* BOOKS GALORE FROM THE DOLLAR STORE *

I did it again! I went to Dollar Tree for approximately five items, and came home with twenty eight...SEVEN of those being hardcover books! (I just blogged about this same topic on February 8th)

 

I just cannot resist books. I almost walked right past the aisle, but then noticed the book section seemed to have expanded since my last visit. So,  my cart was magnetically pulled to the left. What could I do but hang on and go with it?

 

I've never been one to completely "judge a book by its cover," but if it's obvious it's something gory, zombie-like, science fiction, etc....I know I won't read it. Out of these seven books, I'm aware of two authors and their genre: Bill Geist and William Least Heat Moon, but the other five I chose for either or all of the following reasons:

 

1) I liked the title

2) I read a few of the blurbs on the back covers

3) I read the first few sentences of Chapter One

4) The cover did catch my attention

 



 

So...which book to read first?? What a decision to make...although I knew if I didn't like it, I'd try another one. I chose One For The Books, by Joe Queenan. I mean....look at that cover! A book, about the love of books, with lots of colorful books on the cover! One of the reviews on Amazon, by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, says this: "A passionate, at times hilarious, account of a life spent reading and rereading."

 

Mr. Queenan is definitely a fabulous satirist and humorist, and a true bibliophile! I've read about the first 50 pages and I'm loving it. Some of his opinions and experiences pertaining to books are laugh-out-loud funny. A few I agree with...and others I don't.

 

I'll post my final thoughts when I finish reading it.

 

~~~

 

What about you? Do you buy books very often? Where have you found some of your best buys? Did any of these random purchases make a huge difference in your life? I have one that immediately comes to  mind:

 

 

I bought this at the Army PX in a small German town in the 1970s. It changed my life! 

 

 



* CAROL KILGORE'S "SECRETS OF HONOR" *

 

I'm happy to take part in the book cover reveal party for Carol Kilgore's new novel,

Secrets of Honor

 

Many of you already know Carol because of her awesome blog, Under the Tiki Hut. I always enjoy her Friday's Top Ten, and she's also the Hostess with the Mostest for guest bloggers. (I've been her guest and had a blast sipping exotic drinks one of her cabana boys would bring with just a simple, "Oh, cabana boy! I'd like a cool drink with a tiny umbrella in it, please!)



 

BLURB for SECRETS OF HONOR

By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple.

As an operative for a covert agency buried in the depths of the Department of Homeland Security, Kat is asked to participate in a matter of life or death—locate a kidnapped girl believed to be held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since the person doing the asking is the wife of the president and the girl is the daughter of the first lady’s dearest friend, it’s hard to say no.

Kat and Dave quickly learn the real stakes are higher than they or the first lady believed and will require more than any of them bargained for.

The kicker? They have twenty-four hours to find the girl—or the matter of life or death will become more than a possibility.

~~~

BIO

Carol writes grocery lists, texts to her family, new lyrics to old songs for her dogs, love notes to her husband, and novels for herself. And for you. In between, she blogs weekly at Under the Tiki Hut and is active on Facebook and Twitter.

She sees mystery and subterfuge everywhere. And she’s a sucker for a good love story—especially ones with humor and mystery. Crime Fiction with a Kiss gives her the latitude to mix and match throughout the broad mystery and romance genres. Having flexibility makes her heart happy.

~~~

 

You can connect with Carol and her books here:

Under the Tiki Hut blog:  http://www.underthetikihut.blogspot.com

Website with Monthly Contest: http://www.carolkilgore.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carol.kilgore1

Twitter: http://twitter.com/carol_kilgore

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094110.Carol_Kilgore

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carol-Kilgore/e/B008FRCXQY

 ~~~

TAG LINES for SECRETS OF HONOR:

Once upon a time, there was a jewel thief. Her name was Katia. She worked for The Government. Yes, that government. But one day, Kat took something she shouldn’t have. She really shouldn't have done that.

Once upon a time, there was a jewel thief—for The Government. Yes, that government. But one day, she took something she shouldn’t have. And then she met the Wicked Witch.

He's hot.
And she's a doozy.
They've known each other for years.
But on this one particular night. . . .

Sometimes, a woman has to do what a woman has to do . . . even when she knows she shouldn't.

Life was so simple—until she had to save one.

