♥♥♥♥♥ AMAZING Read ♥♥♥♥♥ 

In Leah’s Wake ~ A Story of Love, Loss, Connection, and Grace

The Tylers have a perfect life—beautiful home, established careers, two sweet and talented daughters. Their eldest, Leah, an exceptional soccer player, is on track for a prestigious scholarship. Their youngest, Justine—more responsible than seems possible for her 12 years—just wants her sister’s approval. With Leah nearing the end of high school and Justine a seemingly “together” kid, the parents are set to enjoy a peaceful life…until Leah meets Todd, a high school dropout and former roadie for a rock band.

As Leah’s parents fight to save their daughter from a world of drugs, sex, wild parties, their divided approach drives their daughter out of their home and a wedge into their marriage. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Justine observes her sister’s rebellion from the shadows of their fragmented family – leaving her to question whether anyone loves her and if God even knows she exists.

Can this family survive in Leah’s wake? 

~*~*~*~ The Review ~*~*~*~

 I usually like to start off a review with a summary, but every time I tried to narrow down what In Leah’s Wake is about, I found myself telling the entire story. Yes, In Leah’s Wake is that powerful. Let’s just say it’s a story of a family in trouble–BIG trouble. To everyone on the outside, the Tylers appear to have the perfect life, but as Leah rebels, the tapestry of their carefully woven existence starts to unravel.

Coping with Disappointment and Rejection

 As writers, we pour our heart and soul into our work. While the specific details of our stories or novels may not be consistent with real life – our protagonist may not even share our philosophies – the thoughts, emotions and underlying belief system are ours.  No wonder it’s so hard to separate ourselves, our psyche, from our work!

Yet, for the sake of our writing – never mind our sanity – it’s important that we do.

Conflating self and work shifts the emotional emphasis from work as a product of labor to work as an expression of our personal identity. Acceptance or rejection, criticism or acclaim – these subjective, often idiosyncratic, judgments become an assessment of us. Great when the feedback is positive, not so great when it’s not.

Because it’s so difficult to separate from our work, every rejection – however subjective – feels personal, like an assault on our being.  After a painful rejection, a failed or unfulfilled contract, a negative book review, it can be hard to bounce back.

Despondent after failing to find a publisher for his novel, A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole committed suicide. The novel, published posthumously, won the Pulitzer Prize. Most of us don’t go to that length after a rejection (nor win the Pulitzer), but I’ve seen writers succumb to depression. I’ve struggled myself.

Negative reviews felt personal, like a rejection of me, a statement of my ability and potential. I’d forget all the terrific reviews, the encouraging messages I’ve received from readers who loved my book, the agents and editors who’ve referred to me as talented. Instead, I’d revisit every rejection.The book is too slow, too depressing, too boring. The characters are unlikeable, they behave badly.  I’m embarrassed to admit this, because it’s so pathetic – bad reviews made me feel like a loser. Or they used to.

Yes, used to. Out of necessity, I’ve learned to separate myself from the work. I won’t lie: bad reviews sting. Now, instead of allowing reviews to attack my self-worth, as I used to, I give myself an hour to wallow, and then I brush myself off and move on.

Here are three simple strategies to help you do the same:

Remind yourself that preferences and tastes differ.

Remember: rejection is often subjective. The agent or editor may simply prefer a style or genre that differs from yours. The same applies to reviewers.  As readers, we have specific preferences. Although I’ll give almost any book a try, I’m not a big fan of paranormal fiction. To enjoy a paranormal read, I have to fall in love with the characters and be drawn deeply into the world. These are elements of all great fiction, yes, but if I were reading a police procedural, a genre I love, I might be more forgiving. As readers, we understand preference and taste; as writers, we forget.

Next time you fret over a rejection, remember John Kennedy Toole, whose widely rejected book won the Pulitzer Prize. To let go of a bad review, read the reviews of books you love and take heart in the fact that they, too, have received some negative reviews. Beloved, by Toni Morrison, the 1988 Pulitzer Prize winner, considered a must-read by many people, has over 4000 one-star ratings on Goodreads. Does this make it any less great? Of course not. Those low ratings simply reflect reader taste.

Focus on the positive.

