Lucky Us Giveaway

Lucky Us Giveaway

I just finished reading Lucky Us by Amy Bloom and it is a very unique story and an entertaining read.  I think it would make a great book club choice because it demands to be talked about. Since I have an extra copy, I thought I would give it to one of my blog readers and that means YOU. All you have to do is enter and I will ship international. Lucky YOU could win Lucky Us.  Cute.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

"My father's wife died. My mother said we should drive down to his place and see what might be in it for us."

Brilliantly written, deeply moving, fantastically funny, Lucky Us introduces us to Eva and Iris. Disappointed by their families, Iris, the hopeful star, and Eva, the sidekick, journey across 1940s America in search of fame and fortune. Iris's ambitions take them from small-town Ohio to an unexpected and sensuous Hollywood, across the America of Reinvention in a stolen station wagon, to the jazz clubs and golden mansions of Long Island.

With their friends in high and low places, Iris and Eva stumble and shine through a landscape of big dreams, scandals, betrayals, and war. Filled with gorgeous writing, memorable characters, and surprising events, Lucky Us is a thrilling and resonant novel about success and failure, good luck and bad, the creation of a family, and the pleasures and inevitable perils of family life. From Brooklyn's beauty parlors to London's West End, a group of unforgettable people love, lie, cheat, and survive in this story of our fragile, absurd, heroic species.

Fill out the form to enter:
Contest ends on August 21st at midnight
Open internationally.
Good luck!!

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Pat Schmatz Author Interview + Giveaway

Pat Schmatz Author Interview + Giveaway

Pat Schmatz is the July, Minnesota author in the spotlight here on BookSnob and I had a chance to interview Pat about her writing career and her books.  Pat's newest book, Lizard Radio will be released in September.

Hi Pat,

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I grew up in rural Wisconsin, and most of my childhood was spent with books and the trees, or books in trees. I had a few favorite branches to read from. I still have a lot of books and trees in my life, with some other things thrown in.

2. What inspired you to write BlueFish?
Bluefish was inspired by my love of the outdoors and my dislike for school. I started with a character who hated school with all of his heart, and then I asked him what he did like, and the story of Bluefish gradually became the answer to that question.

3. What is the inspiration behind Lizard Radio?
I keep a sketchbook, and between books I do a lot of drawing. One day I drew a picture of a lizard wearing headphones. The cord connected to nothing, and the lizard was desperately trying to get a signal. That was the inspiration, and the rest of the process was a matter of learning who that lizard was and where the signal came from.

4. 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 main characters all have a lot in common with me, and so do some of the secondary ones. Others are drawn from combinations of people I’ve known. I’ll take this one’s ears, that one’s laugh, and bits of someone else’s back story. My own life experiences are woven throughout my books, all in disguise. I absolutely believe that fiction is lying to tell the truth.

5. How many books have you written? Can you tell us why you decided to become a writer?
I have five published books, and a couple more that live in a file drawer. I wanted to write for young adults before I was one myself. My inspiration came from the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I read it the first time when I was around eleven, and it was life-changing for me. I carried that book around with me for years. It connected to a deep place inside, and made me feel less alone in the world. I knew then that I wanted to write things that would make other kids feel less alone. I wanted to make them feel the way Hinton made me feel – like maybe things wouldn’t be so bad, after all. Like there was a place for me.

6. As a creative writing teacher, what advice do you give to new writers?
Write and write and read and read. Read everything. If you like it, read it twice. Study the books you love. Write every day. Journal, write poetry and stories and song lyrics and comics. Write things you will never show anyone. Write in pencil, write with crayon, use markers and pens and keyboards. Build up your physical stamina so you can write without stopping for a long time. Go for walks. Look for magic. Eavesdrop whenever you can. And write and write and read and read.

7. Do you like to read?  What authors or books influence you?
I’m a voracious reader. Books give me entertainment, understanding, knowledge, insight and peace. Reading is how I relax. As I’ve said, The Outsiders was my number one influence. Other important books for me have been A Wrinkle in Time by L’Engle,

8. Name one Young Adult book that you believe is a must read for everyone and tell us why?
If I had to give one, of course it would be The Outsiders. But I believe that different books speak to different readers. There are some books that are not considered anything special by reviews or children’s literature experts or anyone else, but they were still important to me. When I ask people about their favorite childhood or YA book, it’s often one that is long since out of print and out of memory for most of us, but it still lives on for the individual readers it touched.

