Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, totally worn out and screaming,
"WOO HOO, what a ride!"

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

TWO big giveaways - TEN winners!

Testimony
by Anita Shreve

At a New England boarding school, a sex scandal is about to break. Even more shocking than the sexual acts themselves is the fact that they were caught on videotape. A Pandora's box of revelations, the tape triggers a chorus of voices--those of the men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the scandal--that details the ways in which lives can be derailed or destroyed in one foolish moment.

Writing with a pace and intensity surpassing even her own greatest work, Anita Shreve delivers in TESTIMONY a gripping emotional drama with the impact of a thriller. No one more compellingly explores the dark impulses that sway the lives of seeming innocents, the needs and fears that drive ordinary men and women into intolerable dilemmas, and the ways in which our best intentions can lead to our worst transgressions.

Anita Shreve is the critically acclaimed author of fourteen novels, including Body Surfing, The Pilot's Wife, which was a selection of Oprah's Book Club, and The Weight of Water, which was a finalist for England's Orange Prize. She lives in Massachusetts.

Visit www.anitashreve.com
Become an Anita Shreve fan on Facebook

Paperback edition to be released May 5, 2009.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Made In The U.S.A.
by Billie Letts

The bestselling author of WHERE THE HEART IS returns with a heartrending tale of two children in search of a place to call home.

Lutie McFee's history has taught her to avoid attachments...to people, to places, and to almost everything. With her mother long dead and her father long gone to find his fortune in Las Vegas, 15-year-old Lutie lives in the god-forsaken town of Spearfish, South Dakota with her twelve-year-old brother, Fate, and Floy Satterfield, the 300-pound ex-girlfriend of her father.

While Lutie shoplifts for kicks, Fate spends most of his time reading, watching weird TV shows and worrying about global warming and the endangerment of pandas. As if their life is not dismal enough, one day, while shopping in their local Wal-Mart, Floy keels over and the two motherless kids are suddenly faced with the choice of becoming wards of the state or hightailing it out of town in Floy's old Pontiac. Choosing the latter, they head off to Las Vegas in search of a father who has no known address, no phone number and, clearly, no interest in the kids he left behind.

MADE IN THE U.S.A. is the alternately heartbreaking and life-affirming story of two gutsy children who must discover how cruel, unfair and frightening the world is before they come to a place they can finally call home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Hatchette Books has been so very generous to allow me to give away five copies of each book! So, if I'm doing the math right, that's ten winners! I just received my copy of Made In The U.S.A. and haven't received my copy of Testimony yet so I don't have reviews ready. I have read books by these authors before and loved them! I can't wait to read these as well.


Rules:
*To enter, leave a comment with your email address.
*You can only win one book but you will automatically be entered for both. If you would prefer only one, please tell me so in your comments.
*Contest will end Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:59 EST. I'm sorry but Hatchette Books will only accept entries from the U.S. and Canada. No P.O. boxes please.
*The winners will be chosen by Random.org.

For extra entries:
+1 Become a follower, also for those who already follow, but you must let me know on your comments.
+1 Tell about a great, or not so great, prom outfit that you or someone else wore once upon a time.
+1 Share this contest somewhere and leave the link where it can be found.

Good luck and have fun!

73 comments:

  1. Oh, I would LOVE to win Testimony!! Thanks for hosting the giveaway! And I'm already a subscriber in my Google Reader.

    Thanks!

    isaacson.holly[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Please count me in! I'd love either book, but especially want Made in the USA! That's on my Wish List!

    I'm a follower.

    I never went to the prom (I was dating a guy who was attending the "alternative" school, because he'd been kicked out of public school). The only one I went to was 8th grade, and there was nothing special about my dress.

    However I used to have a favorite "get up" (as my father would call it). It involved black suede ankle boots, a mustard yellow jacket that came down to my knees and had roll up sleeves (a la Boy George), and a fedora and fingerless gloves. Very classy!

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really want to read Testimony - it sounds so exciting! I follow via RSS - does that count?

    violetreads at gmail

    ReplyDelete
  4. No need to enter me, but I wanted to say that Testimony is a great book. I will post this giveaway in my sidebar.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd love to win either one, so please enter me!

    I am already a follower!

    jgbeads AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Either book would be fine with me. I'm a follower.
    I put the contest link in my sidebar.

    florida982002[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for posting the contest girls!

    VioletReads - Yes, any kind of following counts. Just let me know what it is. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would prefer Testimony.

    rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't enter the comp because I'm from Australia but I just wanted to say that I love your blog and have become a follower! I will also post your competition on Royal Reviews.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for this! I would particularly love to win Testimony.

    I've added you to my blogroll and am a follower.

    http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/

    Thanks!
    gaby317

    mrolapus AT yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I wrote up the giveaway on my blog

    http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/

    I would love either book, but prefer Testimony!

    Thanks again!

    mrolapus AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love a copy of Made In the USA.

