Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse Giveaway Winners

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse Giveaway Winners

Milkweed Press along with Faith Sullivan, who was the November Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on BookSnob. are giving away 3 copies of Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse to BookSnob readers.   The Wall Street Journal listed Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse as one of the best books of 2015.

And the winners are.....

Carl Scott
Elizabeth Barnes Bevin
Stephanie Sandefur


Congratulations everyone.  Enjoy your new book!

Here is an excerpt from my book review:

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse is a gem of a story that is a love letter to independent women and book lovers and social studies teachers like me.  There is a entertaining and lovable cast of characters that flit in and out of significant historical events that make you hold your breath and hope for the best.

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse by Faith Sullivan

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse by Faith Sullivan

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse begins with an obituary for Nell Stillman, written by Nell Stillman 15 years before she died.

When I opened Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse and began reading I felt like I was coming home to lovely evening with old friends. Friends from the fictional place of Harvester, Minnesota.  Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse spans Nell's lifetime from her first year of marriage and the birth of her son to her death in 1960.

Nell becomes a 3rd grade teacher out of necessity when her abusive husband dies and she must raise her son alone.  She struggles to find her way amidst the small town life of rumors and distrust as she creates life long friends and a space to call her own.
She is an independent woman when woman are supposed to rely on a man to provide and support her.  She becomes a book lover and a supporter of public libraries. Her books help her escape and are trusted friends, especially the books by P.G. Wodehouse.
(Psst, I've never read a book by P.G. Wodehouse, please don't tell the Faith Sullivan.)

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse is a gem of a story that is a love letter to independent women and book lovers and social studies teachers like me.  There is a entertaining and lovable cast of characters that flit in and out of significant historical events that make you hold your breath and hope for the best. My favorite characters from Sullivan's former books make an appearance and I was so glad.  I really just wanted to sit down and have tea at the table and discuss the love of books with them.

I totally love the book cover.  The book cover is amazing and reminds me of the classic look of Goodnight, Moon.

Faith Sullivan writes with heart and quiet strength.  Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse is like a fine glass of wine and a warm fire.  The story glows with wit and wisdom and celebrates the art of the story.   The story of a woman who loves her son and teaching and books.  The story of friendships, of triumph and tragedy, of a simple life in a small town.  The story of all of us.

Baseball Guy. The Book by Gordy Jones

Baseball Guy. The Book by Gordy Jones

Are you ready for some Baseball?

Baseball Guy is a book for kids and adults who love baseball.  This children's book incorporates rhyme and crayon like watercolor drawings to inspire love of the classic sport.  All the characters are smiling and joyful as a young boy dreams of making his goal of being a major league baseball player come true.

The story embodies hard work and persistence as well as the love of family.  There is all kinds of baseball goodness in the back of the book as the author, Gordy Jones has some serious baseball connections with players from the Minnesota Twins.  Many valued players have written a statement in the back of the book complete with pictures.

This lovely children's book would make a great gift for the baseball lover in your life.

If you read Baseball Guy, you just might catch a case of Baseball Fever.

The High Divide Giveaway

The High Divide Giveaway

Lin Enger is the Minnesota Author in the spotlight here on Booksnob for the month of December and he is giving away 3 copies of his wonderful book, The High Divide to followers from the United States or Canada.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

“A deeply moving, gripping novel about one man’s quest for redemption and his family’s determination to learn the truth . . .  Layered with meaning, this remarkable novel deserves to be read more than once. The High Divide proves Enger’s chops as a masterful storyteller.” —Ann Weisgarber, author of The Promise

In 1886, Gretta Pope wakes one morning to discover that her husband is gone. Ulysses Pope has left his family behind on the far edge of Minnesota’s western prairie with only the briefest of notes and no explanation for why he left or where he’s headed. It doesn’t take long for Gretta’s young sons, Eli and Danny, to set off after him, following the scant clues they can find, jumping trains to get where they need to go, and ending up in the rugged badlands of Montana.

Gretta has no choice but to search for her sons and her husband, leading her to the doorstep of a woman who seems intent on making Ulysses her own. Meanwhile, the boys find that the closer they come to Ulysses’ trail, the greater the perils that confront them, until each is faced with a choice about whom he will defend, and who he will become.

Enger’s breathtaking portrait of the vast plains landscape is matched by the rich expanse of his characters’ emotional terrain, as pivotal historical events--the bloody turmoil of expansionism, the near total demise of the bison herds, and the subjugation of the Plains Indians--blend seamlessly with the intimate story of a family’s sacrifice and devotion.

