Guest Post Plus Giveaway : Jamie Baywood (Author Of Getting Rooted In New Zealand)

Today, we have Jamie Baywood recounting her experiences in New Zealand and her inspiration to penning her memorable debut:  

It was always my dream to live abroad when I was growing up in California.  I had bad dating experiences in California and read in a New Zealand tour book that the country’s population at 100,000 fewer men than women.  I wanted to have some me time and an adventure. New Zealand seemed like a good place to do so. Although I intended to have a solo adventure I ended up meeting my husband a Scottish man in New Zealand. 

I consider myself an accidental author. I didn’t go to New Zealand with the intentions of writing a book about my experiences there. I had funny experiences that I had trouble believing were true. I wrote the stories down to stay sane. I wrote situations down that were happening around me and shared them with friends. The stories made people laugh so I decided to organize the stories into a book and publish in the hopes to make others laugh too.

One of the first people I meet was Colin Mathura-Jeffree from New Zealand’s Next Top Model. I had no idea who he was or that he was on TV when I meet him. He is friends with my former flatmate. We had a steep staircase that I kept falling down. Colin taught me to walk like a model so I wouldn’t fall down the stairs. 

In New Zealand, I had a lot of culture shock.  One of the most memorable moments was learning the meaning of the Kiwi slang word “rooted.” One night I was brushing my teeth with my flatmate and I said, ‘I’m really excited to live in this house because I have been travelling a lot and I just need to settle down, stop traveling and get rooted’. He was choking on his toothbrush and asked me if I knew what that meant because it had a completely different meaning New Zealand than it does in the States.

I had the opportunity to write and perform for Thomas Sainsbury the most prolific playwright in New Zealand. I performed a monologue about my jobs in the Basement Theatre in Auckland.  The funny thing about that experience was Tom kept me separated from the other performers until it was time to perform. I was under the impression that all the performers were foreigners giving their experiences in New Zealand.  All of the other performers were professional actors telling stories that weren’t their own. At first I was mortified, but the audience seemed to enjoy my “performance,” laughing their way through my monologue. After the shows we would go out and mingle with the audience. People would ask me how long I had been acting. I would tell them, “I wasn’t acting; I have to go to work tomorrow and sit next to the girl wearing her dead dog’s collar around her neck.” 

I love making people laugh more than anything else. I feel very grateful when readers understand my sense of humor. I plan to divide my books by the countries I’ve lived in. My next book will be about attempting to settle in Scotland. 

 About the book Getting Rooted in New Zealand:

Craving change and lacking logic, at 26, Jamie, a cute and quirky Californian, impulsively moves to New Zealand to avoid dating after reading that the country's population has 100,000 fewer men. In her journal, she captures a hysterically honest look at herself, her past and her new wonderfully weird world filled with curious characters and slapstick situations in unbelievably bizarre jobs. It takes a zany jaunt to the end of the Earth and a serendipitous meeting with a fellow traveler before Jamie learns what it really means to get rooted.

Read my 5 star review of Getting Rooted In New Zealand and Enter to win one of the two copies Jamie Baywood is giving away a Rafflecopter giveaway .

About the author Jamie Baywood:

Jamie Baywood grew up in Petaluma, California. In 2010, she made the most impulsive decision of her life by moving to New Zealand. Getting Rooted in New Zealand is her first book about her experiences living there. Jamie is now married and living happily ever after in the United Kingdom. She is working on her second book.

Getting Rooted in New Zealand is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/1482601907

Jamie Baywood can be followed on the following sites:

Facebook.com/jamiebaywood
Twitter.com/JamieBaywood
Pinterest.com/jamiebaywood
Goodreads.com/author/show/7069448.Jamie_Baywood
Amazon.com/author/jamiebaywood
uk.linkedin.com/pub/jamie-baywood/87/32a/42b/

Book Spotlight Plus Giveaway: Love Poems and Musings From an 86 year old Widower.

ABOUT LOVE POEMS AND MUSINGS FROM AN 86-YEAR OLD WIDOWER

Title: Love Poems and Musings from an 86 year old Widower
Genre: Inspirational and Personal Growth
Author: Lester Greenman
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 102
Language: English
Format: Ebook

This book is written by an eighty six yer old recent widower. The poems and Musings are here to show that age does not diminish love and romance.

