Excerpt of The It Girl and Me: A Novel of Clara Bow​ ​by Laini Giles + Tour-Wide Giveaway!!

Sepia Stories Publishing
Pub. Date: March 25, 2017
Pages: 341

Series: Forgotten Actresses, Book #2
Gere: Historical Fiction / Biographical


Daisy DeVoe has left her abusive husband, her father has been pinched for bootlegging, and she’s embarrassed by her rural Kentucky roots. But on the plus side, she’s climbing the ladder in the salon of Paramount Pictures, styling hair for actress Clara Bow.

Clara is a handful. The “It” Girl of the Jazz Age personifies the new woman of the 1920s onscreen, smoking, drinking bootleg hooch, and bursting with sex appeal. But her conduct off the set is even more scandalous. Hoping to impose a little order on Clara’s chaotic life, Paramount persuades Daisy to sign on as Clara’s personal secretary.

Thanks to Daisy, Clara’s bank account is soon flush with cash. And thanks to Clara, Daisy can finally shake off her embarrassing past and achieve respectability for herself and her family.

The trouble begins when Clara’s newest fiancé, cowboy star Rex Bell, wants to take over, and he and Daisy battle for control. Torn between her loyalty to Clara and her love for her family, Daisy has to make a difficult choice when she ends up in the county jail.

Here, Daisy sets the record straight, from her poverty-stricken childhood to her failed marriage; from a father in San Quentin to her rollercoaster time with Clara, leaving out none of the juicy details.

Excerpt of The It Girl and Me

 

“The Wild Party, scene three, take six,” said the slate boy. He clacked the halves together and retreated.

“Action!”

Clara frolicked into the frame, turned enthusiastically, and let out a booming “Whoopee!”

The dangling microphone shook for a moment, then emitted a poof, like a giant creature exhaling.

“Cut!” Dorothy called.

Everyone on the set looked up at it in confusion. Clarence lowered the mike, his eyes filled with fear. Roy Pomeroy stalked over, grabbed the thing away from Clarence, and examined it. He hacked at the twine with his pocketknife, then shook his head. “Clarence, bring me a new tube. This one’s blown.”

After fifteen minutes of searching for a replacement, Clarence dashed over to Pomeroy with it. Pomeroy pulled the microphone apart, pushed in the tube, and reassembled it. This time, instead of heading back into the sound booth, he waited to see what happened.

“Places, everyone!” Dorothy called. Cast and crew resumed their spots.

“The Wild Party, scene three, take seven,” said the slate boy.

“And . . . action!”

There came Clara again, executing her perfectly casual turn, her face animated.

“Whoopee!” she exclaimed.

Poof.

Dorothy shook her head.

Pomeroy turned to Clarence again. “Any tubes left?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“Eight, Mr. Pomeroy.”

Pomeroy reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills, then handed them to Clarence. “Get over to that place on Sunset. Pick up as many as they have in stock. We’re going to need plenty.”

While the cast and crew had a laugh over the tubes, Artie leaned over to me.

“She’s having to learn to use her voice for the very first time, and it scares the hell outta her.”

“And learn lines too,” I said. “She wanted me here for support the day they tested her. She was sobbing, Artie. Told me she couldn’t possibly be in pictures with a voice that bad.”

He shook his head. “It’s not bad. It’s just Brooklyn. We gotta help her develop some confidence. Everybody’s got mike fright right now. Think of all the foreigners in Hollywood who have accents thicker than butterscotch pudding. I got seated next to Vilma Banky and Rod La Rocque at a dinner party a couple months ago, and I couldn’t understand a word she said. Where the hell is she from, anyway? Those are the people who need to be worried. Clara is up to forty-five thousand fan letters a month! She’s Paramount’s biggest earner. They won’t kill her career over that voice, but I don’t want her sabotaging herself either.”

“I heard they’re giving Greta Garbo all the time in the world to lose some of her accent,” I said.

“Clara’s got a better voice than that.”

“If she can keep that stammer in check,” I said.

“She only does it when she’s nervous. She’s had it since she was little.”

“That long? I had no idea. I thought she was just frightened of sound.”

“We’re all scared of sound. But audiences want it. We gotta teach Clara how to act all over again.”

 

Buy the Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Chapters

 

 

About the Author

 

Originally from the counterculture mecca of Austin, Texas, Laini discovered a love of reading early on, and when she was eight, decided to be Nancy Drew. This dream was dashed when she realized she was actually a big chicken, and that there were no guarantees of rescue from tarantulas, bad guys with guns, and other fiendish plot twists. She finished her first “mystery novel” (with custom illustrations) when she was nine.

