange for an honest review. Be sure to continue below for more information about the book, the rest of the blog tour and how to enter the tour-wide giveaway!
 
 


Buy the Book 

 
 
 

The H Team Authors

 
L to R: 
Ruth Downie, Stephanie Dray, E. Knight, Kate Quinn, Vicky Alvear Shecter, S.J.A. Turney, & Russell Whitfield
 

Giveaway Time!!

 
 
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a Celtic inspired set of silver tone metal and red Swarovski crystal beads, including a necklace, bracelet, and earrings inspired by the setting of A Year of Ravens! Please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form found HERE.
 
 

Rules

 
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on December 18th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
 
Giveaway is open to residents in the US and UK.
 
Only one entry per household.
 
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
 
Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
 
Good Luck!!
 
 
 

A Year of Ravens Blog Tour Schedule

 
 
Friday, November 13

Kick Off at Passages to the Past

Saturday, November 14

Guest Post at A Bookish Affair
Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection

Sunday, November 15

Review at Book Babe

Monday, November 16

Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, November 17

Review at Unabridged Chick

Wednesday, November 18

Guest Post at Let Them Read Books
Interview at Unabridged Chick

Thursday, November 19

Review at Kinx’s Book Nook
Review at A Bookish Affair

Friday, November 20

Review at Leeanna.me

Monday, November 23

Review at Bibliophilia, Please

Tuesday, November 24

Review at The Maiden’s Court

Wednesday, November 25

Review at A Book Drunkard

Friday, November 27

Review & Excerpt at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book

Monday, November 30

Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Tuesday, December 1

Review at Griperang’s Bookmarks

Wednesday, December 2

Interview at Griperang’s Bookmarks

Thursday, December 3

Review at Book Nerd

Friday, December 4

Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book

Saturday, December 5

Review at Bookramblings

Monday, December 7

Review at Just One More Chapter

Tuesday, December 8

Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Wednesday, December 9

Review at I’m Shelfish

Thursday, December 10

Review at Boom Baby Reviews

Friday, December 11

Review at Historical Readings & Reviews

Monday, December 14

Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective

Tuesday, December 15

Review at CelticLady’s Reviews

Wednesday, December 16

Review at A Literary Vacation
Guest Post at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

Thursday, December 17

Review at The True Book Addict
Review at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

Friday, December 18

Review at Broken Teepee
Review, Excerpt, & Interview at Unshelfish