Fabulous Fridays: #52lists Project

This week’s list: List your favorite characters from books, movies, television, etc…

• Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind
• Rose DuWitt Bukater from Titanic
• Darcy Rhone of Something Borrowed/Something Blue
• Margaret Simon from Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
• Farley Drexel Hatcher (aka “Fudge”) from Tales of A Fourth Grade Nothing, Superfudge, Fudge-a-mania, and Double Fudge.
• Jo Polniaczek from The Facts of Life
• Blair Warner from The Facts of Life
• Laura Ingalls Wilder (Specifically Melissa Gilbert’s version) from Little House on the Prairie.

Take Action: Find a common personality trait between all of your favorite characters. What is one character trait you admire?

I’d never really thought about it before until now because they sort of seem like a diverse group in my head. Still, when it comes right down to it all of them (except for maybe Fudge) are more than what they appear to be. At first glance, they seem stereotypical, but when you really get to know the characters, they are a lot deeper, stronger, and opinionated when you first meet them. They may be debutantes, superficial or classic tomboys, but there is always more to them than meets the eye and there is a part of me that has something in common with each one of them.

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Buy It, Borrow It, or Bag It: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

OK, I never claimed to be speedy at reading hot best-selling novels that are eventually made into movies during which Ben Affleck shows us his “full monty.” However, at the suggestion of my good friend and fellow author Sherri Wood Emmons, I finally got around to picking this one up…

While I assume that most of my BBB readers have read this book or seen the movie at this point, I don’t want to give any spoilers just in case. This book has a “Sixth Sense” quality to it. Remember that movie? If you were lucky enough to see it without anyone telling you everything about it, you were pleasantly surprised by the twist at the end. This book is is very similar. You spend a significant amount of the test coming up with your personal theories about the overarching mystery without every considering a more disturbing possibility than you ever thought imaginable. What begins as a seemingly open and shut thriller case, suddenly takes a strange turn into a complex character that is either brilliant or completely psychotic…and it’s a little hard to tell which.

I have never read Flynn’s work before and I don’t know that I will again. I have learned (the hard way) that sometimes when a writer comes up with something incredibly profound, it’s hard to live up to that same expectation every time. Still, kudos to her on this one. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to, but since enough time has passed, feel free to borrow it instead of buy it. It should be easily available at the library at this point…but do read it. Then check out the movie which I am pleased to say follows the storyline very well. Be prepared to finish feeling a little perplexed by the ending and let me know what you thought of it. I’m still trying to figure out what happened to the characters after the chapters ended.

Buy It, Borrow It or Bag It: The Seventh Mother By Sherri Woods Emmons

     Confession time: Sherri is a dear friend of mind with whom I do a lot of signings. Come to think of it, we sell a LOT of each others’ books! LOL She is a terrific writer and I love her work. Of course like any honest friend, I know that I can tell her if a story didn’t resonate as well with me as another one and that my saying this is no reflection on her writing. She also knows that if I rave about it…then I am not kidding and nine times out of ten, I can’t shut up about it.

This was the case with The Seventh Mother. Like a good friend, I bought a copy and put it in my “to be read” pile. However, on one particular day I sat outside and began reading…and COULD NOT STOP. I wish I could tell you why, but this book is COMPELLING. You will literally find yourself saying, “Nothing is happening, how can I be so into this? Why can’t I put it down.” (I’m not kidding.)

The Seventh Mother is told from two perspectives, one of a young girl who is the daughter of a single father and used to women coming and going out of her life. They stay for a while and then…they are gone. The father works from place to place and there is nothing “permanent” about her life. (We all know kids like this.) And the other portion of the book is told from a young woman who is the latest in this long-line of mother figures who genuinely likes this man and loves his daughter enough to move in with them, transfer to a new place and begin to build a “real” life.

