Giveaway: Cozy Up With A Book On Christmas Eve (5 Winners! INT.)

Hello everyone, it's time for a giveaway!

This giveaway is inspired by a tradition I read about recently, that I think is very neat. In Iceland, books are exchanged on Christmas Eve, and people spend the rest of the night, tucked into bed, with chocolate, reading! Awesome, right?

So, I wanted to host my own giveaway with that tradition in mind.

The giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. You can enter as long as you are able to accept an ebook gifted to you via Amazon.com.

Don't have a Kindle? You can still enter! You read the book on your computer, or download the free Kindle app to use on your phone or other device.

There will be 5 winners total. Each winner can select one  (1) ebook of their choice, valued up to 5 USD. Winners will be chose on December 19th.

Winners will have 48 hours to reply to their notification email, letting me know their book of choice. If they don't respond in time, a new winner will be chosen. The ebook delivery will be scheduled to be delivered via Amazon.com on December 24th.

There are other terms and conditions in the rafflecopter, so be sure to read those carefully.

Now, lets get to the giveaway!


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Review: The Seeds of Beauty (+Giveaway)

Hello everyone,

Welcome to my stop on the tour for Seeds of Beauty by Lakeysha-Marie Green, presented by Pump Up Your Book. Read on to discover my thoughts on the book as well as enter a giveaway.

Title: Seeds of Beauty: Defining Your Beauty and Style From The Inside Out:

Author: Lakeysha-Marie Green

Drawings By: Alyse DeCavallas

Publisher: Createspace

Published: May 30, 2013

Pages: 216

Format: Paperback

Source: Received From Author In Exchange For An Honest Review

My Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis:

What's the real secret of radiant beauty? It may come as no surprise that how we look on the outside is directly connected to the beauty deep inside us. What's more, when we are imbalanced with the weight of low self-esteem, it's all-too-visible in our physical appearance. That's why every truly successful makeover begins by reconnecting with who we are at our very core-long before the swipe of the credit card or snip of the shears. Now, fashion stylist Lakeysha-Marie Green has written a groundbreaking new guide to developing show-stopping beauty from the inside out. Inspirational and easy to use, The Seeds of Beauty seamlessly joins the key elements of inner beauty with savvy, expert advice on making the most of your own physical attributes. In Part One, "Beauty Within," you'll learn how to build a foundation of self-love, exploring subjects such as acknowledging your value, developing resilience and finding the courage to move forward. Part Two, "Beauty Reflected," offers you practical advice on wardrobe fundamentals to bring out your beauty and create a winning style. By combining these equally important aspects of true beauty, this gorgeous resource comes together in one illuminating journey that looks as fabulous as it feels. The Seeds of Beauty challenges you to discover just why you are uniquely beautiful on the inside. Once you have embraced your own brand of beauty, you'll be truly motivated to master the building blocks to accentuate your appearance-and glow with your own exquisite beauty from the inside out.

Want To Read It For Yourself?

AMAZON

Melissa's Musings:

This book is a pleasant mix of self help and fashion. The book just jumps right in, there isn't really a solid preface as to what the goal of the book is. In a sense, it's a bit free-spirited. I don't mind this, but it would have been nice if there were a little more setup/introduction rather than just jumping right in to things.

Each chapter has an inspirational quote as a sub-heading and this was a really nice feature. The quotes were well suited to each of the different chapters. I also thought it was great that the book focused on the self help portion first, and saved the fashion element for second, because this really ties in with the nature of the book, defining beauty from the inside out.

There are a lot of important reminders, for women on various aspects of life that we tend to sometimes have trouble with. Important messages like "Don't beat yourself up too much for your mistakes," and "Don't compare yourself to others, love yourself for who you are," are just a few of the points reiterated in this first section. The end of each chapter has a beauty brainstorm, so that the reader can take some time to reflect on these lessons and make the connections to them in their own life.

The second section is full of great fashion tips and advice on everything from body types and what styles work best on each, to accessories and picking out clothing for each season, plus more. This section is really helpful for someone like me who doesn't know much about fashion. I learned a lot about how to pick clothing that really will suit my body type well, and that will make me feel good about myself. I also learned that maybe one of the reasons I like purple so much is because it is a color that goes well with my skin tone. I'll definitely be referring back to this section of the book often for help choosing clothing.