She knows how to take things, but now she must find a person.

~~~

* Carol is a very talented and giving person. She encourages authors of all genres and at all stages of their careers. I'm happy to be one of her hosts. *

* If other writers would like to be highlighted on my blog, please leave a comment or e-mail me at Writergal 53 (at) Gmail (dot) com. AND, if you've already contacted me and I haven't responded, you have my sincere apologies. Please e-mail me again! *

"From Pigtails to Chin Hairs" -- COVER REVEAL

No, you didn't misread that. Yes, it's unbelievable, but today is the day I can reveal the cover of my memoir, From Pigtails to Chin Hairs: A Memoir & More.

* Update 11/11: The paperback edition is now available on Amazon, with the Kindle version coming asap.*

~~~

** Synopsis **

         In "From Pigtails to Chin Hairs: A Memoir & More," Becky Lewellen Povich takes us from her young Midwestern childhood in the 1950s to present day. Chapters are vignettes of everyday happenings, or unexpected events, written in the way only Becky can, with humor and poignancy woven into them. It begins with her years of summertime fun, Christmases, the neighborhood kids, classmates, trips to the dentist, and long car rides to visit grandparents in Iowa.

         She willingly shares the bittersweet times which include her parents' divorce, major disappointments, preteen and teenage angst, a whack on her head from a falling crowbar, and her ill-fated first marriage, spent mostly in Germany. She also comically writes about her happy second marriage, cell phones, dishwashers, and how she was born with a klutz gene.

         Becky is an award winning author with publications in Chicken Soup for the Soul books and other anthologies such as, Thin Threads, Not Your Mother's Book On…, and Patchwork Path; plus newspapers and small magazines. 

~~~

 *A few chapter titles to entice you *

Paradise on Preston Lane

Multiplication Made Easy

Piggy Back Toes & Coffee Can Spittoons 

Lost on a Continental Trailways Bus

That Crowbar Changed Everything

The Tupperware Queen of Tacoma, Washington

Why Do I Say These Things?

Keep Those Tweezers Handy

~~~

I'll have a PayPal widget on my website ASAP if anyone would like to order directly from me (for a signed book, maybe.) I'll have some bookplates, too, that I can mail. I will also accept checks, of course!

I think words like dreaming and surreal may be a bit overused these days, so I'll attempt to come up with different ones to describe my feelings about finally reaching this point in my writing life. How about: flabbergasted? dazed? astounded? dumbfounded? Yes, I believe those are good ones.

A few friends have already offered to mention my memoir on their blogs and to them I say, Thank you so much. I've been reading about and preparing my marketing and promotion for years (and I do mean years). I think I've mentioned before, it can be somewhat overwhelming, but it's a really good way of being overwhelmed!

In honor of being able to reveal the cover, I'm having a give-away for a print copy, and everyone is eligible. I'm not restricting it to just the US and Canada this time. * In my excitement, I forgot to post a deadline for the give-away. I'll make it this Thursday, Nov 14th.*

The Rules Are:

1) You must be a follower

2) Leave a comment

  That's all! 

As usual, I'm ending this post with a quote. This one in particular spoke to me.

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe." - Gail Devers

* What's That on My Doorstep?! *

This past Wednesday, October 16th, I received the proof copy of my memoir!

The above photos are examples of the emotions I went through!

I knew there was a very good chance the photo I used on the cover would be too blurry, and it is....so that was a bit of a letdown. (I promise it is NONE of these!) "Blurry" is one thing when it comes to old pictures, but in the case of my cover, I think it just comes across as "another crappy self-published book with an awful cover!" And I certainly don't want that!

BUT, I'm very happy with the interior paper and print quality. So, during the time it takes to reread the entire book, searching for any typos, and various possible errors, I'll find a solution to the cover issue. 

I would love to post the cover today, but I just cannot until it is perfect. The saga continues!




"Never give up. And most importantly, be true to yourself. Write from your heart, in your own voice, and about what you believe in." -- Louise Brown

* Cover Reveal for Julie Flanders *

I'm very happy to take part in the cover reveal of Julie Flanders' debut novel ~ Polar Night

Julie is a writer blog friend who is always so supportive of others and I'm grateful that somehow our paths crossed. Please take a moment to read the book blurb and feel free to leave a comment directed to Julie. She'll be stopping by later. 

Book Blurb: When Detective Danny Fitzpatrick leaves his hometown of Chicago and moves to Fairbanks, Alaska he wants nothing more than to escape the violence and heartbreak that left his life in pieces. Numbed by alcohol and the frozen temperatures of an Alaskan winter, Danny is content with a dead-end job investigating Fairbanks' cold cases. That all changes when a pretty blond woman goes missing on the winter solstice, and Danny stumbles upon some surprising connections between her disappearance and that of another Fairbanks woman three years earlier. Forced out of his lethargy, Danny sets out to both find the missing woman and solve his own cold case.