Giveaway Rules:
Fill out the form
Must be a resident from U.S./Canada
Contest Ends 1/18 at midnight
Good Luck!

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Faith Sullivan Author Interview

Faith Sullivan Author Interview

Faith is one of my favorite authors and happens to be the November Author in the Spotlight here on BookSnob.  I had the chance to ask her some questions and we played email tag for a couple of weeks but finally the interview answers are here.  I am thrilled and you will be happy to know more about Faith Sullivan and her reading and writing life.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

 I grew up in small-town southern Minnesota, hence the locale of my Harvester novels, I suppose.  I'm married to retired journalist Dan Sullivan, have three grown children, all writers, and a two-year-old grandson Jack, whose parents are a writer and a librarian.  As the child is alarmingly verbal, he's quite possibly headed in the same direction as the rest of the family.

I began writing novels in my forties and have continued for forty-some years, producing eight, with two more "in the oven," so to speak.

2. What inspired you to write Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse?

I was inspired to write Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse because I have worshipped at the Wodehouse altar for about as many years as I've been wandering the novel-writing territory.  And, when I sat down to write about Nell Stillman, a woman I've dealt with in previous novels, though never as a leading character, her life seemed perfect for a union with Wodehouse.  She has a hard life and his stories are an anodyne.

3. Usually an author puts some of his own life experiences in the book.  Did you do that?     Do you have anything in common with your characters?

My novels are never autobiographical though I do avail myself of things I know: small town life; teaching in public schools; Catholicism; and since I was a history major, I enjoy throwing a bit of that into the mix.

4.   Can you tell us why you decided to become a writer?  What is one of your daily writing rituals or

habits?

 I became a novelist because I had stories to tell that no one else wanted to write.  Or maybe could write.  They were mine. They grew out of my particular and peculiar brain.  I continue writing for the same reason.  Basically, I am a morning writer, always have been.  In the p.m., I edit or research. I am fortunate enough to have a book-filled office in my home, though I suppose I could write anywhere. Most writers could.  Writing fiction is a fine madness, and those afflicted will find a way to do it, no matter what.

5.   Do you like to read?  What authors or books influence you?

Any fiction writer who doesn't read is either a fool or a liar.  Writing is a craft as well as an art and it must be constantly honed if rot is not to set in.  We learn from each other, as with any art or craft.  So we read and write and write and write.  Among my favorite writers are P. G. Wodehouse, Jane Austen, David McCullough; Geraldine Brooks; the late Bill Holm; and my many brilliant friends  --  novelists, children's writers, poets, etc.  As to what authors have influenced me, all of them in some way.

6.  Name one P.G. Wodehouse book that you believe is a must read for everyone and tell us why?

If, as a reader, one is just setting out on the Wodehouse trail, I'd say begin with any of the Jeeves and Wooster books. Jeeves and Wooster are so exquisitely realized, it is difficult to find their equals in modern literature.  But do not stop there.  Race on to the Blandings Castle books and the Psmith novels, and . . . well, just keep going.

7.  I love that many of your books center around a small fictional town in Minnesota called Harvester.  Was this intentional?  Did you know this would happen when you started The Cape Ann?

The Harvester Books, so called, began when my husband suggested that I should write a sequel to The Cape Ann.  I, in the meantime, had grown attached to the Wheeler family in that same book and had determined to explore the dynamics of a family in which the mother was a severe depressive.  In writing The Empress of One, I found that I savored the opportunity to return to earlier characters, further revealing their complexity.

8.  Nell Stillman, the main character of Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse plays a role in some of your other novels as well.  Can you discuss which novels and why Nell’s story needed to be told?

Nell Stillman, protagonist of Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse, appears in The Cape Ann, The Empress of One, and peripherally in Gardenias.  In these novels, I found her both heroic and human, someone extraordinary who would characterize herself as "very ordinary."  And isn't that the way with many of the extraordinary people we encounter?  I suppose one of the reasons I write fiction is to explore this phenomenon of the extraordinary in the seemingly commonplace.

9.  Are you working on a new book?  Can you tell us a little bit about it?

I am at work on two new novels.  I'll speak about the first, Ruby.  It grew out of a recollection in the Wodehouse book of a farmer's hired girl who falls in love with the married farmer across the road and what unexpected consequences ensue.

10. In one sentence tell readers why they should read Good Night, Mr.Wodehouse?

Reading Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse is worth a reader's time because, as well as chronicling the life of an extraordinary woman, it offers fresh insights into the reasons we read and why books are the most accessible of all life-saving devices.

  

[COPYRIGHT 2015 FAITH SULLIVAN]

Thanks Faith!!