Romance
Romance the greatest mental
Gift to mankind.
Yes I said it.
What more wonderful than the
Overwhelming feeling of love.
To be able to be near And to
Smell the scent, to caress the tresses, to
gently hold a hand,
This is rapture at its acme.
When there are times that I Am
Alone without you the seconds
Go painfully slow. To espy you
Again is as if the heavens have
Brought forth the shining sun.
The flowers bloom in all their
Radiance and aromas. To be in love is all. This is a reality made
In heaven.
L.D.G.

iUniverse

ABOUT LESTER GREENMAN

Lester David Greenman Born in Brooklyn, N, Y, graduate of East New York Vocational High School. In the merchant marine till the end of World war 2 .Married wife Harriet in 1949. Three children, 6 Grandchildren and two Great-grandchildren. Business man , owned 2 diners then became a builder of homes and commercial real estate. Moved with family to Ottawa, Canada in 1971. my wife passed way in 2012 after 63 years marriage. I now live in a retirement home and am in good health. I have 6 Girlfriends all in pristine friendships. I produce and pay for 2 floor shows a year at my present abode. I enjoy singing and writing. I am now writing a Biography of my father.

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Book Review: Curl Up & Dye by Sharon Sala

You don't need to be a hopeless romantic to fall for this title. Just be a sucker for suspense, brilliant plots and well-crafted characters. And no telling what a blast you would have!

Blurb: Wally Lamb meets Steel Magnolias in this story of LilyAnn Bronte, the Peachy-Keen Queen, which in Blessings, Georgia, was the epitome of success. After losing her fiance in the war in Iraq, her zest for life went into decline while added weight crept on. When a new guy arrives in town, LilyAnn embarks on a quest to remake herself from start to finish only to discover that love was always just right next-door.

Curl Up & Dye tells the story of LilyAnn Bronte whose been mourning for the death of her boyfriend since—wait for it — high-school after his death when he enlisted into the army. Throughout all these years, LilyAnn is emotionally detatched from the world, mourning can do that to someone. As if that could be the only case scenario to lock yourself up within yourself, her dad suffered a heart attack and didn't live to whisper it, her mum has moved on into another state with another husband, everyone in her little Southern town, Blessing, seems to have moved on with their lives. Leaving LilyAnn to the mundane life of work—mourning—work.

Everyone except Mike, best friend and guy-next-door who seems to be keeping a secret for the past eleven years. A secret when let out would shatter the worlds of both LilyAnn's and his.

When T.J Lachlan walks into town with the intention of fixing up a property his uncle bequeathed him in his will, he turns hot cake of the town. Everyone wants a piece of him. At least most of everyone. Including LilyAnn.

Meanwhile, the Curl Up & Dye salon is always open for days you have a bad hair day or just days you feel like a new hairdo. Sit tight and relax to a mix of cool, relaxing conditioner and Blessing's hottest brewed gossip.

I loved, loved this book! So with that, we are all aware I'd be reviewing this book screaming at you to go get it... and stop by your salon to get your hair done!

The storyline was perfect. Southern town, southern girl, southern gossip, Southern cussing (bless your heart), Southern Romance. It's one of those books about change that gives you a whole new perspective to life! Just like getting a new do!—★

You would love this book for the main character, LilyAnn. So relatable, so fun to read about. I mean, most of us have been grief-stricken and we all know on the outside people would be poking fingers at you (from Salons, of course. Probably as you walk by) and wondering why you can't get out of that shack and black habits, but inside you you just know moving on doesn't seem right, there's a daunting side to it. You either don't want to move on because of societal expectations, or can't move on because you don't want to. LilyAnn understands you. Healing comes with time, purpose, change, and when all is in the right sync, you sure would get a new hair-do.—★★

If you are the kind that loves to be kept on the edge of your seat (I don't understand why you would want to take such painful posture), this book should be in your cart! The suspense is highly engulfing, really tucked myself in a location away from my friends at college (and I love my friends!) to finish it all up. The chain of events are just surprising from character to character. And might there be even a psycho on the loose? Find out!—★★★

What you would also love about this book is the Southern Romance. Now maybe that's not the appropriate label to put on it, so I'd call it the Sala romance. Lots of moments to squirm in your seat, scream and blame your hairdresser for pulling too hard.—★★★★