She set the writing aside for a while when life got in the way, but was led back to it through her interest in genealogy and 18 months of enforced unemployment due to moving north for maple-flavored goodies and real beer. Reading old microfilm stirred new life into her interest in writing, and watching early silent films struck the match.

Like most other writers, most of her monthly budget is spent on coffee and books. She lives with her husband and their two gray cats in Edmonton, Alberta.

For more information, please visit Laini Giles’ website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

It's Giveaway Time!!!

 

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 5 paperback copies of The It Girl and Me! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form HERE.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 29th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US & Canada only.
– 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!!

 

  

The It Girl and Me Blog Tour Schedule

 

Wednesday, November 1

Kick Off at Passages to the Past

Thursday, November 2

Feature at What Is That Book About

Friday, November 3

Feature at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, November 6

Review at Bookish

Tuesday, November 7

Feauture at WS Momma Readers Nook

Thursday, November 9

Review at Beth’s Book Nook Blog

Friday, November 10

Review at A Bookaholic Swede

Monday, November 13

Review at Creating Herstory
Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

Wednesday, November 15

Review at A Chick Who Reads

Friday, November 17

Excerpt at A Literary Vacation

Monday, November 20

Feature at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, November 22

Feature at The Lit Bitch

Thursday, November 23

Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Friday, November 24

Feature at CelticLady’s Reviews

Saturday, November 25

Excerpt at T’s Stuff

Tuesday, November 28

Review at View from the Birdhouse

Wednesday, November 29

Review at A Book Drunkard

 

  







Review of Platinum Doll by Anne Girard

Publisher: MIRA Books

Publication Date: January 26th, 2016

Pages: 368

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

Set against the dazzling backdrop of Golden Age Hollywood, Platinum Doll tells the enchanting story of Jean Harlow, one of the most iconic stars in the history of film. 

It's the Roaring Twenties and seventeen-year-old Harlean Carpenter McGrew has run off to Beverly Hills. She's chasing a dream—to escape her small, Midwestern life and see her name in lights. In California, Harlean has everything a girl could want—a rich husband, glamorous parties, socialite friends—except an outlet for her talent. But everything changes when a dare pushes her to embrace her true ambition—to be an actress on the silver screen. 

With her timeless beauty and striking shade of platinum-blond hair, Harlean becomes Jean Harlow. And as she's thrust into the limelight, Jean learns that this new world of opportunity comes with its own set of burdens. Torn between her family and her passion to perform, Jean is forced to confront the difficult truth—that fame comes at a price, if only she's willing to pay it. 

Featuring a glittering cast of ingénues and Hollywood titans—Clara Bow, Clark Gable, Laurel and Hardy, Howard Hughes—Platinum Doll introduces us to the star who would shine brighter than them all.

What Did I Think About the Story?

There's something fascinating to me about peaking behind the glamour and spectacle of the golden age of Hollywood and seeing the grit, disappointment and sacrifice hidden beneath. I haven't read a book yet or seen a movie set during this unique time and place that doesn't highlight the hardships that come with the privileged life those that make it come to experience. This can sometimes come across to me as "poor me, I'm so rich and sad", but that isn't the case at all with Anne Girard's Platinum Doll. In this lovely novel of the life of Jean Harlow the reader is thrust into the heart and mind of this complex and incredibly admirable woman and made to truly appreciate all she did to make her dreams come true.


Right off the bat I have to say that I absolutely LOVE Girard's depiction of Harlean, aka Jean Harlow. I didn't know very much about her before, but from the very beginning I knew I was going to like her. She starts off as this bookish teen that was so vivacious, loving and full of hope for what the future could hold that it was completely infectious. Watching her tentatively go after this exciting new adventure in Hollywood and realize at such a young age - 17! - that she can be a wife, daughter and actress was inspiring, even as I knew it couldn't last. I ached for both her and her husband as they struggled to find their footing in a world where they had very different expectations for the future and I kept hoping they would find a way to get the help they needed and make it work, even with the villain (in my opinion) of the story doing everything in her power to push them apart.