Overall this book is really lovely. I learned a lot, with great reminders on how to improve my life through positivity and small mental changes. And I also picked up a few great fashion tips that will help me dress more confidently and shine both inside and out.

And now you can shine a little on the outisde and enter for your chance to win a Macy's and Sephora giftcard. Enter using the rafflecopter below. Here are the details:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour. If your blog isn’t set up to accept the form, we offer another way for you to participate by having people comment on your blog then directing them to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries. This promotion will run from June 17 – September 13. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 14, 2013. Each blogger who participates in The Seeds of Beauty virtual book tour is eligible to enter and win. Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour. If you would like to participate, email Tracee at tgleichner(at)gmail.com. What a great way to not only win these fabulous prizes, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!

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Book Blast: The Portal's Choice (+Giveaway)

About The Portal's Choice:

Journal, just in case . . .



I didn’t ask to meet ghosts. Shoot, I was fine without them in my life. Uncle Craig and Hannah were nasty to me, but at least I knew how to handle living pains in the butt. Now I have to figure out how to open and close a portal between the human and spirit worlds. And I have to find and return a bunch of angry ghosts through the gateway and lock them on their side. I don’t know why the portal chose me to do this, a fifteen-year-old kid with no ghost busting experience. But it did. And if I want a ghost-free night’s sleep anytime soon, I’d better figure out how to get the job done. Because I’ve about had it with murderous ghouls and their unpleasant agendas.  “Signed Tallis Challinor”



After the death of her parents, Tallis Challinor and her brother Wyatt must move to the Midwest to live with their dead mother’s sister and her family. When Aunt Sandra dies three-and-a-half years later, Tallis and Wyatt find themselves moving yet again, this time to New Hampshire to live with their father’s sister, Aunt Gabbie, and her husband Noreis. Gabbie is young, pretty and fun. Tallis remembers being a little girl and playing with her Aunt at the family home in California, before her parents died. So Tallis is excited to re-locate and reconnect with Gabbie. But what should have been a happy reunion is plagued with problems when Noreis opens a portal between the spirit and human worlds located in the basement of the house.



Tallis is a practical kid. She doesn’t believe that ghosts exist. But she can’t deny what she sees with her own eyes and the two ghosts Tallis meets at Thanksgiving in the basement of her aunt’s house are definitely not figments of her imagination, although she wishes they were. Tallis is unwittingly drawn into the portal’s energy when one of the ghosts fixates on her and forces her to assist in the release of three particularly nasty spirits. As a final blow, the portal chooses Tallis as a temporary gatekeeper and she finds herself charged with the duty of returning the very ghouls she’s set free, plus a few of their buddies, back to the spirit realm. 



As Tallis learns the secrets of the portal and begins to understand her newly acquired power, she formulates a plan to return the ghosts. Along the way, she receives help from many new friends who fill in the details about the identity of the escaped spirits, providing a possible motive for the outrageous actions of the escaped ghosts. Tallis must learn to trust herself and others as she taps into her inner courage to get the job done and save her town from the angry restless dead set.

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON

About The Author:

KD Pryor started life in Missouri, where she read lots of books, even sneaking them into baseball games to the irritation of her father. Kelley graduated with a degree in International and Comparative Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. After college and marriage to a great guy, she decided to pursue a law degree at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Her oldest son was born soon after law school, followed three years later by her daughter and a move to Kentucky. One more son, a move to Ohio and four years later, her family jumped on the opportunity to move to India. They lived in Bangalore, now Bengaluru, for four wonderfully chaotic years, traveling all over Asia, Australia and Europe.

Now, settled in New Hampshire with her family and herd of cats (only three), she can often be found in her office, working on the next installment of “The Gatekeepers of Em’pyrean” series, reading one of a dozen books she has started, and dreaming of her future travel destinations.

“The Portal’s Choice”, book one in “The Gatekeeper’s of Em’pyrean” series featuring Tallis Challinor, was released on May 6, 2013.

