Sunday, March 28, 2010

A Book-ish Day in Alvin, My First Two French Books, and A Give-Away!

A Book-ish Day in Alvin

It's a happy day for me when I have not one, but two book events to attend.



In the morning, I popped into a book signing for local author, Sharon Beck. The day was so beautiful that I walked the mile or so to Laid Back Books on Mustang Road here in town. Sharon's daughter, Marla, was on hand, as were many of her other family members and friends. Sharon's book, her first, is Lemons to Lemonade and it is the poignant story of the life of Sharon's son, Randy Beck, born with a serious heart condition, who defied the odds and lived a life that, in Sharon's words, "absolutely made lemonade from the lemons he was given."


I was delighted to see lemon-ish refreshments at the signing.



I bought a copy of her book and had her sign it. Can't wait to read it!



In the evening, I was privileged to introduce Ron Rozelle at Meet the Author Night at the Alvin Library. Ron is the author of one of my all-time favorite books, Into This Good Night, a memoir about his father, a school superintendent who had Altzheimer's. He spoke to a full house at the library about his experiences with writing and read a chapter from his book. His later books include Windows of Heaven, a novel about the 1900 Galveston Storm, and Sundays with Ron Rozelle, a collection of his newspaper columns. I acquired Sundays with Ron Rozelle at the event and plan to spend some time today, Sunday, with Ron Rozelle.

My First Two Books for My Trip to France (and One More...Not About France)


This week, I finished my first two books for my trip to France and one more...not about France.

A Giveaway!

I jumped into the Book Blogger Hop on Friday. Mercy, I never dreamed I'd move from 75 followers on Friday to 99 today! Zowie, that makes me happy.

So what shall I do to celebrate?

I thought about a giveaway. How about two ten dollar Amazon gift certificates? I'll give these away to two followers.

How can you try to win? (1) Be a follower. (2) Leave a post here, telling me you are a follower. (3) For an extra chance, tweet about this giveaway.

I'll run this through Easter Sunday.





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38 comments:

  1. malissa32March 28, 2010 at 12:48 PM

    I'm a follower! Have been a follower! I found the info about the blog hop from your blog and now I have 15 followers. Prior to that I was only being followed by my sister! HA! :) Adding Major Pettigrew to my list and the books from the book events you spoke of.
    http://bookbantering.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. WendyMarch 28, 2010 at 2:56 PM

    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. You've been in my google reader for some time now...but I also did the "follower" thing (although I don't really understand how that is different from Google Reader!).

    Major Pettigrew looks interesting!

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  3. LibraryGirlMarch 28, 2010 at 2:59 PM

    What fun to have two book events to go to!

    I've been following your blog for a bit and would love to win an Amazon gift card :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sandy JayMarch 28, 2010 at 3:43 PM

    I'm a follower. I'd love to win an Amazon gift card.

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. BeckyMarch 28, 2010 at 4:40 PM

    I'm a follower! That's great news about the blog hop. I'll have to consider that in the future! I do love getting new followers.

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  6. AlyceMarch 28, 2010 at 5:03 PM

    It looks like you had a lot of fun! I haven't read any of those books about France, but recently read My Life in France by Julia Child and loved it.

    For the giveaway - I follow your blog. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. AshMarch 28, 2010 at 5:11 PM

    Congrats on all of your followers! Those lemony snacks look delicious haha.

    I'd like to be entered, and I am a follower. I also tweeted about it here.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shannon O'DonnellMarch 28, 2010 at 6:56 PM

    I popped over from Karen's Scobberlotch blog to say hello and enter your contest. :-)

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  9. Lisa Richards/alterlisaMarch 28, 2010 at 7:31 PM

    tweeted-alterlisa
    http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/ How about two ten dollar Amazon gift certificates?

    I'm a follower--Lisa Richards

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/
    (\___/)
    (='.'=) Happy Easter from Bun!
    (")_(")

    ReplyDelete
  10. porcelaineMarch 28, 2010 at 7:36 PM

    What a wonderful offer! I love all things French and we'll have loads to discuss. I'm a follower and just discovered your wonderful blog from the post on mine. I've also tweeted the giveaway here:

    http://twitter.com/porcelainedoll/statuses/11221140259

    Thanks in advance!

    literarylolita[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Marie CloutierMarch 28, 2010 at 7:58 PM

    I'm a follower- I'd love to be entered!
    The events look like fun, especially the one with all the lemony stuff. i hope you enjoy your french books and major pettigrew- I loved, loved, loved Major Pettigrew!

    ReplyDelete
  12. rhapsodyinbooksMarch 28, 2010 at 8:13 PM

    I'm now a follower on Google Connect (although I already had you in my Google Reader for at least a year!) I also loved, loved loved Major Pettigrew! :--)

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  13. KatyMarch 28, 2010 at 9:31 PM

    What fun! I haven't been to a bookish event in a long while!

    I'm glad you stopped by my blog--this is my first visit to yours and it's great! I'm now a new follower! :)

    srfbluemama[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  14. SukoMarch 29, 2010 at 12:45 AM

    I am new to your wonderful blog, and a new follower.