Coming to this villain, it has been a while since I've disliked a character as much as I did Harlean's  mom, Jean (yes, they were both "Jean Harlow" once Harlean made it her stage name, but Anne Girard does a remarkable job of keeping the reader from getting confused between the two). "Mama Jean" is just vile to me, being as manipulative, greedy and pig-headed as one could imagine. The only real character flaw I found in Harlean was her inability to stand up to her mother and willingness to forgive her, again and again, when she knew full well the horrible things her mother had done and the  unbelievable lengths she went to to make Harlean the star her mother never had the chance to be. However, it must be noted that I don't think I would have such strong feelings about this character if I didn't care so much for Harlean, and I also don't think she would have become the woman she did without the trials she faced that were influenced by her mother's actions. As Harlean ages she matures and is determined to make a life for herself as well as her family despite the various challenges thrown at her, and how can I not admire that?


While Harlean, her husband, Chuck, and Harlean's mother and step father are the central figures of this story, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that so many other exciting people walk through and make there marks as well. We get to meet Clara Bow, Laurel and Hardy, Howard Hughes, Louis B. Mayer and so many more! I've always had a pretty big crush on Clark Gable and that feeling is definitely cemented with his depiction in Platinum Doll. With so many names coming and going through the story, some I was already familiar with and some that were new to me, I spent an inordinate amount of time looking through old pictures of all these fascinating people and then going back and visualizing them within the story. This is one of my favorite things about historical fiction and the fact that Girard had me continually mesmerized by these people really speaks to her abilities to bring these people back to life.


Aside from the incredibly fleshed out characters, the vibrant setting was just as captivating to me.  Girard absolutely brings this world to life - from the homes in Beverly Hills to the Brown Derby and Cocoanut Club to Grauman's Chinese Theatre - and I had no problem picturing myself right there with the stars even though I have never been there.  It is such an awe-inspiring setting and was the perfect background to while away the hours.


Platinum Doll is perfect historical fiction, brimming with alluring real-life characters and settings filled in with drama, emotion and language that fills in the gaps that history has long forgotten or wouldn't have documented. Whether you're new to Jean Harlow's story as I was or already quite familiar with her, I think there is so much to love within these pages. Highly recommended!

What Did I Think About the Cover?

I think it's gorgeous! It perfectly fits the story - Harlean front and center, the palm trees, ocean and sunshine of California - and I think the font is very evocative of the time period. This cover would draw me in every time!

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Thank you to publicist Suzy Missirlian for providing me with a free copy of Platinum Dolls in exchange for an honest review!

Praise for Platinum Doll

“A fascinating, page-turning, behind-the-scenes look at what it took to be a celebrity in early  Hollywood.”  Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe and Twain’s End

“An engrossing look at a Hollywood icon. I couldn’t put it down.”  Karleen Koen, New York Times bestselling author of Through A Glass Darkly

"Platinum Doll will entrance readers as Harlow entranced the world."  Heather Webb, author of Rodin's Lover

Buy the Book

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Diane Haeger, who currently writes under the pen name Anne Girard (Madame Picasso), holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in

English Literature from UCLA. A chance meeting with the famed author Irving Stone 25 years ago sharply focused her ambition to tell great stories from history, and write them only after detailed research and extensive travel to the place her character lived. That determination has provided a fascinating journey that has taken her from the halls of Chenonceaux, to a private interview with one of Pablo Picasso's last surviving friends, and most recently an invitation inside Jean Harlow's home.

Since the publication of her acclaimed first novel, Courtesan, in 1993, a novel that remains in print today, her work has been translated into 18 different languages, bringing her international success and award-winning status.

Platinum Doll, a novel about Jean Harlow, is her 15th book. She lives in Southern California with her husband and family.

Find out more about Diane on her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Q & A with Anne Girard, Author of Platinum Doll

I cannot tell you how excited I am to have author Diane Haeger  (pen name Anne Girard) on the blog today! I absolutely adored her previous novel, Madame Picasso, and I've been anxiously waiting for her next gift to readers. My review of her newest, Platinum Doll, will go live in two days but I can tell you right now...it is superb! Clearly I'm a super fangirl so let me give the floor to Diane as she answers some of my questions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Diane, please excuse me while I fan-girl out for a minute before we get started! I LOVED Madame Picasso and have been so excited to see what your next novel would be about. Your newest, Platinum Doll, is spectacular and I could not be more excited to welcome you to A Literary Vacation today! So, welcome! :)

What an absolutely lovely introduction! Thank you so much. It’s a pleasure to talk with you, and I’m thrilled you enjoyed both of my Anne Girard novels.

Historical fiction is my all time favorite genre. For me, there’s just nothing better than stepping back in time and peeking into its many corners. Golden Age Hollywood is one of those times that is particularly fascinating to me, with all the glamour pushed to the forefront and the ambition and heartache hidden below. What made you set your newest novel here? What drew you to Jean Harlow in particular?