“The Forgotten Gate”, book two in the series, is scheduled for release in 2014.

 Visit her website at www.kdpryor.com.

Connect & Socialize with KD!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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Review: Magnolia and Lotus: Selected Poems of Hyesim (+ INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY)

Hello all!

Today I'm bringing you a little something different here on the blog. I haven't featured much poetry in the past, but today I'm bringing you my review of Magnolia and Lotus: Selected Poems of Hyesim as part of a blog tour hosted by Pump Up Your Book

Read on to find out more about this book and enter to win your own copy!

Title: Magnolia and Lotus: Selected Poems of Hyesim

Translators: Ian Haight and T'ae-Yong Ho

Publisher: White Pine Press

Published: June 4, 2013

Pages: 108

Format: Paperback

Source: Received From Translator in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 4 Stars

Melissa's Musings:

This collection of poetry is diverse, but there are also some common themes and elements. I appreciated the introduction to the collection, which gives the reader a glimpse of Hyesim. It explores his beginnings as a nobleman, his path to becoming a monk, and his dedication to spiritual enlightenment. I learned some of the differences between the Korean version of Zen, called Son. It's refreshing to learn a different perspective on the concept of Zen, and to learn more about it in general.

Most of these poems are short, but they pack powerful meanings within their limited space. Nature, and the appreciation of its beauty is one of the most common themes. The moon is featured often, as are ponds. One of my favorite pieces in this book is the poem titled "Singing Moon" (pg. 47) The message makes the reader truly stop and think about the fact that our days/nights are not guaranteed, and we should't take any of them for granted.

Many of the poems that feature ponds focus on the act of self reflection, which is key for personal growth. The beautiful imagery portrayed within these poems elicits self reflection, and makes you think about the things that are truly important in life. I'm happy to have read this poetry collection and to have had the opportunity to do some self reflection.

Are you interested in reading this poetry collection? Enter below to win your own copy of Magnolia and Lotus: Selected Poems of Hyesim

Giveaway Details:

Three (3) winners will receive print copies of Magnolia and Lotus

This giveaway is open  INTERNATIONALLY

The winners will have 48 hours to respond to their notification emails before another winner is chosen.

The author NOT Melissa's Midnight Musings is responsible for sending the prize to the winner

The giveaway will run from August 7, 2013  August 21 2013 at 12:00 AM PST

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Book Blast: Siding With Plato (+Giveaway)

About Siding With Plato:

Brooke Aarons can’t get to college fast enough. Leaving behind her small town life, she intends to transform herself into a brilliant psychologist with no distractions along the way. But when she finds herself on a double date with the school’s star football player – and worse, enjoying it – Brooke has to wonder if she’s the one who needs her head examined. James Cartwright’s easy life, endless bucks, and long line of willing girls should make him a non-starter for Brooke, but as she learns, the psychology behind a bad crush is a whole lot messier of a subject. Maybe Plato was right. Maybe love is a serious mental disease. If so, Brooke doesn’t have long to find a cure before James’ attention proves to be a terminal condition.

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Connect & Socialize with Michelle!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

About the Author:

Michelle Manning was born and raised in Valencia, CA, attended Arizona State University, and graduated with a degree in journalism. After bouncing between New York and Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry, Michelle is releasing her debut novel, Siding With Plato.   

Visit her website at www.michellemanningwrites.com.

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The Siding with Plato Tour Page:

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/06/03/book-blast-pump-up-your-book-presents-michelle-mannings-siding-with-plato-book-blast-win-25-amazon-gcpaypal-cash/

Book Blast: For Those In Peril On The Sea

About The Book:

After a six week voyage across the Atlantic, they couldn't wait to get to shore. When they got there, they found the land would never be safe again...

There was nothing to suggest it would be anything other than a routine delivery. Four people thrown together by chance, sailing a newly-built catamaran from South Africa to Miami. But while they were away, something happened, something none of them could ever have imagined. When they get back to civilisation, they find it no longer exists. The land is no longer safe. Their only option is to stay on the boat and try to survive.

