Unabridged Chick

Earlier in the month, I reviewed Ania Szado's Studio Saint-Ex, her inventive novel about famed pilot and author Antoine Saint-Exupéry, his wife, and a young fashion designer who becomes embroiled with the couple. I was so taken with it -- it totally changed my perception of Saint-Exupéry! I'm thrilled to share my interview with Ms. Szado about her book and interests outside of writing.

What was the plot of your very first piece of fiction?

My early plots involved a lot of galloping, shooting, and tying up bad guys—my brother and I had cowboy action figures as kids, and I used to write about their adventures. My first adult stories were more low-key. One of them, for example, was about a girl in a bathtub gaining insight into her mother's suicide. I'm much more focused on plot now than I once was.

Do you have any writing rituals or routines?

Depending on what stage I'm at in a manuscript, my routines range from intense procrastination (which is excruciating!) to in…

The nor'easter is gone, so it's bright and sunny and hot once more.  I'm not sure if I'm thrilled, since I rather enjoyed my cozy reading day yesterday, but after doing errands and what not, I'm going to park myself in the sun like a cat and try to finish up my book.

Last week's giveaway winner already had the book, so I've redrawn that winner along with the two for this week.



The winner of The Queen's Vow is ... Laura!

The winner of Chocolates for Breakfast is ... Elizabeth B.!

The winners of The Queen's Lover are ... Anne F., Renae @ Respiring Thoughts, and Emma @ Words And Peace!

Congrats to the winners!  Be sure to check out my open giveaways (there are two international giveaways!) and check in next week as more are coming.

After ridiculous temperatures for the last few weeks -- 90 at 9am! -- we have a nor'easter blowing in, so it's cold and gray and rainy. A perfect fall day! If it were fall!

While my wife is away on a business trip, I'm hunkering down with this beast for the weekend: The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker.

It's almost 600 pages which is quite appealing to me -- I think I'm just going to curl up and read the rainy weekend away! (I suppose I'll clean up the house, too, so my wife doesn't cry upon her return on Sunday.)

What are you reading this weekend?

Yesterday I reviewed Stephanie Carroll's A White Room, a deliciously creepy novel set in early 20th century Missouri.  A little bit Shirley Jackson, a little bit 'The Yellow Wallpaper', it's a book I won't easily forget.  I'm thrilled to share my interview with the author, so read on to learn more about Stephanie's writing process, her book, and what she does when she's not writing.  (It's pretty amazing.)  Be sure to enter the international giveaway to win a copy of A White Room!

What was the plot of your very first piece of fiction?

Oh wow – that’s a great question, but I’m not sure if I can remember. When I was in elementary school, I remember being praised for writing a six page story that had something to do with a river. It was the first time I was really praised for my writing.

I also remember setting out to write my first novel when I was 13 or 14 and that was going to be about a hiking trip gone wrong. A group of teenagers were going to be …

Title:A White Room
Author: Stephanie Carroll

Genre: Fiction (Historical / 1900s / Southern Gothic / Marriage / Insanity / Nursing / Marriage / Secrets)
Publisher/Publication Date: Unhinged Books (6/12/2013)
Source: NetGalley

Rating: Liked a great deal.
Did I finish?: I did.
One-sentence summary: In 1901, a young woman with some nursing training finds herself in a cold marriage, trapped in an eerie house, living in a town full of secrets.
Reading Challenges:E-book, Gothic, Historical Fiction

Do I like the cover?: I love it. I'm partial to Sargent anyway, but the image resembles a description early on in the book, of a woman in a white dress, twisting around to look behind her. This is very evocative of it.

I'm reminded of...: Shirley Jackson, Jennifer McMahon

First line: My father died with the taste of blood on his lips.

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?: Borrow or buy, especially if you like atmospheric novels reminiscent of Shirley Jackson and Jennifer McMahon.