9. In one sentence tell readers why they should read Bluefish?
Bluefish is about the importance of small kindnesses and taking the time to truly see one another, and we can all use a few more small kindnesses.

10. In one sentence tell readers why they should read Lizard Radio?
Lizard Radio is the story of a young, lonely lizard who finds a way to be true to her own values and have genuine connection with others, and that combination can be tricky for us all.

Thanks Pat!

If you would like to win a copy of Bluefish and Lizard Radio please enter here:  Bluefish and Lizard Radio Giveaway

BluefIsh by Pat Schmatz

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz

Bluefish is a rare story that comes into your life just when you need it.  Travis and Velveeta are two lonely souls who gravitate towards one another on the first day of school.  They are in several classes together including their 7th/8th grade reading class.  Travis is the strong silent type and Velveeta can't stop talking.  She wears the most beautiful scarves that catch Travis's eye.  The pair form a strong healing friendship and their stories are told in alternating chapters.

Mr. McQueen is their Reading teacher and he is able to teach Travis and Velveeta the value of books, reading and the true meaning of friendship.

I laughed and I cried and I cheered for these kids to find their way in a world not made for misfits. These characters are so believable and well written that I wanted them to be friends with my own kids.

Bluefish really touched my heart and made me happy to be a teacher and a reader and proud to share my love of both with others.  The best books always teach you about yourself and have a way of breaking open your protective barriers.  Bluefish did that for me.

Bluefish is a poignant book that will move your spirit and give you hope.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Bluefish!
Whose a Bluefish?

Pat Schmatz Guest Post & Giveaway

Pat Schmatz Guest Post & Giveaway

Pat is the July, Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob and she has written a guest post on how a book percolates and is eventually formed on the written page call Dream Horses/Dream Stories.  Do you ever write down your dreams or envision a story?  I know I do and getting it correctly on paper is difficult.  Read on to find out more from Pat.


Dream Horses/Dream Stories

For me, a book starts with a small, foggy notion. A character maybe, or a situation or a setting. I sit very still and watch. I coax the notion to draw nearer. I sketch what I see. I color. I write bits of poems, snippets of dialogue. I go on long walks, inviting the notion to float near me. It grows and begins to take form, to have voice. It surrounds me. Eventually I begin to see movement in the mist. Smells drift in. I hear music. I feel the characters’ breath on the back of my neck. The essence of the story reveals itself to me.

Suddenly, the idea is huge and it’s beautiful. Not just beautiful. It’s profound and panoramic, it’s breathtaking and world-changing. It is the best story ever in the world. I’m in love with the characters. The story breaks my heart and fills me with hope and magic and visions for peace, compassion, understanding, beauty and courage.

Then, I begin to write the first draft. The work is difficult. It’s tedious. And more than anything, it is disappointing.

The process reminds me of Ken McLaughlin in Mary O’Hara’s 1941 novel My Friend Flicka. Ken was a daydreamer who lived on a ranch in Wyoming. More than anything, he wanted a colt. Thousands of mystical dream-colts gamboled through his head.

Then, his father told him that from all of the colts on the ranch, he could choose one of his very own. He chose Flicka and he loved her – but he also experienced the loss of all of those dream colts. From the moment he chose, he was left with a singular flesh-and-blood reality.

That’s what happens when I begin to pin my beautiful new story down into words. My magnificent dream is slowly whittled down to the vocabulary and sentence structure and plot and craft. At best, I can capture only a shadow of the story in my head. The colors are nowhere near as bright. The music is muted.

I work hard at craft, trying to use the limited tools of written language to the very best of my ability. The first draft is always a huge disappointment, but all is not lost yet – I have hopes that drafts two, three, and four will bring in more of that magic. But at some point, I realize that the entire vision is beyond me. I will have to settle for paper-and-ink reality. Friends and critique partners, editor and agent help me fine-tune, but it’s sad to me, that they can’t see the story in my head. They can only see what I manage to put on paper.