Join Bill, Rob, Jon and CJ as they travel around their frightening new world. One where they must struggle against the infected that now rule the land, the elements and each other.

Buy The Book:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

About The Author:

olin M. Drysdale is a marine biologist and author. Under his real name, he has published numerous academic papers and articles, as well as writing a number of technical books. However, when writing fiction, he has chosen to write under the pseudonym Colin M. Drysdale to distinguish between these two very different areas of his written work.

His first novel, 'For Those In Peril On The Sea', was published by Pictish Beast Publications in the UK in January 2013, and internationally in March of the same year. This book was selected as one of only five finalists in the ForeWord Firsts winter 2013 competition for debut novels. In 'For Those In Peril On The Sea', Colin M. Drysdale draws on many of his experiences working on and around the sea to tell the story of four strangers thrown together by chance on a yacht when civilisation is brought to a sudden and unexpected end. Face with a new world where it is no longer safe to go ashore, they must work together to find a way to survive everything it has to throw at them.

While he still works as a marine biologist, he is currently writing a sequel that is set in the same world as 'For Those In Peril On The Sea', but that will introduce his readers to a new cast of characters.

Visit his website at http://www.forthoseinperil.net.

Connect & Socialize with Colin!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Enter To Win:

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Author Interview: Robert Steven Williams (Plus Giveaway!)

Hello fellow readers!

Today I'm welcoming Robert Steven Williams, author of My Year As A Clown to Melissa's Midnight Musings. 

Read on to learn more about the author and also enter to win a copy of My Year As A Clown.

About My Year As A Clown:



Title: My Year As A Clown
Author: Robert Steven Williams
Publisher: Against the Grain Press
Published: December 26, 2012
Format: E-book
Pages: 272
Synopsis: 

With My Year as a Clown, Williams introduces us to Chuck Morgan, a new kind of male hero—imperfect and uncertain—fumbling his way forward in the aftermath of the abrupt collapse his 20-year marriage.

Initially, Chuck worries he’ll never have a relationship again, that he could stand in the lobby of a brothel with a hundred dollar bill plastered to his forehead and still not get lucky. But as his emotionally raw, 365-day odyssey unfolds, Chuck gradually relearns to live on his own, navigating the minefield of issues faced by the suddenly single—new routines, awkward dates, and even more awkward sex.

Edited by Joy Johannessen (Alice Sebold, Michael Cunningham, Amy Bloom), My Year As a Clown will attract fans of the new breed of novelists that includes Nick Hornby, Jonathan Tropper and Tom Perrotta. Like others in that distinguished group, Robert Steven Williams delivers a painfully honest glimpses into the modern male psyche while writing about both sexes with equal ease and grace in a way that’s both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time.

The Interview:

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Do you have any unusual talents or hobbies?

I live in Westport, CT with my cat, The Munce Man. He inspired the role of Arthur in the novel; his sister Cleo (who passed away 2 years ago), inspired Guinn.

I play guitar, write songs, I also do yoga and enjoy the outdoors.

I write for several not-for-profits including Paul Newman’s Safe Water Network. 25% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe water. It’s hard to believe how many people needlessly suffer.

I’m also working on a couple of film projects.

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer? 

I’ve had aspirations to write since I was a kid, but I didn’t commit to the writer’s life until I was 40. Someone the other day asked how I was managing to make this work—I told him that I made a lot of sacrifices and I had to downsize my needs to match the dramatic drop in income.

If I’d known when I made this transition that it would take 15 years to publish a novel, I doubt I would have had the guts.

The hard work is now starting to pay off, but it’s still a hustle.  I love writing, so it’s no big deal.

Lots of folks are enamoured with the idea of writing: wake up late, write for an hour, go fishing with Castro, run with the bulls in Pamplona, drink deep into the night. The reality is much different. It’s a solitary endeavor and it’s really, really hard. I don’t recommend this to anyone.

Where did the inspiration for My Year As A Clown come from?

I was attending the Squaw Valley Community of Writers conference and a number of us were hiking up a mountain. The title just appeared in my head and moments later I knew that this book was going to be about the emotional rollercoaster of divorce and recovery.