The investigation points Danny towards Aleksei Nechayev, the handsome and charming proprietor of an old asylum turned haunted tourist attraction in the Arctic town of Coldfoot. As he tries to find a link between Nechayev and his case, Danny's instinct tells him that Nechayev is much more than what he seems.

Danny has no idea that Nechayev is hiding a secret that is much more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined. As his obsession with finding the missing women grows, Danny finds his own life in danger. And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same.

Bio: Julie Flanders is a librarian and a freelance writer who has written for both online and print publications. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her dog and cat. Polar Night, a suspense thriller with a supernatural twist, is her first novel. It will be published by Ink Smith Publishing on February 7, 2013. Find Julie online at her blog, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

A Girl Named Zippy

I'm almost certain that I've blogged about the memoir A Girl Named Zippy, by Haven Kimmel, but I didn't see it listed in my Labels. It's possible I wrote about it before I started using labels, because I didn't know what they were or how to use them until about two years ago!

So, anyway.....When A Girl Named Zippy was first published in early 2001, I bought the hardcover. It was displayed in the New Books section of my favorite indie book store, Main Street Books, in St. Charles, Missouri. The store was still at its old, and I think original, location. Sometime soon I'll do an entire post about the store and a little of its history.

courtesy: google.books.com

I bought it for the same reasons I choose any book, whether I'm buying it or borrowing it from the library:

1) The cover really caught my eye. I mean, really....look at that adorable face!

2) I read a bit of the first page or two and flipped through it, noticing the photos. 

3) I liked the writer's style, her voice. 

I don't remember if I read "Zippy" before or after May of 2001, but it was somewhere in that time period. Why does that matter? My estranged dad became very ill in May 2001 and wasn't expected to live. I went to see him and when I got home, my feelings just flowed out of me and....long story short.....I realized I was a writer. I discovered my passion at the ripe old age of almost 50.

The entire time I read it, I kept thinking, If I wrote a memoir, it would be like this!  I was definitely not comparing myself or my writing in any way to Ms. Kimmel. Not at all. What I meant was the small town life, the little adventures of a young girl who had a couple of much older siblings, the similar era although I'm older, and the use of B&W photos. Reading that book prompted and inspired me to write, and not only to write, but to submit my writing.....without fear. I owe so much to little Zippy. 

As I get closer to finishing my first book, a memoir, my excitement builds. My book cover hasn't really been discussed much yet, but I'm leaning toward something like this: What do you think??

From Pigtails to Chin Hairs

A Memoir & More

by Becky Lewellen Povich

Finally, I'm so excited about a package I received yesterday from Amazon.com. (Yes, I shop at various book venues.) I've never listened to an audio book before, but when I heard about this one, I just had to have it. (P.S. I got it from one of Amazon's vendors and it is brand new, still in plastic wrap. The retail price on it is $26.95, and I got it for less than $10.00, including shipping.)

My hardcover "Zippy" book on the left, plus its new companion: my new audio book! 
It's on 5 CDs and is read by the author, Haven Kimmel. I can't wait to start listening.

What about you? Have you ever listened to audio books? 

Are you a writer? 

What writers/books have influenced you?

*Welcome to my two newest followers, Elizabeth Seckman and Pat Nelson. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! * 




Tune in tomorrow when I'll have some contest information to share.

Book Blurb Friday #2

I'm participating in a brand new meme, Book Blurb Friday, hosted by Lisa Ricard Claro over at Writing in the Buff. Lisa supplies a photo to be used as the book cover of an imaginary book. Those who participate are to give the book a title and to write a blurb of 150 words or less, in an attempt to entice readers to purchase the book.This is Week Two and I had a lot of fun taking on this challenge!

Unfamiliar Gleams

Alone, frightened, and feeling lost among the shadowy trees, Barb felt perspiration trickle down her back. What made her think a walk in the woods would clear her head? The only result, so far, was her realization that she had no navigational skills. She should stick to what she enjoys and what she's good at….sitting and reading.

As she continued to wander, so did her mind, analyzing her last conversation with her dad. Why had he said those things? What did he hope to prove?

Barb stumbled over a small, rotting log, barely keeping her balance. She began to cry, out of fear and anger and hurt. After steadying herself, she looked ahead and noticed sun rays streaming through the leaves. Running toward the dazzling light, joy and relief spread through her body like ripples in a stream. There in the brightness stood her dad.
(145 words)

* Titles Being Tossed Around....Still *

I don't know why I'm driving myself nuts about choosing the title for my memoir. It's not as if I have to make a decision right now. It's not as if I can't write another word until I've absolutely, positively selected the name, signed with my blood on the dotted line, and done the "my handshake is my word" thing. BUT, ever since my publisher and I talked a few months ago about doing a sample book cover, it's been hanging over, in, and around my head.