 We may never know why an agent turned us down, an editor rejected our work, or a reader disliked our book. To continue writing, to keep heart in a field that is at times hostile toward writers, it’s crucial to recognize that we, as individuals, are separate from our work. Rather than internalizing negative energy, focus on your positive moments. Remind yourself of compliments you’ve received, editors who’ve accepted your work, or reviewers who’ve praised your book. If you think it might help, create a success list. Keep your list handy; pull it out whenever you’re down and need a lift.

Keep hope alive with new projects.

Finally, as a wise friend advised me: always keep more than one iron in the fire. The minute you put a manuscript in the mail, or publish your book – while you’re still full of energy – begin a new one. A new project provides distance and perspective. Rejection will always hurt. When you’re immersed in a new project, older work feels less immediate, and any rejection less painful. Work-in-progress gives you hope.

These three simple strategies, if you do face disappointment, will help you move on!

~*~*~*~ Even More – The Interview ~*~*~*~

Thank you so very much for hosting me, Amie. It’s an honor to be here. Thank you, readers, for the gift of your time!

Thank you, Terri! The pleasure’s all mine. Now down to business. (Amie rubs her hands together. She LOVES this part.)

 Where did the story idea come from/how did it come about? 

 Years ago, I wrote a series of feature articles about families with drug- and alcohol-addicted teens. The moms talked candidly about their children, their struggles. Their heartbreaking stories stayed with me.

When I began writing In Leah’s Wake my own daughters were teens. Most families experience conflict during their children’s teenage years. As kids grow up and begin to make their own way in the world, it’s natural for them to rebel. We’re no different from most families, although any conflicts we experienced were tame – not remotely resembling the problems and difficult challenges the Tylers face in the book.

As a parent, I knew how it felt to be scared, concerned for my children’s future. I now recognize this as the primary force driving this story. My work with families, my personal experiences and core beliefs – all these things played on my conscious and subconscious mind, and ultimately emerged as this book.

One thing you want the reader to walk away with after reading this book. 

 The epigraph from The Grand Inquisitor says it best: “everyone is really responsible to all men for all men and for everything.” Although the Tyler family is far from perfect, they’re decent people, and they love one another deeply. Had the community rallied around and supported rather than ostracizing them, perhaps Leah would not have gotten as lost. Most teens just want to feel accepted and loved – not for what they accomplish or contribute, but for who they are. I’d be thrilled if my novel inspired readers to suspend judgment, to look less harshly at troubled teens and their families. I feel that we owe it to our teens, our communities, and ourselves to support and encourage all kids, not just those who conform. As Hillary Clinton famously said, it takes a village to raise a child. We must all do our part to be supportive members of the village.

Why did you choose your genre? 

In Leah’s Wake is contemporary or literary fiction. My novel-in-progress, Nowhere to Run, is a psychological thriller with a historical twist. While the genres may differ, my stories always tie back to the family. Families fascinate me. The dynamics are interesting and, in many ways, strange—so often, we hurt the people we love most, perhaps because we know that no matter what happens, even if the relationship severs, we’ll always maintain a familial connection. Even if we strive to be different, we are a product of our family. For better or worse, our family shapes us, teaches us how to love and what it means to be part of a community. I own an anthology called We Are the Stories We Tell. If, in essence, we are our family, it makes sense that we – readers – would be drawn to and connect with their stories.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing? 

I’m a perfectionist. I tend to write, revise, tinker, tinker, revise. I find it hard to let go. This is a bad habit and one I’m trying to break. I’m also easily distracted. If I stop writing to do anything else – take a call, tweet, answer e-mail, do research – I fall into a rabbit hole and I can lose hours, if not the entire day.

With children living on both coasts, my husband and I frequently travel cross-country. On a long flight, you’re trapped; most people disappear into their own world – watch TV, read, work on their laptop or iPad – in a sense, though surrounded by people, you’re alone. With my headphones on, I relax and my mind opens up – I’ve come up with a lot of good ideas, and written quite a few first drafts on planes.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?  

Believe in yourself. To deal with rejection, boot your computer day after day, when it seems as if no one cares about you or your work, as if the stars are misaligned, you have to believe in yourself.

Writing is a lonely profession. Most of the time, we’re sitting at our desk, alone with our work. That loneliness can wear on you, and cause you to question yourself.  A community of caring writer friends, supporting and encouraging you, can pick you up when your confidence wanes.

Hold onto your dreams. You can make them happen. Don’t ever, ever give up on yourself!

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?  