I love the way you worded that. It truly was a very different time, with glamor taking the front position and, for the most part, everything else (especially the darker parts) was hidden, unlike today. 

I was always fascinated by the stylized photographs of Jean Harlow. Many of them are iconic, but when I first began reading about her, I was surprised to discover that she was only in her late teens and early twenties when they were taken and she began her rise to fame. I had always thought she looked much older, so that intrigued me. It was at that same time in my early research that I discovered that she had eloped at the tender age of 16, and that her husband had come to Hollywood with her. From there, it became as much about the portrait of a fragile young marriage as it was about what it took to become a star in early Hollywood. Both of those elements really hooked me.

Research seems to be a huge part of the writing process for historical fiction authors. What sort of research did you conduct for this story?

It very much is. It’s really the biggest part, I think, for those of us who strive to really take readers on a journey through time, and to be as accurate as possible with it. My own process with a new subject, before anything, is to read literally every biography of the person I can get my hands on. I follow that with books about the time period; costume, history, current events, food, and I consult those daily as I am writing. In the case of PLATINUM DOLL, I worked closely with two noted Harlow experts who were able to answer specific questions I had as I went along. Of course I watched her movies of the period to get a better sense of the way she moved and spoke. I also spent time in Hollywood so that I could experience the places she knew, and I visited the homes she lived in. I was even invited inside of one of them, which really gave me a feel for her life there. Even though it’s complex and time consuming, I love the research for my books almost as much as the writing!

What draws you to historical fiction? Are there any particular times in history you gravitate towards or do you just enjoy history in general? Are there any other turning points in history that you would love to write about?

My bachelor’s degree is in English literature, and I also studied art history, so I think I’ve just always been drawn to great stories through time. The story that absolutely forced me to begin writing 25 years ago was the true story of a young French prince, Henri II, and the older woman, Diane de Poitiers, who helped turn him into a king. It took me 4 years, here and in France, to write. 

To this day, COURTESAN, written under my own name, Diane Haeger, is still my great labor of love. Since then, I’ve been all over the map, historically speaking: I’ve written books about Henry VIII, King George IV, William Tecumseh Sherman, the painter Raphael… and Pablo Picasso. I definitely have more stories—and more time periods I want to write about, but there isn’t really a specific time period that draws me. It’s more the story. 

What does a typical day in your life look like? When do you fit in time to write?

It’s a bit less challenging, to be honest with you, now that I’m an empty nester. On a typical day, I start first—and early, with social media—which I believe is super important for authors. Once I’ve done that, and had enough coffee, it’s off to my office to write. I do that until noon, take a break, and then in the afternoon I tackle research. At any given time, I have 5-6 huge biographies I consult back and forth, 4 costume books, and 2-3 books on history of the period. My office is quite a space! By 4pm I need to give my eyes a break. In the evening, I do my best to read a bit for pleasure, or if I’m blurbing another author’s book, I read that. Most of my days really revolve around books, which is a great joy!

A lot of authors have become huge on social media, not only promoting their work but interacting with their readers and offering up giveaways, book recommendations, etc. Are you a big proponent of using social media in this way? How do you prefer to interact with your fans?

I absolutely am, and I love it! Since selling MADAME PICASSO, I have really had to delve more deeply into that whole world and to educate myself about social media in general because I think it’s a very powerful tool for authors. And also, writing really is a very solitary profession, so I think it’s a great gift to be able to have ways to dialogue with so many people. It’s most definitely an added and enjoyable benefit. I have followers—many who have become friends—all around the world now, several in France, Australia and England. I have two Facebook pages, and I love when readers send me a ‘friend request’ and then hop into the fun conversations we have down on my page, or follow me on Twitter. I do giveaways as well, and will be doing more of them after January 26th when PLATINUM DOLL is released.

I’ve noticed that a lot of authors are also big readers. When you have time for leisure reading what sorts of books do you gravitate towards? Have you read anything good lately?

It’s definitely a challenge to fit in social reading when I always have my nose in a research book, but I think it’s absolutely essential to do it. We learn so much from other authors and it really is nourishing creatively to lose yourself in really good fiction. I don’t actually gravitate toward a specific type of book. I do read historical novels naturally, but if someone has recommended a book outside the genre, that usually goes onto my TBR pile. Lately, I’m crazy about AT THE WATER’S EDGE by Sara Gruen, and not long ago I finally got to MRS. POE by Lynn Cullen since I loved her TWAIN’S END. Loved those!