The characters in this book all with their own stories made this multiple-character read thrilling. Rachael Goodhope the (married) neighborhood skunk who wouldn't mind dipping in the sheets of any guy she thinks can't be 'husband number four' but could give a good shagging. To Mike—watch out, he's going to make you swoon (I'm a guy I hated making all those sounds, but if I could help it I wouldn't have)! There was Hank who loved to play dress-up games when his wife was away and purchased makeup LilyAnn kept a secret. Grace and Eddie, Carol and Don, the parents whose introduction brought some entertainment into our lead's life. I would have missed the point of the whole book if I don't especially comment on the Curl Up & Dye Salon, Ruby Dye owner, orchestrates most of the action advising our lead girl and whoever the lead man was! Ruby is that kind of woman who not only pays attention to a customer's hair but her heart. The kind of hairdresser you would unwind to—and that I presume, is what most women loves in a hairdresser and would stay even if they had shitty skills. Not that Ruby had shitty skills! Definitely the star of this title—★★★★★

The humor in this book isn't rib-cracking, but at least it's that book you can take to the salon and read without proving to be a tough bull to your stylist, rocking back and forth and all. I'm sure every stylist's dream would be Sharon Sala's Curl Up & Dye, because sometimes it's just so hard getting a client to relax!

Five stars, people!

Curl Up & Dye, Sharon Sala's thrilling latest, is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback.

I recommend this for anyone who wants to have a blast, a good book for a fresh new positive change. Anyone who likes their Women's Fiction bordering on suspense and romance. Anyone who wants something that would serve as a reminder for those busily hectic days, "Hey, I need to get to the salon (my hairdresser needs to read this)!"

I am ashamed to make this confession readers, this is my first of Sharon Sala! I'm pretty much sure I can't change that, but I can get all her others.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads.

Book Review: Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner

Blurb: Kate Robinson has spent the past two decades yearning to find her soul mate, the boy she found and then lost during a family holiday. Shortly after her twenty-eighth birthday, however, she inherits a fortune from an old family friend and becomes something of an overnight celebrity. Can her new-found fame lead her to him after all this time?

Suzy Turner tells the story of Kate Robinson with much detail, passion and the demure glam of an Eve-ish lookalike magazine.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Sometimes, we try to ignore it thinking it's just a myth. But that's just because it hasn't happened to some of us.

Well it did with Kate.

What if we you do meet a guy at twelve? Would it still be love at first sight?

What if this guy disappears right after you two danced to Right Said Fred? What if you name this guy your Fred, look for him through your teens right at the place you met, but all you find are memories... with him?

Now you are all grown up. And haven't had the best of relationships because well, there's always one guy on your mind, Fred. You have the average woman-in-her-late twenties dream job, a columnist in an Eve-lookalike magazine. What if you get bequeathed with a huge inheritance? Now you can actually afford the labels, give money to your dad who ditched your mum for her best friend's daughter, giveaway to charity as your mum leaving a rustic life in Africa does with her soulmate, buy a house and now a good car. Maybe writing a little biography of your life concerning this Fred you've never found and your new inheritance wouldn't hurt, you think. But then the article goes stellar, and your fame is equivalent to that of the Three Idiots*. Paparazzi is on your tail, waiting to grab your every horrible moment, you are on so many shows these days you stopped keeping count and suddenly the tabloid jokes are all on you (and certainly not funny anymore). But then your inbox is flooded with so, so much mails of men claiming to be the Fred. What's a girl hitting her thirties in singledom got to do? Surely scanning these profiles would be tempting.

Especially when your soulmate might just be among the Fred pile!

I dig the storyline. It's timeless. Soulmates, love at first sight. Awesome. Everybody has either experienced it or thought of the prospect. So, —★

This book really has a theme that arouses questions in the mind of the readers. Like the fact that are there really soulmates? Or ones you meet at the tender age of twelve? Really, should a guy you meet at twelve be considered as your soulmate? Or should you live your whole life trying to find that one guy who caught your eye at twelve? All these questions possibly answered at the resolution when our lead attains fulfilment. —★★

>I did find our lead girl very relatable, one whose life you'd actually love to marvel at (all the life on the Fab lane stuff), and sympathize with. Actually love that YA lovers would love this because our lead has a sense of appeal that young adult readers wouldn't fail to acknowledge—★★★

The other cast in this book were OK to read about. But not slamming entertaining. Maybe I did love Lizzie the boss with many cats, and Freddie the ridiculous gay, and our lead's mother.