I’m only ever truly blocked—I can’t string words together at all—when I’m anxious, if I’m worried about someone I care about. When I first sit down at my computer, I sometimes feel blocked, the editors on my shoulders heckling: You think you’re a writer? Seriously? Hahaha. Idiot. To get the voices out of my head, I dig in. The writing may be choppy, but eventually, as I give myself over to the work, I gain fluidity.

When the demons are too loud to ignore, I read. Reading, like meditation or yoga, sends me to my happy place. In my experience – 16 years as a writing teacher, working with professional and emerging writers – a block is almost always caused by self-doubt. The trick is to find a way to settle your mind, calm yourself, and get rid of those nasty internal editors. For me, reading relieves anxiety, opens my mind. For others, walking, meditating, or listening to music helps.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers? 

Reading, hands down, is the most important tool we have at our disposal. Studies show that reading is the most effective way to learn grammar. We learn best through osmosis. Reading, we internalize the various aspects of style and voice. We learn to use language and, as writers, we discover new ideas for integrating craft techniques into our work. To solve problems in my own writing, I always turn to a book. If I’m not sure how to tie a past and present story together, for instance, I’ll read or reread a passage or a book, analyze the technique the writer used, and incorporate it or, more often, adjust it to suit my own purposes. If I were not an avid reader, I cannot imagine ever having become a writer.

~*~*~*~ Praise for In Leah’s Wake and Terri Long ~*~*~*~

~*~*~*~ Author Bio ~*~*~*~

Terri Giuliano Long is a frequent blog guest. A contributing writer for IndieReader, she’s written for news and feature articles for numerous publications, including IndieReader, the Boston Globe and the Huffington Post. She lives with her family on the East Coast and teaches at Boston College. In Leah’s Wake is her debut novel. For more information, please visit her website: www.tglong.com

~*~*~*~ Connect with Terri ~*~*~*~

Website: www.tglong.com
Blog: http://terriglong.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tglongwrites
Twitter: @tglong

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/04/in-leahs-wake-by-terri-giuliano-long.html

~*~*~*~ Thanks Again ~*~*~*~

to Terri for stopping by, for allowing me the opportunity to read In Leah ‘s Wake, and allowing me to drill her with questions.

And many thanks to all of you for stopping by as well!

Lots of <3–Amie

♥♥♥♥♥ YOU GOTTA READ THIS BOOK  ♥♥♥♥♥

Bernadette Murphy likes her life. Really, she does. What’s wrong with carrying around an extra ten pounds from fertility treatments? Or having your dog kicked out of obedience school? Again?

What’s that saying about the devil you know? For Bernie, it’s the devil she never expected that changes everything.

Her father’s sudden death leaves a gaping void in her life and is one in a series of events that rock her world. Her husband leaves for another woman, and her best friend announces an unplanned pregnancy at the age of forty-one. Bernie’s behavior goes from acting out to out of hand, and she finds herself in trouble at home, out of work and banned from the mall after a confrontation at the cosmetic counter.

When her mother hands over her father’s book of cryptograms, Bernie realizes his encoded lessons in living might be exactly what she needs to survive. From dealing with her family’s grief to bonding with her best friend’s thirteen-year-old daughter, from dieting and dating to mindless almost-sex with the landscaper, Bernie discovers what her father always knew.

In life, you either choose to sing a rainbow, or you don’t.

For Bernie, the singing is about to begin.

~*~*~*~*~ Review ~*~*~*~*~

It’s not often that I come across a book like this. Where there is something that everyone can relate to–death and grieving, teenage angst, unexpected pregnancy, a romantic relationship that’s falling apart, and family troubles. Oh, and a misbehaved dog. Don’t forget the dog. But even more, Chasing Rainbows is unique because it’ll make you cry, then make you laugh before the tears are even dry on your cheeks.

Those of you who know me know that I HATE to cry. I avoid it at all cost, but I can tell you that with Bernie I cried for different reasons. I cried because I could relate to her, I could understand what she was going through. There is something so inherently loveable about her that I cried because I wanted to help her, but I didn’t know how. That, folks, is the mark of a good book, where you get sucked into the story deep enough to feel that the characters are your best friends, that somehow you’re a member of their circle. You grieve when they grieve, you want to deck the cosmetics girl after them and then spend the rest of your life eluding capture from mall security right along side. And that’s what Kathleen Long has given us in Chasing Rainbows.

