Book Giveaway Monday!
Happy Monday! Congrats to Robyn for winning a copy of Just Between You and Me. Robyn, just email me (jen at jennybjones dot com) with your mailing addy, and I'll get that out to you. Hopefully this year.
This week I'm giving away someone else's book. I recently read Gone to Green by Judy Christie. If you're into journalism and the behind-the-scenes life of a newspaper, you will enjoy it! I come from a small town where the paper knew everyone's business and the town knew the paper's business, so I could relate to some moments in the book. You can read the synopsis and sample chapter after my sign off. I would love to give a copy away. So here is this week's question. . .What town did you grow up in (or towns) and what's one thing you loved best about it? You have from now until Thursday night when the crickets start carrying on to leave your comment. I'll announce the winner on Friday's blog. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas and my favorite thing was just knowing everyone. I loved walking to the football games and smelling fall–leaves, concession stand, the voice of the announcer that has been the same since the 70s. Cheering for a game in which I had absolutely no idea what was going on. I got to go back and teach in my hometown for six years, and they were my best professional years for sure. I love small towns.
Just Between You and Me will be on the shelves Tuesday. I'm TOTALLY excited about that. It's exciting and yet it's. . .scary. You have no idea how people are going to react. I can paint a room in my house, and if I stay in the lines and don't fling paint everywhere know it's a good job. But books and anything creative? So subjective. I have a friend Sal, and if she likes a movie, there's a great chance I'll strongly dislike it. And vice-versa. So it's hard to know how a book will be received. BUT if all the reviews use words like: hideous, hazardous waste, and worthy of blow torch, at least I'll have THIS FABULOUS REVIEW by Evangeline Denmark. Not only is it amazingly positive, but it's so well written! Like it made ME want to buy the book. Evangeline has some other great posts on her blog as well, and I love her bio that says “I'm 29 and will be from now on.” Me too! Welcome to the 29 Forever Club where our motto is “Lying is Okay Here.”(motto tattoos are optional.)
So this weekend I saw Second City. This is an improv troupe based out of Chicago that has launched the careers of many a Saturday Night Live star, like Gilda Radner, one of my favorites. They have a touring show and came to Arkansas. It was pretty good. There actually wasn't that much improv (more sketches). I love improv–like on Whose Line is It? Improv is such an art and talent. I love drama and theater, but I happen to STINK at anything off the cuff or improvy. I mean I stink. I just kinda stand there and uh-uh-uh. I need a script! Lines! Preparation! And all six of these actors could sing–and did so often. Can you imagine having to think of lines on your own AND spontaneously sing? There's no way. When I first started teaching, I would script out my entire lesson. Like I wrote myself LINES for the class period. I'm not kidding. I did that for the whole first year. I don't remember if I wrote stage directions or not. (Look stern here. Point at student and scowl. Tell funny knock-knock joke. Pause and pretend to consider student's question. Say something witty about dangling participles.)
Did I ever post the video of Chester the Peeing Dog? Because you shouldn't go another day without seeing it.
Have they buried Michael Jackson yet? What the heck is going on? If I ever die, I do not want to be left out so long I'm worm bait before I even get in the ground. I mean are they waiting for some sort of Thriller resurrection? Zombies can burst through dirt AND caskets, so just lower him down already. But if there is a zombie uprising, you KNOW MJ will be part of it. I hope Chris Farley is too. Just because he'd be a funny zombie. If there is such a thing. And maybe a JFK zombie because I really have some questions for him. I would say a Keith Richards zombie, but I think he might already be one. Though highly functional.
I hope you have a great week. We are experiencing unusually cool temps here, which has prompted me to research the weather forecast for our winter. Will it be cooler this year? More moisture? Because when cool meets moisture it equals snow. And I'm also working on a new snow dance for Snow Loving Holly and myself. Never too early to start. Especially when it involves some pyrotechnic details.
See you Wednesday! Don't forget to answer the Question of the Week to get in the running for Gone to Green.
JEN
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Gone To Green
Abingdon Press (August 2009)
by
Judy Christie
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Judy Pace Christie, after working as a journalist for twenty-five years, left the daily news business to open a consulting firm that works with individuals, businesses, and churches on strategies for meaningful life and work, including goal-setting, living fully, and balancing personal and professional lives. She is the author of Hurry Less, Worry Less; Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmastime; and co-author of Awesome Altars. Judy and her husband live in northwest Louisiana.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Lois goes from being a corporate journalist at a large paper in the Midwest to the owner of The Green News-Item, a small twice-weekly newspaper in rural North Louisiana. The paper was an unexpected inheritance from a close colleague, and Lois must keep it for at least a year, bringing a host of challenges, lessons, and blessings into her life.
When Lois pulls into Green on New Year’s Day, she expects a charming little town full of smiling people. She quickly realizes her mistake. After settling into a loaned house out on Route 2, she finds herself battling town prejudices and inner doubts and making friends with the most surprising people: troubled teenager Katy, good-looking catfish farmer Chris, wise and feisty Aunt Helen, and a female African-American physician named Kevin.
Whether fighting a greedy, deceitful politician or rescuing a dog she fears, Lois notices the headlines in her life have definitely improved. She learns how to provide small-town news in a big-hearted way and realizes that life is full of newsworthy moments. When she encounters racial prejudice and financial corruption, Lois also discovers more about the goodness of real people and the importance of being part of a community.
While secretly preparing the paper for a sale, Lois begins to realize that God might indeed have a plan for her life and that perhaps the allure of city life and career ambition are not what she wants after all.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Gone To Green, go HERE