Three authors inspired the style of my novel: Updike’s Rabbit series, Ford’s The Sportswriter series, and Amy Bloom’s short story collection, A blind man can see how much I love you. Although very different, there’s a raw honesty and unique perspective in each that sets the bar high in regards to what I wanted to accomplish with My Year as a Clown.

Often books that deal with the breakup of a marriage are told from a woman's perspective rather than the male perspective. Do you think that Chuck's journey back into singledom takes the same path as a woman's would? If not, what do you think makes it different?

It’s not for me, a writer, to comment about the differences between men and women. It’s my job to tell a story that may shed light on these differences, or similarities. It’s my job to provoke thought on such matters, but my personal opinion is not so important.

I did find the reaction to Sheryl Sandberg’s book fascinating. Clearly the issue of women in the workplace and at home is still raw. It evokes emotional responses, passion, intensity. That’s why I love fiction. It’s an opportunity to pick at the bone of a sensitive subject without causing a flare up that prevents people from at least hearing a perspective. 

I wrote My Year as a Clown in first person, present tense, to give the reader a front row seat into Chuck’s life. Heartbreak is heartbreak and what I tried to do with Chuck Morgan is show how he really felt. Because the book is in first person, the wall is down and the reader gets to experience real heartbreak from the male perspective. At the end of the day, when you get underneath the leaves, there’s much more in common with the sexes than what one might expect. But rarely do we get to see the unfiltered self.  Perhaps in real life, men are better are hiding emotion, but obviously there are a gazillion exceptions.

Here’s an example from the book: Chuck is estranged from his older brother. They are chalk and cheese, but Chuck’s divorce is an opportunity for them to reunite. Without giving much away, when the barriers come down, the brothers realize they are more alike than they thought.  I believe this phenomenon is not unique to men.

Did you draw on any personal experiences in writing this book, or those of people you know?

I wrote a novel, not a memoir, and I did that because I didn’t want to be bound by the facts. Having said that, I tried to be true to the emotions in this story. I was inspired by what happened to me, and the many friends and family members that shared stories of heartbreak and disappointment. I love to draw from many sources and then create something fresh.

 Who is your favorite author?

It’s hard to just have one, but if pushed, it has to be Fitzgerald. I just completed his biography and I was shocked to hear how poorly the Gatsby was received when it came out. Fitzgerald drank too much and he was totally underappreciated the 2^nd half of his career. I was even surprised at how he struggled at Princeton.

His command of language and sentences, the economy of story, he had it all. It’s a terrible shame that he lost it for so many years.

 Do you have writing routine? A special pen, a certain type of music, time limits?

I write every day and try to keep to specific times, but you have to be flexible. I also set targets to make sure that I complete projects. I could rewrite forever. I do like writing with music, but only instrumentals – jazz from the 50’s, classical quartets and piano concertos, that sort of thing.

 Do you enjoy edits/rewrites, or not?

I enjoy edits/rewrites more because you’re on your way. There is nothing more terrifying than the blank screen.

Do you do a lot of external research in the process of writing? If so, what's the most interesting thing you've uncovered in your research?

For my latest novel The Sound of Money (still in process), I did a lot of research on Elvis and it was shocking to see that his manager (the Colonel), kept Elvis propped up at the end on drugs so that he could go on tour because the Colonel needed money. Once again, a tragic ending to an incredible artist.

Which character or scene was your favorite to write and why?

I loved writing the scene where Chuck pops by his friend’s house at midnight, lets himself in and makes a sandwich in the kitchen. I wrote that scene after reading Good Grief by Lolly Winston. It was inspired by that scene she wrote about her character showing up to work in her pajamas—we all go into shock when something traumatic happens, and I loved how Lolly showed that with the pajamas.

Because I was writing in first person, present tense, the reader couldn’t trust Chuck telling you that he was okay. So having him get into trouble that night at his friend’s house was a way of showing that Chuck’s narration can be suspect at times.

How do you come up with your character names?