When the book is finally done, I love it as Ken loves his horse. But those dream colts? They slip into the distant mist like Ken’s, lost to me forever. Until I start the next book.

Thanks Pat.

To win a copy of Pat's book BlueFish and an ARC of her newest book Lizard Radio, please enter here:  BlueFish and Lizard Radio Giveaway

Literary Travel to Peru

Literary Travel to Peru

I was lucky enough to travel to Peru with nine high school students and a teaching partner recently.  We traveled from June 22nd to July 2nd, 2015.

Peru is a very cool place with such a varied geography and culture. We started our journey in Lima, Peru on the Pacific ocean and met wonderful people and ate some excellent ceviche.  We then traveled to the Andes Mountains and spent time in the Sacred Valley, at Machu Picchu and Cuzco.  The mountains are so beautiful and I have no words for how amazing it is.  I didn't want to leave.  The mountains were definitely my favorite part of the trip and the little old ladies were the best!  We then flew to Puerto Maldanado in the Amazon Rainforest where we traveled two hours downriver on the Madre de Dios and we stayed in a eco lodge.  This place was like heaven on earth and it was really hot and humid.  We fed monkeys and caiman and hiked through the jungle.  I loved, loved the loud noises of the jungle.

Whenever I travel, I choose to read a book about the place I'm visiting and it always enhances my experience.  It was hard to choose just one book to carry with me.  Here is the group of books I had to choose from.  I hope you find one or two to enhance your literary journey to Peru.

The White Rock: An Exploration of the Inca Heartland by Hugh Thompson

This is the book I carried all over Peru.  It was so perfect for me. The White Rock is full of Inca history and the history of Peru.  The White Rock has chapters titled on Inca ruins, places I visited and places I didn't.  This book was a great traveling companion and informed me of all I needed to know.  Highly recommend.  the only downside it was written around 10 years ago.  I had a hard time finding recent books written about Peru as this one seemed to be the most current.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

Following in the footsteps of the explorers Gene Savoy and Hiram Bingham, Thomson set off into the jungle to find the lost city of Llactapat. This is the story of his journey to discover it via the interconnecting paths the Incas laid across the Andes.


Eight Feet in the Andes; Travels with a Mule from Ecuador to Cuzco by Dervla Murphy

Synopsis from Goodreads:
The eight feet belong to Dervla Murphy, her nine-year-old daughter Rachel and Juana, an elegant mule, who together clambered the length of Peru, from Cajamarca on the border with Ecuador, to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital, over 1300 miles to the south. With only the most basic necessities to sustain them and spending most of their time above 10,000 feet, their journey was marked by extreme discomfort, occasional danger and even the temporary loss of Juana over a precipice. Yet mother and daughter, a formidable duo, were unflagging in their sympathetic response to the perilous beauty and impoverished people of the Andes.

Inca Kola; a traveler's tale of Peru by Matthew Ferris

I love the cover on this one.  Inca Kola is actually the brand name of their soda pop company.  I actually bought a shirt for son that says Inca Kola.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Paperback. Pub Date: 1993 08 Pages: 248 in Publisher: Orion Paperbacks Inca-Kola is the funny. Absorbing account of Matthew Parriss fourth trip to Peru on a bizarre holiday which takes him among bandits. Prostitutes. peasants and riots He and his three companions seem to head into trouble. not away from it. and he describes the troubles. curiosities and wonders they meet with the spell-binding fascination of a traveller relating adventures over the campfire. 'A backpacker's classic:
atmospheric. touching. instructive and compulsively readable 'The Times.

Cradle of Gold; The Story of Hiram Bingham, A Real-Life Indiana Jones and the Search for Machu Picchu by Christopher Heaney.

This is the book I wanted to read but couldn't find in my local library.  Indiana Jones is based on the explorer, Hiram Bingham who is credited as the scientific discoverer of Machu Picchu.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
In 1911, a young Peruvian boy led an American explorer and Yale historian named Hiram Bingham into the ancient Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. Hidden amidst the breathtaking heights of the Andes, this settlement of temples, tombs and palaces was the Incas' greatest achievement. Tall, handsome, and sure of his destiny, Bingham believed that Machu Picchu was the Incas' final refuge, where they fled the Spanish Conquistadors. Bingham made Machu Picchu famous, and his dispatches from the jungle cast him as the swashbuckling hero romanticized today as a true Indiana Jones-like character. But his excavation of the site raised old specters of conquest and plunder, and met with an indigenous nationalism that changed the course of Peruvian history. Though Bingham successfully realized his dream of bringing Machu Picchu's treasure of skulls, bones and artifacts back to the United States, conflict between Yale and Peru persists through the present day over a simple question: Who owns Inca history?