Why did I get this book?: Was …

Title:Late Lights
Author: Kara Weiss

Genre: Fiction (Contemporary / Boston / Young Adults / Juvenile Crime / Coming-of-Age / Gender Identity / Male - Female Friendships / Sex)
Publisher/Publication Date: Colony Collapse Press (2013)
Source:TLC Book Tours

Rating: Liked.
Did I finish?: I did, in one night.
One-sentence summary: Five interconnected stories of three young adults from Boston, struggling with identity, belonging, growing up, and making their way.

Do I like the cover?: It's great -- captures the gritty, urban feel of the stories (it reminds me of the opening titles to a crime tv show).

First line: Tonight, the halls are silent.

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?: Borrow or buy, especially if you like gritty realism and fiction with young adults that isn't about insta-love and dystopias.

Why did I get this book?: I love books set in Boston.

Review: This slim volume of five interconnected vignettes offers a portrait of Boston teens that is heartbreaking, disturbing, and impossible to ignor…

Mailbox Monday is hosted in July at Tasha @ Book Obsessed and there's another awesome few weeks of arrivals! The eye candy, oh, the pretties!

To learn about a book, click on the cover -- it'll open to it's GoodReads page in a new window.

What did you get this week? Interested in any of these?


For Review

According to the local news, it's not the hottest day of the week, but up there. Hope the rest of you having summery weather stay cool!

Just one winner this week!

The winner of The Queen's Vow is ... Katherine of Historical Fiction Notebook!

Congrats to the winner! Be sure to check out my open giveaways -- as always, more are coming!

Title:Studio Saint-Ex
Author: Ania Szado

Genre: Fiction (Historical / 1930s / 1940s / 1960s / Antoine de Saint-Exupéry / New York City / Montreal / Fashion Design / Infidelity / Marriage / French Ex-Pats / Quebecois)
Publisher/Publication Date: Knopf (6/4/2013)
Source: The publisher.

Rating: Liked a great deal.
Did I finish?: I did -- in just a few nights.
One-sentence summary: A young fashion designer in 1940s Manhattan meets famed author and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his wild, reckless wife, and becomes embroiled in their marriage when she designs fashions for them.
Reading Challenges:Historical Fiction

Do I like the cover?: I do -- I believe it's a design by Valentina, who is a fashion designer mentioned in this novel. The artificial pose/setting is reminiscent of a show that makes up a huge part of the climax toward the end.

First line: I haven't even brought a book.

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?: Borrow or buy, especially if you like novels about creativity, art, and the proces…

Yesterday I reviewed Stephanie Thornton's The Secret History, a wonderful novel of the 6th century Byzantine Empress, Theodora, who rose from the gutter to wear royal purple. I'm thrilled to share my interview with Stephanie, so read on to learn more about her, her book, and her current reads. Be sure to check out the international giveaway -- it comes with a Byzantine coin!

What was the plot of your very first piece of fiction?

The first novel I wrote was about Hatshepsut, and her rise from being Pharaoh’s pampered daughter to Daughter of the Gods.
becoming Egypt’s first successful female pharaoh, all while thwarting internal palace coups, fighting against foreign uprisings, and falling in love with a commoner. I’m was thrilled when my editor told me she loved Hatshepsut’s character as much as I did; that novel will hit the shelves next year as

Do you have any writing rituals or routines?

I’m a full-time history teacher and have a six-year-old to keep me hopping, so I manag…

Title:The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora
Author: Stephanie Thornton

Genre: Fiction (Historical / Turkey / 6th Century / Historical Figure Fictionalized / Sex Worker / Royalty / Royal Intrigue / Christianity)
Publisher/Publication Date: NAL Trade (7/2/2013)
Source:Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Rating: Liked a whole lot!
Did I finish?: I did, in a single night -- couldn't find a place to put the book down!
One-sentence summary: In 6th century Constantinople, a young prostitute rises through the ranks to become Empress of the Roman Empire.
Reading Challenges:Historical Fiction

Do I like the cover?: Oh, I do. It's probably not accurate, but oh, it's so exotic and pretty!

I'm reminded of...: Sandra Gulland, Philippa Gregory, Susan Holloway Scott

First line: My life began the night death visited our house.

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?: Borrow or buy, especially if you like historical novels from the early medieval period

Why did I get this book?: Love Empress Theodora!

Rev…