Wednesday, October 26, 2011

365 Snapshot & BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!

By Laura Spinella

This seems like a good juncture for a reflective blog. I was going to go with the publishing mistakes theme, but realized how low we are on liquor. So, instead, I’ll drink what’s left, aptly setting the mood for reflection. Nudge me if I start to slur. It’s an appropriate pause point for a number of reasons, including the birthday I celebrated yesterday. I still get to hang with the forty-something crowd, but not for too much longer. On the upside, this time next year I’ll gape at people in their late fifties, saying, “Holy crap, I’m glad that’s light years away!”



The Ladies of Taunton's Booktini

I actually spent last year’s birthday wondering what this one would bring. The drum roll would have long since passed, and my much anticipated book on the shelf would, with any luck, be… restocked?? If it was a baby, by now it would have teeth and babble a coherent, “Mama.” Truthfully, I’d have it on three or four preschool waiting lists. I never was particularly adept at entertaining small children. Here’s what I didn’t envision a year ago, spending yesterday’s birthday at a book club. When the woman contacted me months ago, I casually mentioned that while I’d love to attend their BEAUTIFUL DISASTER get together, it was my birthday. Maybe another day that week would work? Nope, last Tuesday of the month, that’s their book club date. Fine with me. I was fairly certain I could drink their wine to celebrate, just as well as my own. Honestly, book clubs, by far, have been the unforeseen perk in all this. I thought the signings would be the icing on the cake. Some had their moments, and some were a total bust, but they all came with a level of tension that I could never dial down. Book clubs, on the other hand, were a more natural fit. You get to do a lot of listening, which takes the pressure off. And depending on the group, I often found myself feeling like a lifelong member. Booktini (which has to be the coolest name ever for a book club) in Taunton, MA was one of the best—hand monogrammed wine glasses, door prizes, BEAUTIFUL DISASTER refrigerator magnets, and some of the nicest women I’ve ever met. They made me glad I didn’t listen to people, close kin in some cases, who suggested I bag the book idea and pursue something less fanciful—like, maybe, an application at Home Depot.

In addition to that lengthy list of publishing firsts and author naïveté, which is still bumbling, though not quite as pathetic as it used to be, were contests. I never gave them much thought. There are only so many hours in a day. Subtract out every facet of life that has nothing to do with book writing and factor back in the 24/7 dedication required to write a book. I’m no math whiz, but I’m fairly certain this results in a negative number. So, whatever my reasoning, it just wasn’t something I paid much attention to before BEAUTIFUL DISASTER. A few months ago, I entered one. An invite came in the mail from NJRWA’s Golden Leaf contest. What did I have to lose besides four books? The only real problem was the competitive nature of such an event. Remember, I’m the author who has never visited her Amazon page. It’s not that I have an aversion to competition—I’m just more comfortable with armchair rivalry, preferably the kind where Vanna controls your fate. Yet, by summer’s end, there I was, a finalist in the contest. Go figure. Courtesy of complex circumstances, I didn’t make it to their Put Your Heart in a Book Conference where the awards are bestowed. But I did check my email late last Friday. Holy Moly, I won. BEAUTIUFL DISASTER was awarded NJRWA’s Best First Book in their Golden Leaf contest. Now there’s something I definitely didn’t envision a year ago.

Next week, I head back to the book’s roots, Athens, Georgia. The University of Georgia Alumni Association has been supportive of my literary efforts, and has invited me to participate in their annual Alumni Authors Showcase. I was quick to accept. Aside from the showcase, I haven’t seen that middle child since August, and I’m curious to see if she still knows how to say, “Mama!” I did a signing at UGA last January. At the time, I thought that was the full circle to my big book event. I really did. I’d revel in the moment, sign copies on the campus that inspired the setting, and look around longingly for characters who don’t exist. I’d go home, and that would be it. Well, as I said, bumbling naiveté. So when I take this pause, I see a lot of things I never imagined—at least when it comes to this curious thing we call publishing.

In celebration of BEAUTIFUL DISASTER’S win, and heeding good Girlfriend advice to put the book in readers’ hands, I thought I’d give away a signed copy! Just leave a comment and I’ll pick a winner by Friday.

You can always find me at http://www.lauraspinella.net/ or on Facebook:

43 comments:

  1. Congrats on the win. And, nice to hear about the UGA event. I should probably read the alumni newsletter closer. Good luck.

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  2. Thank you, Stacy! Are you a Dawg?? Thanks so much, Sandy, for the link!!

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  3. Congratulations on your NJRWA’s Best First Book win!!! How exciting!!!