You can find Faith at her website:  http://faithsullivan.com/

Announcing the December Author in the Spotlight

Announcing the December Author in the Spotlight

December is here and the holiday season has begun.  Now I'm in a mad rush to buy gifts for Christmas, grade papers and do final grades for my college class and read as many books as possible to up my total of books read for 2015. There is only 3 and a half more weeks of the year to read and I'm behind in my reading goal. I don't think I'm going to make it to 90 books this year. Sad.

December's author is new to me.  His name is Lin Enger and we met briefly at the Twin Cities Book Festival.  His books come highly recommended by my bookish friends so I'm excited to read them.  Lin has a brother named Leif Enger, who is also a writer, and many of you have possibly heard of him or read his famous novel, Peace Like a River.

Here are Lin Enger's books and the synopsis from Goodreads:

The High Divide:  “A deeply moving, gripping novel about one man’s quest for redemption and his family’s determination to learn the truth . . .  Layered with meaning, this remarkable novel deserves to be read more than once. The High Divide proves Enger’s chops as a masterful storyteller.” —Ann Weisgarber, author of The Promise

In 1886, Gretta Pope wakes one morning to discover that her husband is gone. Ulysses Pope has left his family behind on the far edge of Minnesota’s western prairie with only the briefest of notes and no explanation for why he left or where he’s headed. It doesn’t take long for Gretta’s young sons, Eli and Danny, to set off after him, following the scant clues they can find, jumping trains to get where they need to go, and ending up in the rugged badlands of Montana.

Gretta has no choice but to search for her sons and her husband, leading her to the doorstep of a woman who seems intent on making Ulysses her own. Meanwhile, the boys find that the closer they come to Ulysses’ trail, the greater the perils that confront them, until each is faced with a choice about whom he will defend, and who he will become.

Enger’s breathtaking portrait of the vast plains landscape is matched by the rich expanse of his characters’ emotional terrain, as pivotal historical events--the bloody turmoil of expansionism, the near total demise of the bison herds, and the subjugation of the Plains Indians--blend seamlessly with the intimate story of a family’s sacrifice and devotion.

Undiscovered Country:  Unaware that his life is about to change in ways he can't imagine, seventeen-year-old Jesse Matson ventures into the northern Minnesota woods with his father on a cold November afternoon. Perched on individual hunting stands a quarter-mile apart, they wait with their rifles for white-tailed deer. When the muffled crack of a gunshot rings out, Jesse unaccountably knows something is wrong-and he races through the trees to find his dad dead of a rifle wound, apparently self-inflicted.

But would easygoing Harold Matson really kill himself? If so, why?

Haunted by the ghost of his father, Jesse delves into family secrets, wrestles with questions of justice and retribution, and confronts the nature of his own responsibility. And just when he's decided that he alone must shoulder his family's burden, the beautiful and troubled Christine Montez enters his life, forcing him to reconsider his plans.

In spare, elegant prose, Lin Enger tells the story of a young man trying to hold his family together in a world tipped suddenly upside down. Set among pristine lakes and beneath towering pines, Undiscovered Country is at once a bold reinvention of Shakespeare's
Hamlet and a hair-bristling story of betrayal, revenge, and the possibilities of forgiveness.

This month you can expect a giveaway, a book review, an author interview and if we are lucky a guest post.  Please check out Lin Enger's books and her website at http://www.lin-enger.com/

Kitchens of the Great Midwest Giveaway Winner!

Kitchens of the Great Midwest Giveaway Winner!

J. Ryan Stradal was the Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob for the month of October.  Stradal and his publisher, Penguin Random House are giving away one copy of his awesome book, Kitchens of the Great Midwest to one lucky winner from the United States.  Yay!!
And the lucky winner is ........

Karen D. from Michigan

Congratulations Karen!!

I know you will enjoy and love this book.

Here is an excerpt from my book review:

Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an enjoyable read, one that is delectable, delightful and delicious. It has inspired me to start a cooking club with friends.  This book is creative, daring and fun.  Stradal has embodied the Midwest and the people who live there in a book and it is splendid.

Book lovers, foodies and wine connoisseurs, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is calling your name.

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse Giveaway

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse Giveaway

Faith Sullivan is the November Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on BookSnob and she, along with her awesome publisher, Milkweed Press, are giving away 3 hard cover copies of her book to followers in the U.S. and Canada.  Yay.  You should be jumping for joy. If you have never read Faith Sullivan before you are in for a treat.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

Throughout her life, Nell Stillman has struggled to find meaning in an increasingly chaotic world. A complicated marriage to a boorish husband; an early widowhood spent longing for her congressman lover; the loss of her child, a shell shocked WWI hero — her road has not been easy. But somehow she manages to find moments of grace, more often than not through the genial voice of P.G. Wodehouse, the beloved British novelist. Spanning the first half of the twentieth century, Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse celebrates the power of great novels — from Austen to Chekhov — to transform, console, and teach us the value of friendship and love.