Are you working on any future books at this time? If so, can you tell us a little about it?

I am absolutely working on a new historical novel based on a true story (my favorite kind!). I am knee deep and loving it, but I’m afraid for the moment the subject is top-secret! I am super excited though to shout it from the mountaintop as soon as I can.

Oh, man, now you have me completely antsy to figure out what you are writing about next! So not far....but I'm really excited so good job there ;). Everyone, find out more about Platinum Doll below and be sure to pick it up as soon as possible!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Publisher: MIRA Books

Publication Date: January 26th, 2016

Pages: 368

Set against the dazzling backdrop of Golden Age Hollywood, Platinum Doll tells the enchanting story of Jean Harlow, one of the most iconic stars in the history of film. 

It's the Roaring Twenties and seventeen-year-old Harlean Carpenter McGrew has run off to Beverly Hills. She's chasing a dream—to escape her small, Midwestern life and see her name in lights. In California, Harlean has everything a girl could want—a rich husband, glamorous parties, socialite friends—except an outlet for her talent. But everything changes when a dare pushes her to embrace her true ambition—to be an actress on the silver screen. 

With her timeless beauty and striking shade of platinum-blond hair, Harlean becomes Jean Harlow. And as she's thrust into the limelight, Jean learns that this new world of opportunity comes with its own set of burdens. Torn between her family and her passion to perform, Jean is forced to confront the difficult truth—that fame comes at a price, if only she's willing to pay it. 

Featuring a glittering cast of ingénues and Hollywood titans—Clara Bow, Clark Gable, Laurel and Hardy, Howard Hughes—Platinum Doll introduces us to the star who would shine brighter than them all.

Praise for Platinum Doll

“A fascinating, page-turning, behind-the-scenes look at what it took to be a celebrity in early  Hollywood.”  Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe and Twain’s End

“An engrossing look at a Hollywood icon. I couldn’t put it down.”  Karleen Koen, New York Times bestselling author of Through A Glass Darkly

"Platinum Doll will entrance readers as Harlow entranced the world."  Heather Webb, author of Rodin's Lover

Buy the Book

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Diane Haeger, who currently writes under the pen name Anne Girard (Madame Picasso), holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in

English Literature from UCLA. A chance meeting with the famed author Irving Stone 25 years ago sharply focused her ambition to tell great stories from history, and write them only after detailed research and extensive travel to the place her character lived. That determination has provided a fascinating journey that has taken her from the halls of Chenonceaux, to a private interview with one of Pablo Picasso's last surviving friends, and most recently an invitation inside Jean Harlow's home.

Since the publication of her acclaimed first novel, Courtesan, in 1993, a novel that remains in print today, her work has been translated into 18 different languages, bringing her international success and award-winning status.

Platinum Doll, a novel about Jean Harlow, is her 15th book. She lives in Southern California with her husband and family.

Find out more about Diane on her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Q & A with Suzanne Redfearn, Author of No Ordinary Life

Please welcome Suzanne Redfearn, author of No Ordinary Life, to A Literary Vacation today! Her new book sounds delicious and I am so pleased she agreed to stop by today and answer some of my questions. Please enjoy and continue after for more information about No Ordinary Life and Suzanne herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much, Suzanne, for taking the time to stop by A Literary Vacation! One of my favorite aspects of interacting with authors is finding out what inspires them to write the novels that they do. Every author seems to have their own unique approach to their craft and learning that process really helps me, as a reader, get a better appreciation for the end result. So I can’t wait to learn more about your process!

Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your amazing blog.

Like a lot of people I can’t help but be drawn to the drama and scandal that seems to surround celebrities in Hollywood, even as, in many cases, I don’t particularly like what I see. In my own life I can’t stand drama, so I think I’m just fascinated by the wild ups and downs that seem to follow them wherever they go. Your novel, No Ordinary Life, centers around a mother that soon finds herself amidst this strange community when her daughter is discovered on a YouTube video and is offered a role on a television show. Where did you come up with this idea?

I completely agree. The world is fascinating and appears so full of intrigue. The idea came to me when I was in line at the grocery store. There was a tabloid with the headline, “Zac Efron Enters Rehab Again.” My daughter was a High School Musical fan when she was little, so I felt like I had watched Zac Efron grow up, and to know he was suffering and that his suffering was being made public made me feel horrible for him and his parents. The idea Child Star popped in my head. At that point I wasn’t certain what the story was going to be, but I liked the idea of exploring what goes on behind the glitz and glamour that causes so many young actors to suffer such tragic setbacks and downfalls. 