The sound and cadence of a name is just as important as the actual name and potential secondary meaning. Each name is chosen carefully, but each book or short story I write has its own internal set of rules, so I don’t apply the same approach to everything I write.

Please tell us a little bit about your journey to publication

I generated lots of interest in this book from agents, but I never got a deal signed because everyone thought that a guy’s perspective on divorce wouldn’t sell. My goal was to write an honest book, a simple enough goal, but difficult to achieve.

The turning point on My Year as a Clown was two-fold. A good friend decided to help me financially produce this properly. Second, getting Joy Johannessen to edit the book was key. She works with writers like Alice Sebold, Amy Bloom and Michael Cunningham. When she agreed to work with me, I knew we had something special. She gave me the encouragement I needed to get this thing completed.

Winning the silver medal for popular fiction from the independent publisher book awards was very satisfying because few of the winners in that competition come from the independent world, most are affiliated with university presses or small publishing houses. I did this book on my own, but I assembled a cracker-jack group of industry veterans to help.

Having a digital distributor was also very useful, without them, I never could have gotten Amazon to help promote the book.

For you, what is the hardest part of the writing process?

It’s all hard. But it’s also all very gratifying because when you succeed, you realize that the journey was well worth the effort. How one defines success is a key element of that prior sentence. For me, completing a book that I felt worked was enough. You can’t get attached to what happens next. You’re never as bad as people say, nor as good.

That’s not to say that I’m not enjoying the success that’s starting to happen. J

Are there any common themes that you feel are particularly important to write about?

The key to writing is honesty. Trust me, this is no easy objective and most writing fails to achieve it.  Anything honest has vast potential.

When you're not writing, what are your other hobbies/passions?

I enjoy yoga, bike riding, and watching good TV like Madman, Game of Thrones, Nurse Jackie and Homeland. I also read a lot.

 Are you working on any new projects?

I’ve got several cool things going on at the moment:

I’m making a documentary film on Scott and Zelda’s time in Westport CT (1920) and how their time in Westport influenced The Great Gatsby.

I’m also completing my 2^nd novel: The Sound of Money.

I’m in the preproduction phase of a new CD of original songs.

I’m assisting the Fairfield Museum celebrate the town’s 375 anniversary by celebrating noteworthy musicians who have lived in the county the past 100 years.  I’m helping my good friend Chris Frantz, a neighbor and the drummer of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, who is in charge of the exhibit.

Quick Fire round:

Coke or Pepsi? Neither. Espresso

Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

Rainy winter days or blazing hot summer days? Heat, baby, heat.

Hard Copy or e-book? There’s nothing like the Real Thing

Favorite book? The Great Gatsby

Last book you read? George Saunders Tenth of December

What's a quote that inspires you? If I had more time, this letter would be shorter (Mark Twain)

What's your favorite comfort food? Fresh Blueberries and Dark Chocolate

What's your favorite color and why? Blue because it reminds me of the beauty of the sky or a summer day at the beach looking out at the ocean

Connect with Robert Steven Williams:

Robert Steven Williams is an author, singer-songwriter, and musician. His debut novel, My Year as a Clown (Against the Grain Press), was released in January 2013.

As a writer, Williams was a finalist in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and was awarded a Squaw Valley Writers Community Thayer Scholarship. He attended Bread Loaf, Sewanee and the Squaw Valley Writers’ Conferences, and worked closely with the esteemed fiction writer, Barry Hannah. His short fiction has appeared in Carve Magazine, The Orange Coast Review, and the anthology Tall Tales and Short Stories Volume II. Additionally, he was the executive producer of the critically acclaimed BOOM! Studios CBGB Comic series, nominated in 2011 for a Harvey Award for Best Anthology. Robert’s work has also appeared in Poets & Writers Magazine, Billboard, USA Today  and LetterPress, a newsletter for writers. He is also co-author of the best-selling business book, The World’s Largest Market.

As a musician, Williams studied songwriting with Rosanne Cash, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and other top country writers. In 2005, he released the critically acclaimed CD “I Am Not My Job,” featuring Rachel Z (Peter Gabriel, Wayne Shorter) and Sloan Wainwright.