I really wished I could have loved, loved this book. I really wished the humor was amped! It would have made it terrific and picked up the pace a bit.

But all in all, this was a four star read

Forever Fredless is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback.

Totally recommend this to anyone who loves a Chicklit that's new aldult-ish. Someone looking for a title with a theme we could all nod to. If you love happy endings, you'd be pleased with this' end note.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads as well as Amazon.

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: I Don't Know How She Will Do It by KobbyTetteh Gyampoh

Today, it's me on the spot. Revealing the new cover to the new edition of my debut, for a new year.

Book Blurb: Lily has had it with Aunt Lizzie. She wants her inheritance. She wants to be free. Aunt Lizzie wants Lily to find a husband, though she thinks it’s impossible. To her Lily could kiss freedom goodbye since it might be about the only person who’d allow that.

Aunt Lizzie’s thinking marriage; Lily’s thinking marriage-if-anyone-would-ever-want-me. Aunt Lizzie’s thinking cooking, cleaning and looking after a family; Lily wants a career that isn’t home-running. Aunt Lizzie’s not bent on making Lily have her way. So what would Lily do? She’d plot to gain her inheritance. She’d plot to gain her freedom. Her dad’s will says nothing about Mr. Right, neither does it mention an aspiring actress eager to break into Hollywood.

Join Lily in her quest for freedom as she poses as a couple with Clare behind a camouflage of flashy cars and cupcakes in order to get that inheritance. Follow this hilarious recipe of a low self-esteem girl, a sassy self-employed actress, an Aunt whose quotes would get you raising brows and two grannies who are willing to help low self-esteem girl. But watch out, one has a pistol which she stashes in her underwear.

Message From The Author: I’ve had lots of inspiration for writing. But the one that moved me into publishing my very first novel, I Don’t Know How She Will Do It has to go to Allison Pearson. Words can’t describe how much I loved I Don’t Know How She Does It─both the book and the movie. Something about Kate’s struggle and how lovable she was portrayed made me nuts to pen something down. Days and days the title I Don’t Know How She Does It resounded constantly in my sleep, in my wake, every moment in my life (mainly because it was one hell of a funky title). I was practically haunted to put down my baby I Don’t Know How She Will Do It. Though they are both different stories, they both portray that sense of feminism that makes women all around the world proud. And that’s why I penned I Don’t Know How She Will Do It, a short story that would make women rejoice for their womanhood and cheering them for giving men a run for their money. There are points I might make you reach for your Kleenex, but forgive me for you will laugh at so many moments they would make up for all my sins.
Best,
Kobby.

Win any one of the Three Digital Copies Kobby is giving out

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

First of all, KobbyTettehGyampoh, simply Kobby, hates referring to himself in third-person.

I just turned eighteen. I am Ghanaian and have always loved Chick-lit. My Chick-lit role models would be Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Janet Evanovich and Sarah Strohmeyer.

I was introduced to the genre when I was thirteen. Sarah Strohmeyer made the introduction with her Bubbles Series. Since I read Bubbles, I quit writing Harlequin-styled romances and have always considered myself-since then, a humor writer.

My biggest dream is to be an EIC to a lifestyle magazine someday like Kate White-for my obsession for Cosmo’s language since she was running as editor. But for now, I am good with studying English to break into Advertising someday.

I am currently working on my next title which is sort of a series like Cupcakes R US, but it’s based on the lives of editors, columnists and freelancers in a Cosmo-lookalike magazine. Which would be available in more formats than kindle. Epub, PDF, Docx, Doc, Mobi, PowerPoint. And oh, Paperback.

If I am not writing something funny, I spend most of my time reviewing something funny on my blog, ChickLit Pad (http://chicklitpad.blogspot.com).

RELEASE DATE IS 3^rd Febuary. Please be sure to check it out on Amazon

BIG thanks to all the blogs that participated in my tour. So grateful. I can’t thank all the authors that have supported me enough. Huge thanks also to Bia at MadameUB Designs for giving me this lovely cover. She’s launching her artwork on bags and laptop cases, IPad cases, you name them. Go get her work!

Twitter: @chicklitpad
Facebook page: ChickLit Pad
Author’s Blog website: http://chicklitpad.blogspot.com