However…readers immediately sense that something is wrong here somewhere. Sherri’s incredible writing style sends out vibes that will have your hair standing on end and yet..you won’t know why. (At one point I literally said, “Maybe I’m wrong, maybe it’s just a nice little tale…but another part of me said “nope…keep reading.”) Needless to say, I got nothing accomplished that particular day and when I was finally finished with the text, I was spent. I don’t mind telling you that this psychological thriller/women’s fiction/relationship novel is the BEST of Sherri’s writing because I left a part of myself in the story. I shot her a quick message and said, “THIS one needs to be made into a movie!” (BTW, I never say that.)

Like I said, we are friends, but Sherri knows me well enough to know I would not tell everyone I saw to read this book unless I was that sold on it. It’s not my style. I told her that I was so jealous of her ability and she said “Julie, you’re pretty amazing too, ya know!” But hey, she loves me and is a good friend. LOL

If you liked Gone Girl or love Maeve Binchey, you will LOVE Sherri and the Seventh Mother. If you are looking for a new writer to check out, look no further. Sherri’s it. BUY THIS BOOK. You won’t regret it.

Author Spotlight- Kate Roth Natural Harmony

Today, I am thrilled to present Kate Roth, a fellow author and a dear friend who was a student of mine when she was just starting out! Her first two releases, The Low Notes and Reckless Radiance were so successful that she is continuing the momentum with a brand new series she can’t want to tell you about! 

Name: Kate Roth

      Title of current book: Natural Harmony  (ISBN: 978-0991151400

1. Tell our audience a little about yourself: I’m a writer inspired by music, film, art as well as the wealth of stories I’ve heard through my career as a professional hair stylist. My first two novels, new adult romance The Low Notes and new adult paranormal romance Reckless Radiance were originally released by Rebel Ink Press. Natural Harmony is my third novel and the first in a series of stand-alone romances called The Confession Records Collection. I’m a small business owner and I live in Indiana with my husband, Adam and our dog, Sampson.

2. Tell us a little about your latest release: Suddenly named the acting president of her uncle’s record label, former pop princess Sabrina Walker is finally ready to grow up. While her professional life moves forward, she still clings to the last fragment of her past life in the form of an uncertain relationship with her manager, Beau.

When Sabrina hires handsome, young assistant, Wade Lawson, he awakens in her the hidden confidence she’s always desired. What starts as a casual affair quickly intensifies to something much more.

Sabrina must decide—return to the familiar life of an insecure one-hit-wonder, or embrace Wade and the woman his passion has helped reveal.

3. What was the inspiration behind the story? I’ve always been fascinated with fame and the music industry and for a while I even had dreams of being a singer. I wanted to tell the story of the girl who comes in second and how that doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. Sometimes when one career fizzles, you see another golden opportunity in front of you.

    4. How long did it take you to write it? The initial seed was planted back in January 2013 I think, but I didn’t start writing it until the spring. My first real sprint on it was in May 2013 and I was finished by September. I was living and breathing this book in that short span of time. It just moved right through me.

5. How long did it take you to find your publisher/agent? This book is my first independent novel! I started with a small press in 2012 and as I watched the romance genre and, honestly, the whole of the industry over the last two years, I realized the careers I most aspired to were that of indies. It was a completely new experience and so far I’m loving it. I was recently released from my contracts with my small press for my first two novels so I re-released those as indie works too and I’m very happy right now with the way it’s all playing out.

6. How are you marketing the book? Facebook is probably my biggest marketing tool. I love interacting with my readers and fellow authors. I have a blog tour starting on Jan. 20^th and I’m hoping to gain some attention there as well.

7. Did you always know you wanted to write? Yes. I wrote my first ‘chapter book’ in sixth grade and from then on it was always something I did for fun and for my friends to read. As I got older, I took it a lot more seriously.

8. Do you have a traditional “day job” or are you a full time writer? I am a hair stylist by day. I own a small studio where I do hair four days a week. I would love to be writing full time but for now I’m sticking to two jobs.