In this grand, sweeping narrative, Christopher Heaney takes the reader into the heart of Peru's past to relive the dramatic story of the final years of the Incan empire, the exhilarating recovery of their final
cities and the thought-provoking fight over their future. Drawing on original research in untapped archives, Heaney vividly portrays both a stunning landscape and the complex history of a fascinating
region that continues to inspire awe and controversy today.

The Last Days of the Incas by Kim Macquarrie

One of the teachers I traveled with was reading this book in Peru.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

Kim MacQuarrie lived in Peru for five years and became fascinated by the Incas and the history of the Spanish conquest. Drawing on both native and Spanish chronicles, he vividly describes the dramatic story of the conquest, with all its savagery and suspense. This authoritative, exciting history is among the most powerful and important accounts of the culture of the South American Indians and the Spanish Conquest.

There is a lot of non-fiction written about Peru and is much harder to find fiction.  Yet, I found some.
These last two books are fiction:

Death in the Andes by Mario Vargas Llosa.

Mario Vargas Llosa is a Peruvian writer.  Several of his books take place in Peru but many do not.  I have never read any of his books but I noticed them in all the airport bookstores in Peru.  So reading Llosa would be a good way to experience Peru.

Here is the synopsis from Amazon:
Set in an isolated, rundown community in the Peruvian Andes, Vargas Llosa's novel tells the story of a series of mysterious disappearances involving the Shining Path guerrillas and a local couple performing cannibalistic sacrifices with strange similarities to the Dionysian rituals of ancient Greece. Part detective novel and part political allegory, it offers a panoramic view of Peruvian society; not only of the current political violence and social upheaval, but also of the country's past and its connection to Indian culture and
pre-Hispanic mysticism.

God of Luck by Ruthann Lum McCunn

I love this author and have read several of her books.  I will definitely be reading God of Luck.  The Chinese culture is prevalent in Peru, especially in Lima.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

“ Held me captive right from the start.”—Alan Cheuse, NPR, All Things Considered

“Her clear voice and simple but elegant style easily turns this work into a real page-turner.”—Library Journal

“A vivid tale of a faraway time.”—Asian Week

“Beautifully combines the hardships and brutality of the kidnapping of a Chinese man, conditions on the slave ships, and the bitterness of backbreaking labor in a foreign land with the sadness and determination of a wife and family back home. . . . A story of emotional depth and truth.”—Lisa See, author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

“Will keep readers spellbound and cheering to the final page.”—Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, author of Farewell to Manzanar

“I love God of Luck.”—Da Chen, author of Brothers

Ah Lung and his beloved wife, Bo See, are separated by cruel fate when, like thousands of other Chinese men in the nineteenth century, he is kidnapped, enslaved, and shipped to the deadly guano mines off the coast of Peru. Praying to the God of Luck and using their own wits, they never lose hope of someday being reunited.

So there you have it folks.  I wish you all the opportunity to travel to Peru and experience the wonders Peru has to offer.  If there are any books about Peru you have read and can add to the list, please put in the comments.

Blue Fish and Lizard Radio Giveaway

Blue Fish and Lizard Radio Giveaway

Pat Schmatz is the July, Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob and she and her publisher, Candlewick, are giving away not 1 but 2 books to 3 different winners from the U.S.  Each giveaway winner will win a copy of Bluefish and Pat's new book, Lizard Radio.  Lizard Radio will be released in stores on September 8th.  Yay!!

Here are the synopsis from Goodreads:

Bluefish:

Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of school. But that’s before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn’t take "pass" for an answer—a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. And it’s before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. With sympathy, humor, and disarming honesty, Pat Schmatz brings to life a cast of utterly believable characters—and captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference.