And yet despite the wacky humor and intense pain of the characters, Chasing Rainbows rings true, truer than true. Characterization? Story ideas? Editing? I say, a little of all three mixed with the conversational voice of Kathleen Long. I have to admit that when I saw that Chasing Rainbows had 500 plus pages I was a little daunted. With my schedule that would mean a week-long commitment. And yet before I knew it, I had read the first 200 pages in one sitting and was sad when the book ended for me the very next day.

So my thanks goes out to Kathleen Long for a story that’s well-written, well-told, and well-worth the read! Kudos to you!!

~*~*~*~*~ About Kathleen Long ~*~*~*~*~

Author Bio:

A long time ago, in an elementary school far, far away, a very young Kathleen scribbled a story idea in her journal. Then she wrote another, and another. She added several poems, the lyrics to a song or two, a love letter to David Cassidy, and so on and so on. While her early writings never saw the light of day, many of her later works did. And while she did not marry David Cassidy, Kathleen did marry her own Prince Charming. Together, they are raising one drama queen and one obedience-challenged border collie mix in a kingdom divided between suburban Philadelphia and the Jersey shore.

Kathleen is the RITA^® nominated, RIO Award and two-time Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence winning author of fourteen novels of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction. Her additional honors include National Readers Choice, Holt Medallion, and Booksellers Best award nominations.

She divides her time between plotting her next book, bribing her little one to pick up her toys, and begging the dog to heel. Life is good. Very, very good.

Connect with Kathleen! 

Web: www.kathleenlong.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleenlong
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KLWords

Buy the Book!

Buy link for Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005VHT1ZM
Buy link for Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-rainbows-kathleen-long/1106660600?ean=2940013295476&itm=1&usri=chasing%2brainbows

~*~*~*~* Giveaway *~*~*~*~

Everyone who leaves a comment below will be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card! If you purchase your copy of Chasing Rainbows before March 12 and send your receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, you will get five bonus entries!**

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/01/chasing-rainbows-by-kathleen-long.html

~*~*~*~*~ The Interview ~*~*~*~*~

Kathleen: Hi Amie! Thanks so much for your questions and for inviting me to visit and talk a bit about CHASING RAINBOWS.

Amie: Thanks so much for coming. You may have noticed that I’m a little obsessed with the art of self-publication. So tell me, when did you decide to take the self-pub plunge?

Kathleen: Deciding to self-publish was a big step for me. I’d published thirteen books the traditional way – two for Kensington Publishing and eleven for Harlequin. Because of that, my brain was fully wrapped around the way New York publishing worked. Then I hit a dry spell and saw three proposals make the rounds and remain unsold. All the while, CHASING RAINBOWS sat on my computer and waited.

CHASING RAINBOWS was my first women’s fiction, and as such, my agent hadn’t wanted to shop the project. At the time, she’d wanted me to focus on building my romantic suspense career, so I had. I began to see friends and acquaintances have decent success with self-publishing, and I began to think…and think…and think about putting RAINBOWS out into the world. Lori Devoti, who does an incredible job of formatting, had an opening in her schedule. She offered me a chance to send her CHASING RAINBOWS. I gave Bernie’s story one last edit and sent it off.

Within a matter of days, the book was live. I’m so glad I took the plunge.

Amie: Me too! Is your book available in print as well as in e-formats? How did you find the printer?

Kathleen: Yes, CHASING RAINBOWS is available in print in addition to the various e-formats. I decided to use CreateSpace because of the convenience and ease of managing their system. I loved being able to handle formatting, uploading and distribution choices through their dashboard. I’ve heard other authors complain about formatting difficulties, but once I decided on a trim size and paper type, I used the template they offer and literally cut and pasted my book into their layout. The process was a breeze!

The cover was a bit more difficult, and I have an advantage because I’ve done graphic design in the past. Even so, my spacing was off for the spine, but the CreateSpace review process caught my error and suggested a fix. I’d say, “piece of cake,” but I’d be lying. That part of the process was tedious, and my brain still hurts. In the end, I love how polished the finished print book looks, however.

Amie: Well worth the effort I’d say. Tell me about the artwork. Who did the cover?

Kathleen:I designed the cover for CHASING RAINBOWS last spring. I’d thought about self-publishing at that time, and I’d searched for royalty-free stock photos. I’d tried a variety of images. I’d designed sample covers, and I’d had my friends weigh in on a choice of designs. The cover for RAINBOWS sat on my computer, along with the manuscript, for months. When I made my overnight decision to go for it, the cover was basically ready. I made a few minor tweaks to the fonts, and I was done. The art is actually a combination of two royalty-free photos.