When dealing with child celebrities you often find the proverbial “stage mom” not far behind, pushing their child into the spotlight. Would Faye fit into this category, or is her experience different?

She really doesn’t fit that stereotype at all. I wanted her to be sympathetic to readers, and a mother who is exploiting her children is not someone people would root for. She was inspired in part by Pattie Mallette, Justin Bieber’s mom, a young single mom who was struggling financially and whose child was discovered through YouTube. It is only after Faye and her kids are caught up in the world that Faye realizes how dangerous it is. 

Being a contemporary novel, did you have to do any sort of research as part of the writing process? If so, what research did you conduct?

I always do a lot of research before I start writing, especially when I am writing about a world that is unfamiliar to me. I think I have read every autobiography ever written by former child stars. I also did a lot of research into television production, the psychological effects of celebrity, and on selective mutism. 

What does a typical day in your life look like? When do you fit in time to write?

When I am working on a story, I write every day. It is as if I am worried I will lose the idea if I don't get it out. It’s a bit of a compulsion. But I am also only able to write for about two hours before my brain goes numb. So I write in spurts. I will usually wake up and write for a couple of hours, go workout or go for a hike, write in my car (strange but effective) for another couple of hours, take a lunch break, run errands, return home and input the writing I did in my car into the computer. And usually at night, I catch up on research or reading.

A lot of authors have become huge on social media, not only promoting their work but interacting with their readers and offering up giveaways, book recommendations, etc. Are you a big proponent of using social media in this way? How do you prefer to interact with your fans?

You have to be active on social media. It’s how you connect with readers. Especially as a new author, it is a way to get your name out there and for readers to discover you. My favorite part of being an author is interacting with the readers and hearing their opinions and reactions to my stories. 

I’ve noticed that a lot of authors are also big readers. When you have time for leisure reading what sorts of books do you gravitate towards? Have you read anything good lately?

I am a reader, though when I’m writing, my time and brain energy is limited for recreational reading. I am currently reading Chris Bohjalian’s THE GUEST ROOM, and I am enjoying it very much. It’s the first book I’ve read of his, and it’s great to discover a new author. 

Are you working on any future books at this time? If so, can you tell us a little about it?

I am writing a story that I am very excited about. It’s about two moms on the run from the police and their husbands. It’s a road trip story, which I have always wanted to write, and so far I am having a lot of fun with it.

Thank you so much, Suzanne! Your upcoming book sounds very exciting...I keep thinking of Thelma and Louise! Everyone, find out more about No Ordinary Life below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: February 2nd, 2016

Pages:400

Suzanne Redfearn delivers another gripping page-turner in her latest novel, a story about a young mother's fight to protect her children from the dangerous world of Hollywood. 

Faye Martin never expected her husband to abandon her and her three children . . . or that she'd have to struggle every day to make ends meet. So when her four-year-old daughter is discovered through a YouTube video and offered a starring role on a television series, it seems like her prayers have been answered. But when the reality of their new life settles in, Faye realizes that fame and fortune don't come without a price. And in a world where everyone is an actor and every move is scrutinized by millions, it's impossible to know whom to trust, and Faye finds herself utterly alone in her struggle to save her family. 

Emotionally riveting and insightful, No Ordinary Life is an unforgettable novel about the preciousness of childhood and the difficult choices a mother needs to make in order to protect this fragile time in her children's lives.

Praise for No Ordinary Life

“Suzanne Redfearn's NO ORDINARY LIFE is a gripping exploration of a mother's love and the lengths she'll go to protect her children. Redfearn honestly captures one family's meteoric rise and heartbreaking undoing. Compulsively readable, this poignant story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.”  Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence

“Once again, Suzanne Redfearn delivers a fast-paced, compelling story of family, frustration, and the unexpected consequences of a mother's choice. NO ORDINARY LIFE provides a dazzling look inside the entertainment industry, illustrating both the lure and lunacy of child stardom.” Lori Nelson Spielman, #1 international bestselling author of The Life List

Buy the Book

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Suzanne Redfearn is the author of Hush Little Baby, which was chosen as a Target Recommends selection and Target’s Emerging Authors program. She graduated summa cum laude from California Polytechnic University and, prior to becoming an author, was an architect. She is an avid surfer, golfer, skier, and Angels fan. She lives with her husband and children in Southern California. No Ordinary Life is her second novel.