We first traveled to Harvester, Minnesota, twenty-five years ago in the bookclub favorite and New York Times best-selling novel, The Cape Ann. This new book, which brings us home to that small town on the prairie along with all of the wonderful characters who live there, is sure to be a classic.

Rules:
To Enter please fill out the form
Must be a resident of U.S. or Canada
Contest ends Dec 13th at midnight


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October Author in the Spotlight Wrap-Up + Giveaway

October Author in the Spotlight Wrap-Up + Giveaway

October is over and November moved in.  I had a good month of October.  The weather was joyful and I was able to take my dog to the dog park several times and hike in the woods by our house.  My dog, Titus, had surgery in March and he is finally healed enough that he can run and walk long distances.   It has been wonderful.  The first quarter of the school is over already. I'm planning a trip to Spain and Morocco with my students in June and I'm super excited for this.  I love traveling so much.

Another thing I really love is food.  I am an adventurous eater for sure and J. Ryan Stradal, the October Minnesota Author in the Spotlight has written an awesome novel for people who love great characters, good storytelling and food.

If you would like to win a copy of Kitchens of the Great Midwest enter here: Kitchens of the Great Midwest Giveaway
Hurry it ends at midnight eastern time.

Please check out my book review of Kitchen of the Great Midwest.  Kitchens of the Great Midwest is a delicious book full of wonderful food and recipes and dinner parties.  The food is Midwestern favorites, State Fair bake-offs and your mouth is going to water. Stradal's book is a well written novel about midwestern characters that grab your heart or make you want to punch them in the face. Welcome to Minnesota nice (which really means passive-aggressive)

Kitchens of the Great Midwest Book Review

Next check out J. Ryan's Author Interview.  J. Ryan is the Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob for the scary month of October and he has written a delicious book called Kitchens of the Great Midwest and it really, really good and you are going to love it.  I had the chance to ask J. Ryan some questions during his busy book tour, about his book, his life and his love of food and books.

J. Ryan Stradal Author Interview

I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to meet J. Ryan Stradal and that he agreed to be featured on BookSnob.  I cannot wait to read what he writes next and I hope we can work together in the future.  I hope you get a chance to read J. Ryan's book and check out his website at http://www.jryanstradal.com

Have a great reading month.

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

Eva Thorvald is a Midwestern woman with a once-in-a-generation palate.  Kitchens of the Great Midwest is the story of Eva's life as told from the perspectives of everyone seated at the dinner party of her life.  Eva's biological father Lars is a great chef who falls in love with her mother, a wine expert who cannot handle being a mother and runs away.  His love of food is passed on to Eva.  At an early age, Eva has fallen in love with hot and spicy peppers.  She grows them in her bedroom, makes her own pepper jelly and hot sauce and tortures her tormentors with her spicy creations.

Eva is such an interesting character. You get to figure out the puzzle of Eva's life.  Each chapter is a snapshot into who Eva is and how she became this amazing chef who hosts the most creative and interesting dinners in the world and people are on the waiting list for years.

Kitchens of the Great Midwest is a delicious book full of wonderful food and recipes and dinner parties.  The food is Midwestern favorites, State Fair bake-offs and your mouth is going to water. Stradal's book is a well written novel about midwestern characters that grab your heart or make you want to punch them in the face.  Welcome to Minnesota nice (which really means passive-aggressive).

Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an enjoyable read, one that is delectable, delightful and delicious. It has inspired me to start a cooking club with friends.  This book is creative, daring and fun.  Stradal has embodied the Midwest and the people who live there in a book and it is splendid.

Book lovers, foodies and wine connoisseurs, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is calling your name.

Read this book,  your palate will thank you.

Announcing the November Author in the Spotlight

Announcing the November Author in the Spotlight.

Happy November!  Wow, November in Minnesota has started out warm, with 60 degree weather.  It's great.  November tends to be the busiest month of my whole year.  First my daughter turns 15 on Friday the 13th, then my student teacher leaves so I'm teaching 3 preps and one college class (it's a crazy schedule).  I'm also taking a poetry class this month from the Loft Literary Center and trying to write my YA novel for Nanowrimo and of course I am cleaning my house from top to bottom to get ready for the 35 people who come to Thanksgiving dinner.  Phew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

This month Booksnob's blog is featuring one of my all time favorite authors. In fact, her book, The Cape Ann is one of my top ten all time favorite books ever!!  So I am pleased and excited to tell you that Faith Sullivan is the Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob.  Yay!  I own all of her books.  Her new book, Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse goes back to the small town of Harvester, MN where The Cape Ann and The Empress of One also take place.  I cannot wait to read it.