9. Who are some of your favorite authors? Growing up I loved Judy Blume and Katherine Applegate. I really love Emily Giffin, Gail McHugh, Joe Hill, Kim Karr and about a thousand more!

10. What’s next for you? I’m working on the next two books of the Confession Records series and after that another New Adult romance set in my fictional town of Wexley Falls. I have a lot of other projects started, including an erotic romance, a Confession Records novella, James’s story from The Low Notes and a handful of others. I have plenty to keep me busy!

11. How can our readers get in contact with you? My website is the best place for finding my purchase links and info about the books. www.katerothwrites.com My Facebook page is where I post a lot of fun teasers, giveaways and what I’m working on daily. www.facebook.com/authorkateroth. I’m also on Twitter @KateRothWrites and have a blog www.katerothwrites.blogspot.com

 

Author Spotlight- Debbie Manber Kupfer author of P.A.W.S.

Debbie Manber Kupfer is today’s author spotlight and I am really happy to introduce her to my friend, readers and fans! Her latest book P.A.W.S. is burning up the Amazon charts and getting some amazing reviews! I am thrilled to give Debbie a chance to share a little about herself with us and hope that everyone has a chance to check her out soon!

      P.A.W.S. (Rocking Horse Publishing ISBN-10: 0989568504, ISBN-13: 978-0989568500)

1. Tell our audience a little about yourself: I grew up in London, and lived in Israel and New York, before finally moving to St. Louis. I have a husband, two kids, and a very opinionated feline. I get through my days by drinking a lot of tea (hot, strong and with milk) and the occasional piece of dark chocolate.

 2. Tell us a little about your latest release: P.A.W.S. is the story of Miri, a young girl who receives a silver cat charm from her grandmother on the day before she dies. The charm holds the family secret that Miri will only discover three years later after she is bullied by a bunch of mean girls at a posh private boarding school near St. Louis. After this Miri’s life becomes a lot more interesting! In addition to P.A.W.S. I recently had a story published in an anthology Fauxpocalypse. My Fauxpocalypse story “Vodka and Watermelons” is based on some of my true life experiences when I was living in Jerusalem.

3. What was the inspiration behind the story? The story of P.A.W.S. came to me in a flash in October 2012. I clearly saw Miri receiving her charm from her omama and knew instantly what it meant. I told my story to my daughter (a writer herself), and she encouraged me to write it.

4. How long did it take you to write it? I wrote the first draft of P.A.W.S. during National Novel Writing Month in November 2012. I then spent months editing and rewriting P.A.W.S.

      5. How long did it take you to find your publisher/agent? I have been writing my whole life, but had never shown any of my work to anyone before, so it was with a huge amount of trepidation that I took the prologue of P.A.W.S. to the writer’s group at All On The Same Page. It was the best thing I ever could have done, because there I met Robin Tidwell of Rocking Horse Publishing, and the rest as we like to say is history.

6. How are you marketing the book? I like to connect with my readers on Facebook, Twitter and on my blog. I’ve also done a few local appearances and plan more in the future.

 7. Did you always know you wanted to write? I’ve always written ever since I was a kid. It’s how I best express myself.

8. Do you have a traditional “day job” or are you a full time writer? When I’m not writing fiction, I write word and logic puzzles for magazines and my puzzle blog – Paws4Puzzles.

9. Who are some of your favorite authors? Absolutely favorite is Douglas Adams, closely followed by J.K. Rowling and Terry Pratchett.

10. What’s next for you? I’m at the editing stage of Argentum, the next in the P.A.W.S. series. In addition I have stories accepted to three anthologies that are due to come out in 2014.

11. How can our readers get in contact with you?

Blogs:  http://debbiemanberkupfer.wordpress.com

http://paws4puzzles.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebbieManberKupferAuthor?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CiciCat42

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-Manber-Kupfer/e/B00DHPNJ5I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7142164.Debbie_Manber_Kupfer