Lizard Radio

In a futuristic society run by an all-powerful Gov, a bender teen on the cusp of adulthood has choices
to make that will change her life—and maybe the world.

Fifteen-year-old bender Kivali has had a rough time in a gender-rigid culture. Abandoned as a baby and raised by Sheila, an ardent nonconformist, Kivali has always been surrounded by uncertainty. Where did she come from? Is it true what Sheila says, that she was deposited on Earth by the mysterious saurians? What are you? people ask, and Kivali isn’t sure. Boy/girl? Human/lizard? Both/neither? Now she’s in CropCamp, with all of its schedules and regs, and the first real friends she’s ever had. Strange occurrences and complicated relationships raise questions Kivali has never before had to consider. But she has a gift—the power to enter a trancelike state to harness the “knowings” inside her. She has Lizard Radio. Will it be enough to save her? A coming-of-age story rich in friendships and the shattering emotions of first love, this deeply felt novel will resonate with teens just emerging as adults in a sometimes hostile world.

Rules:
Fill out the form.
Must live in the U.S.
No P.O. Boxes
Contest Ends August 3rd at midnight.
Good Luck!

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The Dead Lands Giveaway Winner!

The Dead Lands Giveaway Winner!

Benjamin Percy was the Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob for the month of May/June, and along with his publisher, Hachette,  he is giving away one copy of The Dead Lands to a follower who lives in the United States.  Yay!!

My apologies for being a little late in announcing the winner.  And the winner is.....

Stephanie W from Pennsylvania

Congrats Stephanie, I hope you enjoy your new book!

Here is an excerpt from my book review:

Like all great Odyssey stories there are monsters to fight and weather storms to battle and beautiful, dangerous women to lead the party astray.  There is slavery and violence and environmental concerns and mutant creatures and people eating polar bears, oh my.  I love Odyssey stories or stories of the hero's journey.  I love, love, love, The Dead Lands.  I was riveted to the page and enjoyed the fantastical elements as well as the historical ones.

 

Announcing the July Author in the Spotlight

Announcing the July Author in the Spotlight.

Hey Everyone, Happy Independence Day!  July is here and I just arrived home from Peru yesterday, full of knowledge, culture and bug bites.  I had a great experience with 9 students and a teacher friend of mine.  We met and traveled with a group from Eugene, Oregon and one from Chicago, Illinois.  It is truly good to be home as I missed my family and reading.  Not much time to read when you are climbing Machu Picchu and seeing Peru.  OMG, I absolutely love traveling.

The Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob for July, is Pat Schmatz.  She has written several books for Young Adults.  I met Pat at the Teen Lit Fest in May and I attended her writer's workshop.  She teaches writing classes on-line and in person.  I think you are really going to like her books.  Her latest is Bluefish and it has received lots of awards and praise.
Hew newest book, Lizard Radio will be released this Fall.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads for Bluefish and Lizard Radio

Bluefish

Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of school. But that’s before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn’t take "pass" for an answer—a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. And it’s before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. With sympathy, humor, and disarming honesty, Pat Schmatz brings to life a cast of utterly believable characters—and captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference.

Lizard Radio

In a futuristic society run by an all-powerful Gov, a bender teen on the cusp of adulthood has choices to make that will change her life—and maybe the world.

Fifteen-year-old bender Kivali has had a rough time in a gender-rigid culture. Abandoned as a baby and raised by Sheila, an ardent nonconformist, Kivali has always been surrounded by uncertainty. Where did she come from? Is it true what Sheila says, that she was deposited on Earth by the mysterious saurians? What are you? people ask, and Kivali isn’t sure. Boy/girl? Human/lizard? Both/neither? Now she’s in CropCamp, with all of its schedules and regs, and the first real friends she’s ever had. Strange occurrences and complicated relationships raise questions Kivali has never before had to consider. But she has a gift—the power to enter a trancelike state to harness the “knowings” inside her. She has Lizard Radio. Will it be enough to save her? A coming-of-age story rich in friendships and the shattering emotions of first love, this deeply felt novel will resonate with teens just emerging as adults in a sometimes hostile world.


This month you can expect a book review, a giveaway, an author interview and if we are lucky a guest post written by Pat.  For information about Pat Schmatz and her other books please check out her website at http://www.patschmatz.com/