Facebook|Twitter|Website

Giveaway Details:

One winner will get an e copy of My Year As A Clown

This giveaway is open  INTERNATIONALLY

The winner will have 48 hours to respond to their notification emails before another winner is chosen.

The author NOT Melissa's Midnight Musings is responsible for sending the prize to the winner

The giveaway will run from June 26, 2013  until July 3rd 2013 at 12:00 AM PST

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Review: My Year As A Clown

Hello everyone! Welcome to my tour stop for My Year As A Clown which includes my review.

Title: My Year As A Clown

Author: Robert Steven Williams

Publisher: Against The Grain Press

Published: December 20, 2012

Pages: 272

Format: E-book

Source: Received in Exchange for an Honest Review

My Rating: 3 Stars

Synopsis: 

Silver Medal Winner for Popular Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

With My Year as a Clown, Williams introduces us to Chuck Morgan, a new kind of male hero—imperfect and uncertain—fumbling his way forward in the aftermath of the abrupt collapse his 20-year marriage.

Initially, Chuck worries he’ll never have a relationship again, that he could stand in the lobby of a brothel with a hundred dollar bill plastered to his forehead and still not get lucky. But as his emotionally raw, 365-day odyssey unfolds, Chuck gradually relearns to live on his own, navigating the minefield of issues faced by the suddenly single—new routines, awkward dates, and even more awkward sex.

Edited by Joy Johannessen (Alice Sebold, Michael Cunningham, Amy Bloom), My Year As a Clown will attract fans of the new breed of novelists that includes Nick Hornby, Jonathan Tropper and Tom Perrotta. Like others in that distinguished group, Robert Steven Williams delivers a painfully honest glimpses into the modern male psyche while writing about both sexes with equal ease and grace in a way that’s both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time.

Melissa's Musings:

I have very mixed feelings about this book. What initially drew me to the story was the fact that this was divorce told from the male perspective. So often, we read stories that are centered on women and their heartbreak and pain after divorce, rarely do we see the same situation told from a male perspective. The story itself is interesting, and the writing flows really well. It's written in a journalistic style, chronicling the first year after Chuck's wife leaves him. Sometimes the style can be clunky or awkward, but this is executed well.

There were things I liked about Chuck, and things that annoyed me. I liked the fact that he actually acknowledged his emotions instead of always trying to bury them. He did a lot of that too, with drugs and alcohol, but there were times when he tried to work through his feelings and actually worked on his own self improvement. It may have been with alterior motives involving women, but there was a genuine edge to it as well.

One of the more frustrating aspects of his character was that many of the major life events that he recalls are hinged on the football season. Maybe this was the author's way of making it more palatable, but I found it irritating. He and his wife's honeymoon was pushed back a day due to a football game. Another time, Claudia proposes that they move to England, and again, it's declined on his part in majority (I felt) due to football playoffs.

Claudia was just as frustrating as Chuck's character, but in a different way. We don't really see much of her, mostly just Chuck's recollections. And there's not really a buildup leading up to her departure. Although if I were her and married to someone who pushed back important life events due to sports, I'd probably be peeved too. There is a lot more to the reasons they split than that, but that's a sore point throughout the novel.

Both of them come out to be jerks, (although Chuck does redeem himself by the end.) and there were times where I just wanted to smack both of them because they couldn't get it together.

I wish that the music aspect had been explored more thoroughly. I felt kind of smothered by Chuck's writing material. I also didn't care for some of the religious/spiritual aspects of the book. I understand that it was Chuck exploring his heritage and his connection to that, but I feel that the whole drama with the rabbi and especially the twist on that were completely unneccessary. I was more interested in hearing about past endeavors with musicians, and really liked the interactions between him and Sally.

Overall,  I'm still not sure how I feel about this. I liked the writing a lot, but some of the plot points were unneccesary. I'd be mildly curious to see what happens further with Chuck. All in all, the book was okay. Not bad, not great, just middle of the road for me.

That being said, if you're looking for a unique perspective on divorce, I'd recommend giving this a try.

Author Spotlight: Kerry Taylor (Plus Giveaway!)