Here are some of her books and the synopsis from Goodreads:

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse
Throughout her life, Nell Stillman has struggled to find meaning in an increasingly chaotic world. A complicated marriage to a boorish husband; an early widowhood spent longing for her congressman lover; the loss of her child, a shell shocked WWI hero — her road has not been easy. But somehow she manages to find moments of grace, more often than not through the genial voice of P.G. Wodehouse, the beloved British novelist. Spanning the first half of the twentieth century, Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse celebrates the power of great novels — from Austen to Chekhov — to transform, console, and teach us the value of friendship and love.

We first traveled to Harvester, Minnesota, twenty-five years ago in the bookclub favorite and New York Times best-selling novel, The Cape Ann. This new book, which brings us home to that small town on the prairie along with all of the wonderful characters who live there, is sure to be a classic.

The Cape Ann
Lark Erhardt, the six-year-old narrator of The Cape Ann, and her fiercely independent mother dream of owning their own house; they have their hearts set on the Cape Ann, chosen from a house catalog. But when Lark's father's gambling threatens the down payment her mother has worked so hard to save, Lark's mother takes matters into her own indomitable hands. A disarmingly involving portrait of a family struggling to stay together through the Great Depression, The Cape Ann is an unforgettable story of life from a child's-eye view.

The Empress of One
From Library Journal
In Sullivan's second novel about the small Midwestern town of Harvester, Minnesota, spanning the years 1935 to 1950, Sally's mother is disgracing the family by losing her grip on reality in a case of what would now be diagnosed as depression. This stigma attends Sally's every move in grade school. She tries to lead a normal life with the help of her family and friends, but the fear that her mother's condition is hereditary haunts her. As she enters her teens, Sally's flair for the dramatic emerges?both on and off the stage. The death of her mother, the breakup with her insecure boyfriend, and the suicide of her beloved drama coach drive Sally to the brink of her physical and mental endurance, where she hovers, undecided. This beautifully written and exquisitely readable book transports readers through

time and space. Highly recommended. Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education.

What A Woman Must Do
Set in the Midwest in 1952, Faith Sullivan’s novel follows the interconnected lives of three women of three generations: Bess, 17, Harriet, 39, and Kate, 59. All have been affected by the death of Bess’s parents in a car accident. As Bess prepares for college, and Harriet for marriage, Great Aunt Kate holds the trio together. In writing knowingly and appreciatively of small-town life, Sullivan, winner of the Milkweed Editions' National Fiction Prize, addresses the universal themes of family, love, and loyalty. “What a Woman Must Do draws the reader in.” — Washington Post Book World

                                                         Gardenias
A month after the United States enters World War II, the country is in upheaval — and so is the Erhardt family. Nine-year-old Lark, her mother Arlene, and Aunt Betty are heading for San Diego, far away from Harvester, Minnesota and Arlene’s shiftless husband. In the booming wartime economy, Arlene and Betty are soon at work, leaving Lark alone to explore their new neighborhood, a wartime housing project full of others with similarly uprooted lives. Away from prying eyes and small town expectations, the two women begin to forge new lives and new dreams — dreams that Lark isn’t always comfortable with. This richly detailed novel, told through Lark’s observant eyes, reflects the era’s tumultuous events in the everyday dramas of its memorable, finely nuanced characters.

This month you can expect a giveaway, a book review, an author interview and if we are lucky a guest post.  Please check out Faith Sullivan's books and her website at www.faithsullivan.com

Happy Reading!

J. Ryan Stradal Author Interview + Giveaway

J. Ryan Stradal Author Interview + Giveaway

J. Ryan is the Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob for the scary month of October and he has written a delicious book called Kitchens of the Great Midwest and it really, really good and you are going to love it.  I had the chance to ask J. Ryan some questions during his busy book tour, about his book, his life and his love of food and books.  Read on.

Hi J. Ryan,

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born in Waconia, Minnesota, but I haven’t been there since, to my knowledge. My family at the time was living in Jonathan, Minnesota, which I believe has since been subsumed by Chaska. My parents’ neighbors at the time had just named their newborn son “Uriah” after the band Uriah Heep, so “J. Ryan” wasn’t even the most unusual baby name in Jonathan at the time.