    I am now craving lemonade. :)

    Terrific post and giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  15. BlodeueddMarch 29, 2010 at 1:39 AM

    A follower now :)
    How nice of you to stop by my blog and say hello

    Wow, you're going to France, or just reading about it?

    blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. LouiseMarch 29, 2010 at 5:30 AM

    Great choice of French books. I've read both of those (quite a few years ago). I used to compulsively read all those quaint I moved to France books. Because I wanted to move to France so much. I remember both of these books fondly, but only remember liking them not really what they were about. I'm glad you found them. I meant to suggest them. I wasn't sure if Almost French would be available in the US. It was a huge book here, but then Sarah Turnbull is Australian. I want to read Paris to the Moon. And what no kids books this week? Surely that can't be right?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzMarch 29, 2010 at 6:21 AM

    I should have included a review of Rosie's Walk, Louise. I posted a video of it on my library blog so children could watch it and then take a BookAdventure test on it. I probably read it...oh, eighty or ninety times!

    ReplyDelete
  18. serendipity_vivMarch 29, 2010 at 7:05 AM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I have just joined your lovely blog as a follower.
    It looks like you had a great day meeting two authors in one day. I am so envious.
    Love the picture with the lemonade.

    vivienne_dacostaathotmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  19. writer girlMarch 29, 2010 at 7:13 AM

    hi, i became a follower too. thanks for the giveaway. are you really going to France or is it a virtual trip? :) either way i am so jealous!!! have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  20. mMarch 29, 2010 at 8:14 AM

    Hi,
    I'm a new follower. Please enter me to win.

    Thanks,

    mmmtnbike@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. mybillcriderMarch 29, 2010 at 10:28 AM

    I'm sure the introduction was as good as the talk! Thanks for doing it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. TeresaMarch 29, 2010 at 3:33 PM

    Don't you just love the Hop? I'm a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  23. KathleenMarch 29, 2010 at 4:59 PM

    Wow, two book events in one day? You are one lucky book lover!

    ReplyDelete
  24. TiMarch 29, 2010 at 9:17 PM

    I clicked the "follow" button so I'm all official now. Thanks for the giveaway opp!

    bookishchatter AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  25. ShelleyMarch 30, 2010 at 11:19 PM

    I'm a follower! It's so exciting to meet local authors!

    ReplyDelete
  26. LesMarch 31, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    I've been following you since you first started blogging (I think!), but today I became an official follower. :)

    I read On Rue Tatin a couple of years ago and thought it was very good. I've always wanted to try some of the recipes she included, but haven't gotten around to it. Yet.

    A good friend wrote and told me about Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and said I simply had to buy this book. She included a few quotes from the book in her email and I was instantly convinced. Now to find the time to read it!

    I'm so envious of your trip to France. I can't wait to hear all about it!

    ReplyDelete
  27. ChristyApril 2, 2010 at 4:05 PM

    I found you on the blog hop and I'm glad I did. I like your genuine "voice":) Congrats on all of your followers! And please, by all means, enter me in your contest! I will tweet about it at www.twitter.com/dearestdreams

    ReplyDelete
  28. UnknownApril 3, 2010 at 5:22 PM

    Hi, thanks for taking the time to read and leave comments on my blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. EnbrethilielApril 4, 2010 at 4:28 AM

    +JMJ+

    Hi! I found you last week (also on the Book Blogger Hop) and became an official Follower this week. =)

    I think the "lemon-ish refreshments" are great. I've recently been thinking about using food to increase appreciation of books, and this is another great idea that inspires me. =)

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  30. AnonymousApril 4, 2010 at 11:11 AM

    Hee, I've been following your blog for a while ;) But via my feed reader, no google follower -- just one medium for following is as much as I can handle ;)

    ReplyDelete
  31. JoAnnApril 4, 2010 at 11:23 AM

    I've been reading your blog for some time, but now it's official - I'm a follower :-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. MilkaApril 4, 2010 at 11:44 AM

    I am a follower! Thanks for following my blog. :))

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  33. UnknownApril 4, 2010 at 2:44 PM

    I am your newest follower! Happy you found my cookbook blog. And congrats on the trip to France! Tres Chic! polsen11atcomcastdotnet

    ReplyDelete
  34. Curling up by the FireApril 4, 2010 at 3:21 PM

    Congrats on all your new followers! Isn't the blog hop great?

    I am already a follower (thanks for visiting my blog).

    A super giveaway! Hope I win!

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Nise' April 4, 2010 at 6:51 PM

    Those goodies look delicious!

    I have been a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Martha EskuchenApril 4, 2010 at 8:16 PM

    Nice book events! So you are preparing for a trip to France. Wonderful! I am a new follower. thanks for telling me of the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  37. The Book MoleApril 4, 2010 at 8:34 PM

    I got here through the Blogger Hop and am a new follower. I would love to be entered for the giveaway.

    I am going to France this summer too and can't wait to read all your French themed reviews!

    ReplyDelete
  38. BooksnycApril 4, 2010 at 9:24 PM

    Hi there! I found you on Joann's Lakeside Musing blog.

    I like your blog and I just became a follower!

    ReplyDelete

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