Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

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If I Stay
If I Stay #1

by Gayle Forman

genre: literary fiction

I’m starting to think that reading books because I want to see the movie is a bad idea. It’s led me to move negative reviews than positive ones. Though it was a New Year’s resolution, I’m starting to think if I want to see the movie, I should just go see the movie.

Summary from Goodreads

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it’s the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

Book Review: In Leah’s Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

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In Leah’s Wake
By Terri Giuliano Long

 Genre: literary fiction

Even though Terri is a Novel Publicity customer, I was not given anything in return for this review (I even bought the book).

Normally, I don’t read the reviews of books before I buy them.  I let the blurb on the back (and yes, the cover) influence my decision.  It was the same for this book but because it took me so long to read it, I’ve read reviews for In Leah’s Wake as part of Novel Publicity.  While I tried not to let them influence me, they were in the back of my mind while I read.  I found myself either agreeing or disagreeing with them while I read, so I’ll address some of them.  Another factor in this review that won’t come up often in others is that I’m the child of a child therapist so I’m exceptionally critical of Zoe’s behavior given that she is a child therapist in the novel.

Warning: this book includes underage sex, underage drinking, eating disorders, illegal substance and drug abuse.

Summary pulled from Goodreads

The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn’t want to be perfect anymore.

While Leah’s parents fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah’s younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake.

Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn’t enough?

Jodi Picoult fans will love In Leah’s Wake – a heartbreaking, ultimately redemptive story about family, connection and our responsibility to those we love.

Author Interview: Terri Giuliano Long

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In awesome timing with Terri’s blog tour, we have an interview.  Terri, who has sold thousands of books as an indie author shares with us some of that journey.

Please describe the first months after you self published In Leah’s Wake.

When I published In Leah’s Wake in October 2010, I had no idea what I was doing. I’d been making good progress on a psychological thriller, Nowhere to Run. I knew that the industry was changing and I’d need a platform if I hoped to sell the new book. Stupidly, too embarrassed to self-promote, I put the book on Amazon and left it at that. I mean really left it at that – not even my parents knew I had published the book!

I sold two books in October, four in November, and thirty-four in December. For a few months, as people bought books for their new Kindles, I sold a few copies a day. By March, with sales lagging, and I realized that, if I didn’t do something, the book would die. In early March, I began blogging and activated my Twitter account.  

Unsure of what to do next, I scoured the Internet, looking for advice. After landing on the Novel Publicity site three or four times, I contacted Emlyn Chand, and signed up for a few basic services. For the next three months, Emlyn and I worked on building my social networking platform. She introduced me to Twitter, reorganized my blog, and created a media kit, book discussion guide, and video trailer. In mid-May, a blog tour sponsored by Novel Publicity officially launched the In Leah’s Wake marketing campaign. 

Excerpt: In Leah’s Wake

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books, In Leah's Wake, literary fiction, Terri Giuliano Long

Announcing the In Leah’s Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the In Leah’s Wake eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including Amazon gift cards of up to $500 in amount and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 16th, so you don’t miss out.

To Win the Prizes

1. Purchase your copy of In Leah’s Wake for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
4. BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!