My parents were readers and my mom taught me how to read when I was a pretty small child. I’ve been a voracious gobbler of text ever since, but I’ve had a few overriding obsessions. Growing up, I read everything I could about dinosaurs, Greek mythology, U.S. presidents, and baseball. My first novels were novelizations of popular movies, and they were my gateway drug to literature. On car trips, my younger brother used to provoke me by throwing my books out of the windows when we were on the highway. I now love my brother, and we’re good friends, although it was hard to envision this reality at the time. I’m close to my family. I live in California now but visit Minnesota at least a few times a year.


2. What inspired you to write Kitchens of the Great Midwest?

Twenty-two years of growing up in Minnesota and Illinois and feeling like the people I’d experienced hadn’t yet been widely represented in literature. That and a gnawing feeling that Midwestern cuisine is criminally underrated. I did my best to do justice to both the people and their food.


3. Usually an author puts some of his own life experiences in the book.  Did you do that?  Do you

have anything in common with your characters?

Yes, somewhat. My mom died of cancer ten years ago and I put an awful lot of my feelings surrounding her death into the book. There were very few true-life situations that were adapted, however. Will Prager not bringing enough money to pay for a dinner date – I did that. Shooting a doe and then discovering it had a fawn – a relative of mine did that once. Bringing “free tasting” coupons to a winery and subsequently not buying anything – guilty as charged, several times over. That’s about it, though.


4. Can you tell us why you decided to become a writer?  What other type of writing do you do?

I don’t know if I ever decided to become a writer any more than I decided to eat or get out of bed in the morning. It’s quite simply what I want to do, and I’ve never recalled thinking differently, although there have been stretches of time where I was reading more and writing less.

Besides novels, I’ve enjoyed writing sports profiles, short stories, and fiction that veers towards fake reportage. The latter was my prevailing form for much of my teens and twenties.


5. Do you like to read?  What authors or books influence you?

Absolutely. Recently I’ve been influenced and moved by the work of Meg Howrey, Amelia Gray, John Jodzio, Alice Munro, Barry Hannah, Bud Smith, David Ulin, Anne-Marie Kinney, Naomi Jackson, Erika Swyler, James Wright, Rob Roberge, and Jade Chang, to name just a few.

6. Name one book that you believe is a must read for everyone and tell us why?

I love this question. The book I’ve probably given away the most is Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson. I think I’ve had to re-buy that book at least six or seven times, so I think I’ll go with that one. It’s a masterwork of a poet writing prose; his use of language, subjectivity, and sparse but assured detail is absolutely stunning to me.


7. Are you a foodie?  Where does your love of food come from?

I’m an enthusiastic end-user! I’m not that much of a chef, but food is a pretty huge pre-occupation of mine. As soon as they let me have a driver’s license, I was going up to the Twin Cities with my girlfriend Stacy and trying out new and exotic cuisine. It may have been unusual for teenagers at the time, but it was what we did, at least a few nights a month. Enjoying new cuisine is a major motivation behind my adult travels as well. Malaysia, Iceland, and Argentina in particular have been highlights.


8. Do you cook?  What is your favorite meal to cook for someone?

Sometimes – I like cooking breakfast, especially breakfast tacos. As I’ve said, I’m not that skilled or sophisticated as a chef. I tend to get overly excited about particular ingredients. Last year I drove to New Mexico and back in early September and came back with several pounds of green chiles. I put them in everything for months. It got annoying to everyone else.

9. Are you working on a new book?  Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yes, and all I will say about it right now it that it’s also set in the Midwest, and so far there’s a character who’s really into rhubarb. I felt that rhubarb got short shrift in my last book, but much of Kitchens is set in the late summer / early fall, and that’s simply not rhubarb season.


10. In one sentence tell readers why they should read Kitchens of the Great Midwest?

I feel that book is a love letter to the Midwest; I laughed out loud and I cried while I wrote this novel, and there’s so much attention in every detail.


Thanks J. Ryan.

You’re welcome.

If you would like to win a copy of J.Ryan's new book, Kitchens of the Great Midwest (trust me, you want to win this one) please enter here:  Kitchens of the Great Midwest Giveaway

Two Books to Put on Your Literary Radar

2 New Books I Can't Wait for You to Read.

Two of my favorite Minnesota authors, Sarah Stonich and Kirstin Cronn-Mills, have new books coming out soon and I can't wait to read them.  So I thought I would share them with you so you could be first on the library list when they are released.

The first book to be released is Fishing with Rayanne by Ava Finch. It is set to be released in about 10 days on November 3rd.  Ava Finch is actually a pen name for Sarah Stonich and I have loved her previous books, especially Vacationland, which was amazing and should have won the Pulitzer or the National Book Award.  I have a couple of books to finish and then I'm reading this one.