Find out more about Suzanne on her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Happy Release Day! Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner

Today's the day, folks! Stars Over Sunset Boulevard, the exceptional new novel from Susan Meissner, releases into the world today! I absolutely loved this novel and recommend you check it out if you haven't already pre-ordered your copy. If you missed it, you can read my review HERE as well as Susan's wonderful Q & A HERE. There's still a few days to enter to win a SIGNED copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard (US/CAN only) so make sure to leave a relevant comment on the Q & A post if you'd like a chance to win. I sincerely hope everyone loves the novel as much as I do!

Happy Book Birthday 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. 

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

 

 Amazon | Barnes and Noble |  Books A Million | Indie Bound | Powell's

  

About the Author

 

Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include A 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.

For more information on Susan and her books visit her website, and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

 



 

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!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

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

 Amazon | Barnes and Noble |  Books A Million | Indie Bound | Powell's

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.





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

 Amazon | Barnes and Noble |  Books A Million | Indie Bound | Powell's

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.



TLC Book Tours: Review of All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani + Giveaway!!

Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: October 13th, 2015
Pages: 464

Synopsis

Adriana Trigiani, the New York Times bestselling author of the blockbuster epic The Shoemaker's Wife, returns with her biggest and boldest novel yet, a hypnotic tale based on a true story and filled with her signature elements: family ties, artistry, romance, and adventure. Born in the golden age of Hollywood, All the Stars in the Heavens captures the luster, drama, power, and secrets that could only thrive in the studio system—viewed through the lives of an unforgettable cast of players creating magic on the screen and behind the scenes.

In this spectacular saga as radiant, thrilling, and beguiling as Hollywood itself, Adriana Trigiani takes us back to Tinsel Town's golden age—an era as brutal as it was resplendent—and into the complex and glamorous world of a young actress hungry for fame and success. With meticulous, beautiful detail, Trigiani paints a rich, historical landscape of 1930s Los Angeles, where European and American artisans flocked to pursue the ultimate dream: to tell stories on the silver screen.

The movie business is booming in 1935 when twenty-one-year-old Loretta Young meets thirty-four-year-old Clark Gable on the set of The Call of the Wild. Though he's already married, Gable falls for the stunning and vivacious young actress instantly.

Far from the glittering lights of Hollywood, Sister Alda Ducci has been forced to leave her convent and begin a new journey that leads her to Loretta. Becoming Miss Young's secretary, the innocent and pious young Alda must navigate the wild terrain of Hollywood with fierce determination and a moral code that derives from her Italian roots. Over the course of decades, she and Loretta encounter scandal and adventure, choose love and passion, and forge an enduring bond of love and loyalty that will be put to the test when they eventually face the greatest obstacle of their lives.

Anchored by Trigiani's masterful storytelling that takes you on a worldwide ride of adventure from Hollywood to the shores of southern Italy, this mesmerizing epic is, at its heart, a luminous tale of the most cherished ties that bind. Brimming with larger-than-life characters both real and fictional—including stars Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy, David Niven, Hattie McDaniel and more—it is the unforgettable story of one of cinema's greatest love affairs during the golden age of American movie making.

What Did I Think About the Story?

Ah, the glitz and glamour of tinseltown! Who doesn't love the exquisite costumes and makeup, lavish set designs and larger than life personalities of the golden age of Hollywood? I've spent many an hour curled up watching old black and white movies, marveling at the splendor on the screen and own a copy of Gone with the Wind - my favorite movie of all time - in every possible format I can get my hands on so I always have it ready to watch wherever I am. But given this perfection and the powerful emotions drawing the performers together, what happened when the cameras stopped rolling and real-life began? All the Stars in the Heavens tackles not only the beauty of Hollywood during this magical time but the very real and very flawed people who inhabited it.


The story is told in the third person and jumps relatively rapidly from one person's perspective to the other. While this could be confusing at times, once I got used to it I found it a wonderful way to see inside the lives and heads of a large number of players. While the bulk of the focus is on Loretta Young and her secretary, Alda Ducci, the reader also sees into the hearts of a host of other characters, including some pretty famous names such as David Niven, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy. These characters in particular, along with Loretta's mother, sisters and a few others, are wonderfully developed and the dialogue between them is brilliant and witty and feels right out of one of those wonderful movies these people inhabited. There are a number of other high profile names sprinkled throughout this hefty story that seem more used for background development and name dropping than to actually showcase the people behind the names, but the main characters are all developed into incredibly real, flawed people. And oh how flawed they are!