One author, 3 amazing books! Get to know her:

Kerry Taylor was born in London, but is living in Madrid, Spain with her three children.
She has written several romantic comedies, short stories and her first erotica book.

Find more about her at: www.kerrytaylor74.wordpress.com

If you want to know more about her work, just check her latest releases:

Quick facts for the 3 books:

Format: Paperback, Kindle, nook, apple, Kobo

Genres: Romance/Romantic Comedy/ Contemporary Fiction

Content: There is no explicit content in any of the books.

Blind Dating by Kerry Taylor

A Romantic Comedy

When mid-forties, divorced, single-mother-of-three, Kimberly, realizes her own mother has more of a life than she does, she decides to do something about it. 

Encouraged by success stories from people at work, she joins a dating chat room, ICQ, which starts to rock her world. 

All of a sudden she’s a swinging single, online, with extreme dates, a little dirty talk, and a sense of her new, sexy self— until that fateful moment when her long-time chat-room buddy, LonelySingle, wants to meet. "Are you trying to find a man on Facelook?" her Mom questions, after years of being told it is Facebook! 

What if he doesn’t like her? What if she doesn’t like him? These are the thoughts, inside her head. Until they meet and realise, that they have been friends offline aswell as online! What happens next? A light-hearted, romantic comedy about a single mom finding true love, which was right before her eyes.

AMAZON

B&N

KOBO

STERILE by Isabella Jones (Kerry Taylor)

A Contemporary Woman Fiction

‘I am his wife, he no longer respects, touches or loves me.’

Lisa cries to herself at night. After 15 years of marriage, she cannot accept their fate: a life with no children. She wallows in paranoia as Mark works late and continues his career as a travelling salesman. Her accusations of him cheating on her result in their first major fight which leads to a trail of events that spiral out of Lisa's control.

Will Lisa manage to keep her tenuous grip on her marriage, her life and ultimately reality?

A novel about one woman’s struggle to carry on when her worst nightmare turns into reality.

AMAZON

KOBO

B&N

Love or Money by Kerry Taylor

A Romantic Comedy

Heather and Kelly are two single best friends who live and do everything together. When someone points out that the only other women who have a similar lifestyle are either lesbians or sisters, they decide it is time to move on and get married. How will they choose? Vowing to find their husbands together as well, they embark on a journey, equal parts hunt and madcap dating adventure, to find their dream husbands. With opposite tastes and ideas, will they be able to find husbands together? Searching for a man with money or searching for a man to love—who will find their husband first? And more importantly, is there a happy ending?

AMAZON

B&N

Tour Giveaway

• 3 digital copies of Kerry's book at each blog! So follow the tour, get to know amazing blogs and have a lot more chances!

Tour Schedule 

June 10: Black Lion Tours Blog: Spotlight

June 11: Fandom Fanatic: Spotlight 

June 12: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews: Interview

                Love in a Book: Guest Post

June 13: Clean Romance Reviews: Spotlight

June 14: Rusty Reads: Spotlight

June 15: My Reading Obsession: Spotlight

June 16: Pure Jonel: Review

June 17: My Devotional Thoughts: Spotlight

June 18: I know that Book: Spotlight

June 19: Books, Books The Magical Fruit: Spotlight

               Melissa's Midnight Musings: Spotlight

June 21: A Book Lover's Library: Spotlight

June 23: Kindred Dreamheart: Guest Post

               A Novel Idea Live: Live Interview

June 25: My Seryniti: Spotlight

June 27: Tinasbookreviews: Guest Post

June 28: Deal Sharing Aunt: Review

June 29:Paperback Princess: Spotlight

June 30: That Girl Reads: Spotlight

Giveaway Details:

Three winners will get an e copy of one of Kerry Taylor's books highlighted above of their choice
This giveaway is open  INTERNATIONALLY
The winners will have 48 hours to respond to their notification emails before alternate winners are chosen.
The author NOT Melissa's Midnight Musings is responsible for sending the prizes to the winners
The giveaway will run from June 19, 2013 at 12:00 AM PST until June 27th 2013 at 12:00 AM PST

Enter to win!

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