I want that feeling of looking up from my laptop and seeing the mock-up pinned to my bulletin board. I want to feel that "skip a heartbeat, tingling in my stomach" kind of feeling whenever I see it. I just know that when my decision has been made, I'll be at peace with myself. I'll be able to zoom happily along and finish my book right on time, or even a little bit sooner.

My indecision reared its ugly head yesterday, right after our Saturday Writers meeting. (which was another fantastic meeting with a great turn out.) As soon as two of the board members heard me talking about  changing the title and looking at different possible cover ideas, they both proclaimed their love of my old, original title. The one I've been carrying around in this crazy head of mine for quite a few years. And I DO still love it and I DO believe it will grab people.

So, more anxiety about The Title. I think this calls for a late afternoon nap, especially since I haven't slept much in the past 24 hours...and...and.......Zzzzzzz

* If I Think It's Thursday, It Must Be Tuesday *

I know I've used this title before, or something very similar, but it's exactly how I feel today! Deja Vu .... All Over Again!

My blog posts and comments are going to get fewer and far between. I'm getting down to the last stretch of the race.....completing my memoir......and I've got to concentrate on it now more than ever.

I will tell you this, too.....I'm 99% sure I've chosen the title.....and possibly the cover! I just have to get with my publisher and go over it with her.

It's hard to stay in my chair and keep writing and editing, when I'm bouncing off the walls with excitement! ☺

Oh, also Hello and Welcome to my two newest followers: Donna Fentanes & Catherine Lavoie! Thank you and I hope you continue to stop by whenever you have the time!

"Right now is the best time to lead and charge and check off one more action step toward the realization of your vision." -- Pat Croce

The Times They Are a-Changin' ..with 2 add'l notes!

Changin'? Oh yeah! After discussing the sample of my cover today with Lou Turner, my publisher, she and I both envision a new direction....for both the cover....and the title! Instead of humorous...we're going to go with a nostalgic look.

I can't even remember how many years it's been since I chose the title for my memoir: That Crowbar Changed Everything! I was so sure IT was the one and only title I would ever want....Hmmm....just goes to show you (and me!) that sometimes what seems like THE only way to do something....ISN'T.

So, here's the fun part. I was thinking about what kind of contest I'd have for January....and now I know! Please help me with a new title for my memoir! I may not choose any of the suggested titles, but for each one, you'll be entered in the contest. The more titles, the more chances of winning. You don't even have to be a follower. Just leave a genuine possible title. The time frame of the book is from the 1950s til present, and it's both humorous and bittersweet.

I'll choose the winner a week from today, at midnight CST on January 25th, by random.org. The winner will win prizes yet to be determined! (My book title will not necessarily be the one suggested, either.)

Oh, and this little detour has not slowed down my determination or my happiness. In fact, I'm even more excited than I was yesterday! I just hope I can sleep tonight!

**Note: Added Wednesday, Jan 19th, morning. Thanks for all the suggestions already! This is so much fun! I wanted to mention that yesterday before I posted this, I looked on Amazon to check if there were any books already "out there" that had titles I was considering. And guess what?? There were some with the exact titles, and some with similar ones. I then looked just in the memoir section, and there were some that I thought had really strange or just plain bad titles! So, what did that teach me? I'm not really sure yet! But I think when THE title hits me.....I'll know it!!

**2nd Note: Added Wednesday, Jan 19th, afternoon:  It occurred to me that maybe I should provide a little more information about myself and my memoir, too! (I really didn't think that up myself. Someone e-mailed and asked!) So, here's a brief summary:

It will be short stories, in no particular order, about instances in my life....both childhood and adult. Some humorous, some sad...and maybe a little of both in the same story. Childhood vacations at grandma and grandpa's in Iowa. Schools. Jobs.Watching old TV shows in the 1950s & 60s. Parents. Siblings. First marriage "issues". Pet dog stories. My sons. The Ronald. Bus rides. Train rides. You know.....just life!! Oh, and my dad left us when I was about 8 years old. It was very devastating and it was honestly due to him that I became a writer...in my late forties!!

How's that?! I've had this all in my head and on paper for soooooo long, that I forget that not everyone knows all about it, or all about me, etc!

(image courtesy: boxshot3d.com)

"We don't know who we are until we see what we can do." -- Martha Grimes, Writer's Handbook