Amie: Fabulous job. The cover is very appropriate and eye-catching. Who did your edits and how many reads did you have before you said, “it’s time?”

Kathleen: CHASING RAINBOWS came to life over a period of three years – in between nine contracted books and the birth of our daughter. It’s safe to say I edited most of the book at least six or seven times, which is a lot for me. I tend to put a lot of time into the planning of a book. I find the writing comes quickly after that.

For RAINBOWS, much of the story is based on real life, so the writing process was quite emotional. I took my time, and I let the story sit between edits. I also am blessed with a group of friends who are incredible authors. During the course of writing the book, authors Sheila Raye, Janice Lynn, Tawny Weber and Beth Andrews each offered wonderful plotting and editing advice. During the past year, author Anna Sugden read and commented on the full book and made characterization suggestions that were incredible. I could not have finished, edited and polished this book without my amazing friends!

Amie: Tell me about successes and things you wish you’d done differently.

Kathleen: CHASING RAINBOWS met with incredible success a few months out of the gate. The book spent multiple weeks on the IndieReader bestseller list, the Wall Street Journal bestseller list and hit the USA TODAY bestseller list. The entire experience left me breathless and humbled.

But, unlike my other titles, I handled the marketing for RAINBOWS after the book’s release. Because of the ease of self-publishing and how quickly I was able to upload the book for sale, I published BEFORE I planned things like review submissions, book tours, and social media promo. I would not do that again. I’m planning ahead now for my new release this spring!

I do want to share one invaluable tip! Two of my friends who have successfully self-published, authors Lindsey Brookes and Mona Risk, pointed me in the direction of the Yahoo group, Indie Romance Ink. I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve learned from the wonderful authors there. I’m still learning as I go, which is one of the exciting things about the ever-changing world of self-publishing.

Amie: Great advice. Thanks! Now, tell us about your book.

CHASING RAINBOWS is the story of Bernadette Murphy’s journey out of a life that’s stagnated into a life brimming with possibility.

Amie: Where did the story idea come from?

Kathleen: Much of CHASING RAINBOWS was inspired by true life. Bernie’s father dies in exactly the same way my father died. Like Bernie, my father’s death left me reeling, and the grief I felt made me realize I’d never fully dealt with the death of my infant daughter a few years earlier. In CHASING RAINBOWS, I took those two events in my life and twisted them into the fictional world of Bernadette Murphy. I piled on issues relating to family, friendship, self-esteem and career, and the story was born.

I’ve heard countless writers speak about the book of their heart, never fully understanding what they meant. I wrote contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Fun? Yes. Books of my heart? No.

Then I wrote CHASING RAINBOWS. Now, I understand.

Amie: What one thing do you want the reader to walk away with after reading this book?

Kathleen: The book often quotes Bernie’s fictional father. “If life, you either choose to sing a rainbow, or you don’t.” I hope readers will take away the realization that no matter what might be happening in your life at any given moment, it’s never too late to start singing.

Bernie and her story let me stretch my creativity to explore a mix of quirky humor and poignant moments. I love that Bernie is not perfect. As a matter of fact, she’s far from perfect. She makes mistakes. She thinks selfish thoughts. She fails. Yet, she reaches a point in her life at which she decides to get up and try again. She decides to move forward.

If you’ve faced loss, infertility, divorce, disappointment, I believe you’ll find something relatable about Bernie.

Amie: Are you going to try your hand at self-publishing again?

Kathleen: My answer to that question is a big, fat YES! I love the opportunity to bring stories to life that might not otherwise find a home. My next story, VANISHED, is a romantic thriller that made it to a few editorial board meetings in New York but was ultimately rejected. Now, I can let readers decide whether or not they enjoy the story.

These are amazing times for authors and readers, and I’m loving every moment.

Thank you, Amie, for letting me visit with you and your readers today!

Amie: Thanks for coming! Here are Kathleen’s links again–

www.kathleenlong.com

https://www.facebook.com/kathleenlong

https://twitter.com/#!/KLWords

Don’t forget to follow Kathleen Long on her blog tour:

And as always, thanks for stopping by!

Lots of <3–Amie