Here is the synopsis on Goodreads:

RayAnne Dahl goes fishing for a different life, catching much more than she’d bargained for...

Having fled the testosterone-soaked world of pro fishing to finally settle in her Minneapolis fixer-upper, thirty-something RayAnne unexpectedly lands at the helm of the first all-women fishing and talk show. Between her dad's falling off the wagon, unwanted advice from Mom—a life coach to the menopausal rich—and her clingy dog, she needs the advice of her beloved grandmother more than ever.

With the show’s surprise success, producers press for celebrity appearances, but fans tweet support for RayAnne and her quirky guests, real women with unique stories and something to say. And though handsome Hal tempts RayAnne, he is a sponsor, rocketing him to the top of her don’ts list.

Just when she’s shedding uncertainty, RayAnne’s world nearly capsizes, and she’s faced with gut-wrenching choices. Will she live by the rules, or by her heart?



The next book I want to tell you about is Original Fake by
Kirstin Cronn-Mills with artwork by E. Eero Johnson

Expected publication is in April, 2016.  Kirstin is a great Young Adult author and college teacher and I loved her last book Beautiful Music for Ugly Children.  This book is full of great artwork and story.

Here is what Goodreads has to say:

In this Banksy-inspired illustrated novel, an escalating sibling rivalry train wrecks and vengeance is a street-art act of war
Introvert Frankie Neumann hates his life, and understandably so. He’s got a weird, tutu-wearing sister, Lou, and even weirder parents, Bridget and Brett—Frank Sinatra and Dr. Frank-N-Furter impersonators, respectively. And, he’s just the guy who makes pizza at Pizza Vendetta. Though he has secret artistic aspirations of his own, his over-the-top family makes him want to stay in the background. But Frankie's life is about to change—becoming way more interesting, even a little dangerous, but definitely cool.

After his shift at the pizzeria one night, Frankie meets David and Rory, cousins and errand runners for the mysterious Uncle Epic, a legendary anonymous street artist and Frankie’s absolute idol. Little could Frankie dream that his new adventures with Uncle Epic would lead to the perfect opportunity to strike back at his insufferable sister for a lifetime of torture. But things go haywire quicker than you can say “street art kicks righteous ass,” and the lines are suddenly blurred between art and Frankie’s real life.


Now go and add them to your ever growing To Be Read list.

Enjoy!

Twin Cities Book Festival 2015

Twin Cities Book Festival 2015

The Twin Cities Book Festival took place on Saturday, Oct 17th at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  It was a beautiful sunny, albeit a bit chilly, Fall day.  I was so happy to be there.  This year was full of so many great authors, panels and activities. I couldn't really fit everything in I wanted to do. I really wish there was two versions of me on occasions like this.

I started my day by meeting my friend Pamela and receiving four books to read and share.  The one that intrigues me the most is Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica.

Then I made my way to the Rain Taxi table and bought a large stack of Literary Magazine back issues for $1.00 each.  These I will use for research to determine what Lit Mags would be most likely to publish my poems and stories.  And I can also use them in the classroom.  This stack will keep me busy all year.

Then I went to listen to the Novels of the Midwest Author Panel where Lin Enger, Lauren Fox and Faith Sullivan answered questions from a moderator.  Enger and Fox are authors I have not read before.  Faith Sullivan is a favorite and I have read most of her novels.  I took home copies of Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse by Faith Sullivan and The Great Divide by Lin Enger.  I'm excited to read Enger.  I have read and loved his brother, Leif Enger's books and am thinking great authors must run in their family.

Next I walked around the booths and visited with exhibitors on the floor.  There were a lot of independent authors there and it was great to see the vast diversity of titles and topics.  I counted something like 43 authors selling their books.  I met author, John B. Goodman on Opening Night when I sat down at his table to eat dinner.  He gifted me with a review copy of both of his books, The Road to Self and Moments Matter, Everyday Inspiration from a Soulful CEO.

I entered contests, and talked with exhibitors from Literary magazines, like the Water Stone Review and Conduit and North American Review.

Next I went and listened to 4 authors/poets read their work.
Jabari Asim read from his book, Only the Strong.  This talk was amazing.

Then 3 poets read from their newest books.  Brian Henry
read from Static and Snow, Jennifer L. Knox read from her book, Days of Shame and Failure and Rachel Moritz read from her new poetry collection, Borrowed Wave.  I love, love, love poetry and it was nice to listen to some wonderful poetry.

