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Mum’s Day, Memories & Monica McInerney’s Book Giveaway

Mums day giveawayWIN Mum a book!

With Mother’s Day approaching there’s two things I will be doing.

One is remembering my mum. (If you read the earlier post titled: Me, Maeve Binchy, Monica McInerney and my mum, you’ll know I lost her two weeks before the launch of House for all Seasons.)

That brings me to the second ‘to do’.

Because it’s our mums (or substitute mums, such as dads, aunts, older sisters, etc) who provide us with wonderful memories and who make a house a home, I reckon I have the perfect Mother’s Day giveaway…

House-of-Memories-AusNZ-tpb-cover-110x150Monica McInerney’s ~ The House of Memories

Yep! The lovely Monica McInerney has offered a copy — signed, sealed and sent directly to one lucky person, or to your mum for Mother’s Day. Imagine that! (See below for details.)

 

And while we’re talking about houses and memories, I thought I’d share something about the Dandelion House — the century-old property that features in my novel …

House for all Seasons Jenn J McLeodHouse for all Seasons

The idea of having an interesting old house in my story came from a childhood memory. Down the road from where we lived when I was about six or seven was a ramshackle old place the local kids referred to as The Haunted House (or spooky house). Although very different in appearance to the Dandelion house in my story, it was the kind of place kids would throw stones at, then later tell scary slumber party stories about the weird, old recluse who had chased them away with a broom. the spooky house

I’ve tried and tried to get a photo of the old place as I remember it — a ramshackle two-story concrete structure, overgrown with vines and shrubs and built into the side of giant rock with a cave. After a call out on Facebook I managed to get this picture of the place mid-demolition. (Thx Liz and Gemma Madden.)

Still on the subject of houses and memories…

Another treat, if you haven’t seen it already, is Monica’s real-life House of Memories which featured in her launch last year. Go to Monica’s website to view the amazing time lapse version. It’s great.

But before you go, ENTER THE DRAW by leaving a comment to go into the draw to win the book and if you’d like to, you can follow my news on Facebook or subscribe using the button on the right.

This Mothers Day is going to be tough, so if you can, leave a comment telling us what it is you used to do as a child that would drive your mother crazy, or leave her laughing and shaking her head.

Good luck. Entries close on 30 April 2013 with the winner announced here and contacted via email. And thank you to the very generous Monica Mc.

I’m late with this announcement as I could not decided. So I had my Dad and my sister help me put the comments through the laugh-o-metre.

AND THE ENTRY THAT PUT THE BIGGEST SMILE ON MY DAD’S DIAL WAS….. Gloria Bale’s alien Man from Volton! Congrats Gloria.

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Time to moooooove on! (Yep, all good things must come to an end.)

HouseforallSeasons FBSo on April 15, 2013, we say farewell to the Facebook promotion (www.houseforallseasons.com.au CLOSED)  – and the goodies on offer there. In particular the chance to WIN $1,000 Stayz Accommodation voucher.

That means, House for all Seasons readers, that before the sun sets on the 15th, make sure you’ve put your entry in.

It’s too easy.

And if after reading House for all Seasons you feel inclined to share your thoughts with other readers, I would love, love, love a review or a rating. Direct link to: Amazon. (or Goodreads, The Reading Room.) They all help.

A Bonville SunsetCountry cuddles from the Bonville gang (and little Bonville magic just for you.)Jenn's Strawberry + Daiquiri

 

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Crack another bottle! It’s my one-month anniversay.

House wine memeToday marks the one-month anniversary of House for all Seasons and what a month it’s been.

I had Canadian duo – Carli and Julie – and their lovely Small Town Stories song for my online launch on March 1st.

Monday 4th was my local Coffs Harbour launch.

My Blog Crawl has kept me busy. FYI – A blog crawl is like a pub crawl: partying late, tripping barefoot from pub to pub, throwing up in your neighbour’s garden. Ahh, what memories! These days I party online (and my neighbour’s chrysanthemums are glad about that). I’ve visited some fabulous authors as part of my Blog Crawl. Check out who right here.

Then there’s been the library talks, book shop signingsmy first Writers Festival as a ridgy-didge author where I made new friends. And I’ve still managed to ‘bale up’ amazing author to add to my growing Author Harvest.

Best of all, my House for all Seasons is selling well and reviewing well.  Take a look at some reviews. I even made the Dymocks Pick of the Month in the March Australian Women’s Weekly.

But what I really want to say in this post is THANK YOU– to those you have read, are planning to read, or even contemplating House for all Seasons. (I know, I know, there are so many great books to choose from and only so many hours in the day.)

But if after reading House for all Seasons you feel inclined to share your thoughts with other readers, I would love, love, love a review or a rating (direct link to): Amazon, Goodreads, The Reading Room. They all help.

And of course, my Monday Memes have been fun so far. More to come too.

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If you’re interested in helping authors in other ways, Kate Forsyth did a fabulous post recently – Six ways you can help a starving author. (Okay, so I’m not exactly starving but you’ll get the drift.)

Thank you for dropping by my blog, sharing my journey, and helping me celebrate the first of many milestones.

Jenn J