I find it amazing that Adriana Trigiani was able to give me these characters with some serious imperfections in personality and still make me love them. The men are especially selfish and unfaithful - I can't think of one male character, save a few priests, that didn't in fact cheat on the women they were romantically involved with - but somehow their humor, caring hearts and/or their dedication to their careers make them endearing even when you know they are not the type of men any woman would want to marry. The women have their own lapses in judgement and many seem to trade partners and husbands like they might dresses, but their love for family, passions and even religion seemed to shine through the muck they made in their personal lives to make them very real and very endearing. This would include the big "secret" Loretta keeps from most everyone for more years than seems possible and that Alda helps her orchestrate. While I can't say I agree with  many of the choices she made her heart was clearly in the right place and she did the best she could given her experiences and the times she lived in.


On top of the wonderful characters, my favorite aspect of All the Stars in the Heavens would have to be the great attention and detail given to the development of the settings.  Every small detail that went into the making of a movie - from painting and rigging the settings, dressing and making up the stars, filming on locations on and off lots, negotiating contracts, press junkets and fans, and so much more - are shown to the reader so it is impossible to not feel completely enmeshed in the process. The  homes and locations, from Italy to California to a snow-covered mountain in Washington State, are all perfectly presented so the reader can see it all right before them.


This is the first novel I've read by Adriana Trigiani and I am so glad I started with this one. While there might be almost too much development of the many characters and settings throughout this epic novel, it is all and all a wonderful immersion into a particularly fascinating time and place in American history and culture. I not only feel like I was presented with a wonderful story but a better understanding of what it took to make a movie at the dawn of modern cinema. With as much attention as was given to the many people involved I very much wish the author had included a detailed author note at the end of the novel to help me navigate what portions and people are true to history and what was created to advance the story. Even without this I am now ready to delve even further into the history of this golden age in movies and I look forward to reading more by the author as well.    

 

What Did I Think About the Cover?

While I think it's a pretty cover due to the vibrant complimentary colors I don't think it necessarily grabs me. It does have stars and the Hollywood sign so represents that portion of the story, but I can't say it is the type of cover that would make me look twice.


My Rating: 4.0/5.0

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me with a free copy of All the Stars in the Heavens in exchange for an honest review! Be sure to continue below for information on the author, the blog tour and how you can grab your own copy!



Buy the Book

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

About Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani is an award-winning playwright, television writer, and documentary filmmaker. Her
books include the New York Times bestseller The Shoemaker's Wife; the Big Stone Gap series; Very Valentine; Brava, Valentine; Lucia, Lucia; and the bestselling memoir Don't Sing at the Table, as well as the young adult novels Viola in Reel Life and Viola in the Spotlight. She wrote the screenplay for Big Stone Gap, which she also directed. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. Visit Adriana at her website: www.adrianatrigiani.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Giveaway Time!!!

I am so excited to be able to offer one copy of All the Stars in the Heavens up for giveaway, open to US residents!! All you have to do is enter your name and email address on the giveaway form HERE. Please be sure to leave both your name and your email on the form so I can contact you if you are my winner (no email address, no entry!). For extra entries  you can follow the blog in various ways (all links are on the right hand sidebar) and leave the name/email you follow with on the form. That's it!

I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner on October 26h, 2015 and will announce the winner here as well as email the winner for their mailing address. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before I have to pick another winner. If you have already won this giveaway on another site please let me know so I can pick a new winner and give someone else a chance to win a copy of this great book.

Good Luck!!

 

All the Stars in the Heavens Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, October 13th: Books Like Breathing

Wednesday, October 14th: Time 2 Read

Thursday, October 15th: Kritters Ramblings

Friday, October 16th: A Chick Who Reads

Monday, October 19th: A Literary Vacation

Tuesday, October 20th: View from a Birdhouse

Wednesday, October 21st: Peppermint PhD

Thursday, October 22nd: Walking With Nora

Friday, October 23rd: BermudaOnion’s Weblog

Monday, October 26th: Raven Haired Girl

Tuesday, October 27th: Booking Mama

Wednesday, October 28th: Curling Up by the Fire

Thursday, October 29th: Jen’s Book Thoughts

Monday, November 2nd: Kahakai Kitchen

Tuesday, November 3rd: Books on the Table

Thursday, November 5th: I’m Shelf-ish

Thursday, November 5th: Beth Fish Reads

Friday, November 6th: Read. Write. Repeat.

Monday, November 9th: bookchickdi

Tuesday, November 10th: Drey’s Library

Thursday, November 13th: Book Journey

Friday, November 13th: Write Meg