At 1pm three lovely authors were signing books and meeting fans and I definitely one of their biggest fans.  Nicole Helget is the author of Stillwater, Ava Finch whose new book, Fishing with Rayanne, comes out in two weeks and Young Adult author, Katie Pierson whose new book is '89 Walls.  Katie made me answer some 80's trivia and I won a can of Tab.

Then my husband and son met me for lunch and we raced off to hear Craig Thompson speak about his graphic novels.  His newest book is Space Dumplins and I ended up standing in line for a SUPER long time waiting to get my copy signed for my teens.  So I missed the Crime author panel and Nina Revoyr (although I still bought a copy of her book, Lost Canyon and had her sign it)  When I was talking to Nina Revoyr, I noticed Craig was actually drawing in everyone's books.  Very cool.  No wonder the line was moving sooooo slow.  I guess it was worth it and it made my kids happy.

The last author I met was Pamela Carter Joern.  Her newest book is called, In Reach.  I have read one of her older titles, The Floor in the Sky.  It was excellent and I really wanted to meet her.  By this time is was 4:30 or so and the book festival was done around 5pm.  So I sat down and ate a delicious  coconut macaroon and read for a little bit.  

Thanks to Rain Taxi and all the wonderful authors and book people I met.  I have enough to read, until next year.  Happy 20 year Anniversary Rain Taxi.  Thanks for another great Book Festival.
See you next year.

Twin Cities Book Festival Opening Night 2015

Twin Cities Book Festival Opening Night 2015

Every year I eagerly anticipate the Twin Cities Book Festival and this year is no exception.  I decided to attend the opening night festivities on Friday night, Oct 16th, 2015 and celebrate Rain Taxi's 20th year.  So I bought a ticket, got semi-dressed up or as dressed up as you can be when your going to be in a building with no heat and you need to stay warm, and went all by myself to the fairgrounds.  I have to say I was a little nervous attending the event by myself but I met some other ladies who also went solo (Gail and Lacey) and had a blast.

The food was great, the wine was great and the company was awesome.  I met some new authors and got to talk with one of my favorite authors Faith Sullivan (she wrote The Cape Ann).  Craig Thompson was there (although I didn't get to talk to him) and many others.

The author of the evening was Laila Lalami.  Laila's newest book, The Moor's Account was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.  She talked in length about why she wrote the novel about the first black explorer of America, Mustafa al-Zamori, called Estebanico, who was a slave of a Spanish conquistador.  The story she told was absolutely fascinating.
I cannot wait to read The Moor's Account. Oh how I love historical fiction.  I thought she would talk for about 30 minutes and then after Laila signed my book and as I was leaving the building I noticed how late it was.  She talked for over an hour to the rapt audience.

I had an awesome Opening Night at the Best Book Festival in town.  Thanks Rain Taxi for 20 great years.  Keep up the good work!

Kitchens of the Great Midwest Giveaway

Kitchens of the Great Midwest Giveaway

J. Ryan Stradal is the October, Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob and he, along with his publisher, Viking press, are giving away one hardcover copy to a Booksnob follower who lives in the United States.  Yay!  You are going to love this book.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

“A sweet and savory treat.” —People

"An impressive feat of narrative jujitsu. . . that keeps readers turning the pages too fast to realize just how ingenious they are."—The New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Pick

“Kitchens of the Great Midwest is a terrific reminder of what can be wrested from suffering and struggle – not only success, but also considerable irony, a fair amount of wisdom and a decent meal.”—Jane Smiley, The Guardian

As seen on The Skimm: "Warning: this will make you hungry. . . . You won’t be able to put it down. And it will up your kitchen game."

Kitchens of the Great Midwest, about a young woman with a once-in-a-generation palate who becomes the iconic chef behind the country’s most coveted dinner reservation, is the summer’s most hotly-anticipated debut.

When Lars Thorvald’s wife, Cynthia, falls in love with wine—and a dashing sommelier—he’s left to raise their baby, Eva, on his own. He’s determined to pass on his love of food to his daughter—starting with puréed pork shoulder. As Eva grows, she finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of Eva’s journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her spirit and resilience.

Each chapter in J. Ryan Stradal’s startlingly original debut tells the story of a single dish and character, at once capturing the zeitgeist of the Midwest, the rise of foodie culture, and delving into the ways food creates community and a sense of identity. By turns quirky, hilarious, and vividly sensory, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an unexpected mother-daughter story about the bittersweet nature of life—its missed opportunities and its joyful surprises. It marks the entry of a brilliant new talent. 

Giveaway rules:
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Ends 11/2 at midnight
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