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  4. So excited for your award! I'm sure there are more coming. Enjoy Athens - how could you not?!

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  5. As I said before, Laura, this good fortune couldn't have happened to a more deserving, wonderful person! So, so happy for you!! xoxo

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  6. Woof. Woof.

    I went to law school in Athens. (Didn't finish.)

    I facebooked and tweeted the giveaway.

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  7. Loved Athens! (Didn't go to school there, only visited for a writer's con.)

    Have a great time and congrats on the award. Tweet sent!

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  8. Congrats, Laura! Off to post this on Facebook!!

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  9. Happy Birthday!! Thank you for the giveaway!

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  11. I will post on FB, Ms. Laura! I know I wished you a happy birthday already, but here's to all good things in the year ahead...and congrats on all the wonderful achievements with BD, including the award! I think you can rest assured that your baby is well-loved. :-)

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  12. Happy Belated birthday ! Thanks for the giveaway. I've learned of so many new authors this way. Thank you and good luck everyone

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  13. Congratulations on your NJRWA’s Best First Book win! ( :

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  14. Congrats on the win. This books sounds great and would love to win and read. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.
    GFC & blog follower: chris Bails
    christinebails@yahoo.com

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  15. Happy Birthday! Would love a chance for the book

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  16. Congrats and belated happy birthday! It's wonderful to have unexpected surprises, especially in publishing. And more to come for you, too!

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  17. Congrats on the win, Laura! Great interview! Off to post on FB and Twitter the giveaway. Thanks bunches!

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  18. Congratulations on the win, Laura! No need to enter me in the contest - I already read your terrific book.

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  19. Congrats!!

    And Happy late Birthday!!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  20. Wonderful news! Congrats! Thank you for this giveaway!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

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  21. Laura, the blurb sold me so whether or not I win this contest I will be reading the novel.
    Congrats!
    I found you through my friend Marilyn Brant on FB and I've liked you now too.
    Deb

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  22. Congrats! I saw your book takes place in Silver Spring, MD. I live there!!! Count me in. :)

    mbamster0720 at gmail dot com

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  23. Happy Birthday and congratulations once more on a well deserved win!

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  24. Ohmigosh!! I had to step out for a couple of hours, am I'm just overwhelmed by the posts! I wanted to respond to everyone!! Will you all accept a group THANK YOU for stopping in?? If you're interested, you can read all of Chapter One on Facebook:
    http://www.facebook.com/BeautifulDisasterANovel

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  25. Happy Belated Birthday and congratulations on your much deserved win! As an aspiring author myself, I am very much aware of the naiveté and endless self doubts and questions that go along with such an endeavor. One never knows whether their writing "skills and abilities" will succeed or fail when they take that chance and I personally believe that fulfillment is more in making that journey than in the reaching the final destination, because it is in the journey that we discover what we are truly made of! Congratulations again on your win, you are truly a talented individual! greeneyesredhair@gmail.com

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  26. Congrats!! And thanks for the giveaway!!
    gborkowski@roadrunner.com

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  27. Happy belated birthday and congrats on winning NJRWA’s Best First Book in in the Golden Leaf contest. Can't wait to read your book. And thanks for the giveaway.

    Amyrbromberg (at) gmail (dot) com

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  28. Happy belated birthday, Laura! And congrats on the win.

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  29. Congrats on winning the award and happy belated birthday! What a nice birthday gift that is!

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

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  30. Congratulations! I am glad to have found your blog! :)

    Jennah

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  31. Congratulations from the Booktini gals! We simply adore you and couldn't be happier for Beautiful Disaster's success! Many of us still dream of Flynn .

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  32. Thanks, Christine! I'm glad he/we/it made such an impression! Hope you enjoyed the post. Loved every book club I visited with, but you guys are DA BOMB!!!

    And thanks to everyone who posted today!!! Winner on Friday!!

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  33. I love the term Beautiful Disaster - it's such an oxymornic adjective, and it always reminds me of the Kelly Clarkson song too!
    The book sounds great =)

    mitzyanne33@gmail.com

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  34. Congrats and a belated happy birthday!

    mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  35. Congrats! I avoid my Amazon page like the plague, too -- even when I'm running contests linked with it.

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  36. Congrats! And Happy Birthday! I am a cover lover and the cover of your book is beautiful! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book.

    suzebomb(at)gmail.com

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  37. Thanks for the comments!! And I'm glad you like the cover, Susan. I think it's beautiful too! I can say that b/c I didn't have a thing to do with it!!

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  38. you have a wonderful post I really enjoy it so much thanks for sharing it and happy birthday 365!

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