    I am a follower.

    My prom dress was purple and puffy and too big for me. Yet at the time, I loved it.

    Thanks,
    jess
    jedziedz@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would love to be entered to win either book. My mom made me senior prom dress- it was a knee length tank style dress in electric blue sequins. I'm 35 now and it still hangs in my closet- the only high school dance dress that I just can't bear to part with!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Since I have a choice, I would love to win TESTIMONY. I have heard so much about it. Please enter my name. Thank you!

    cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

    I am a new follower!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. No need to enter me 'cause I've got an evil PO Box. I'm mostly dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail; I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

    And thanks for reminding me it's Win a Book's birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  16. would love to win either book!
    mbrown@hcps.us

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would love to win Testimony (I am doing a giveaway for Made in the USA also) - I follow your blog - worst prom outfit? I had to borrow a prom dress my junior year as I went at the last minute - it was horrible white with purple flowers! But I had fun anyway!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would love to win Testimony! I follow you on Blogger.

    Thanks!
    allisonDOTcampbellATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'd love to read either one of these books - they're both on my TBR list

    msboatgal at aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Looking back at my prom pictures - it's amazing the amount of pastel tuxes the guys wore - light blue with the ruffled shirts - how fashion has changed

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love to read Testimony. I'm also a follower and put up a link on my sidebar. http://ziarias.blogspot.com/

    ziaria(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'd love to read either of these. Include me please.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am

    SunnyLea (at) gmail (dot) com


    Who follows your blog

    And who bought both of her prom dresses really cheap at thrift stores because she is cheap and b/c it drastically reduced the chances that anyone else would wear her dress. Actually, she bought three dresses, but she was dumped by the fellow who invited her to her first prom.

    And who would prefer to win Made in the USA.

    (And who has 3 entries for it now. Yay!)

    ReplyDelete
  24. This looks great! Please enter me!

    BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm a subscriber (through Google Reader)!

    BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I would love to win Made in the U.S.A., since I already have the other book.
    Please enter me.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Both of the books look good!

    jaam121388 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm a new follower!

    jaam121388 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Both these books sound really good and are on my reading list! I'd love a chance to read either of them thanks.
    unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Wrighty!

    I just became your 80th follower! I would love to win a copy of Testimony and really appreciate you hosting this giveaway. Hachette Book Group rules! My email address is scullylove@cogeco.ca.

    I wouldn't say that I had a really special prom dress but it was a nice ivory mid-length number that I accentuated with burgundy pumps and I recall now that I had quite the crazy perm at the time too! But my date was hot and I had such a crush on him in high school. Sadly, I found out in college that he was gay and that was why he couldn't really return my affections!

    Thanks for this opportunity!

    Cheers,
    Christine

    P.S. I love the Anonymous quote at the top of your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Wrighty!

    I have just become your 80th follower! I would love to win a copy of Testimony and my email address is scullylove@cogeco.ca. Hachette Book Group rules!

    My prom dress wasn't anything too fancy but it was a tasteful ivory mid-length number that I accentuated with burgandy pumps and I think I looked nice in it. Now if only I didn't have that goofy perm! At least my date was hot and I had such a crush on him in high school. Sadly, I found out in college that he was gay which was why he could never return my affections. Story of my life!

    Thank you for this opportunity.

    Cheers,
    Christine

    P.S. I love that anonymous quote at the top of your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  32. great giveaway!

    ykatrina at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I would love to be entered. Thank you.

    stacybooks at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I posted about your giveaway here for another entry for Made in the U.S.A.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Testimony sounds like a wonderful book, I'd love to read it!

    marielay@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I am a follower.

    marielay@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I sort of remember the only prom I went to and the horrible pink dress I wore -- fortunately I have no photos to relive that dress :-)

    marielay@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Come and get your award, my dear!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Please enter me for Made in the USA.

    I also follow. :) THanks for the great giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I'd love Testimony!


    mj.coward[at]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. I think they both sound like great books!! Thanks.


    pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

    ReplyDelete
  42. I'd love to win these! Please enter me. booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com
    Thanks!

    +1 I haven't gone to the prom yet, but my older sister has. She wore a beautiful red dress that was completely covered in glitter and lace. She might let me wear it once I get the chance to go to prom!

    ReplyDelete
  43. +1 I am a follower.
    booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I've read both Anita Shreve and Billie Letts and enjoyed both authors so would love a chance to win either book, thanks!

    My daughter looked gorgeous for her prom last June in a dress she had custom made by eDressit! Total cost including shipping was $88.00 CAN. — a mere fraction of what they wanted for prom dresses in some of the stores ($300. to $500. and up!).

    I'll add your giveaway to my Up For Grabs post.

    wanda_waiting[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I would love to be entered in your drawing.
    Thanks
    Carlene
    iluvreading(at)verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  46. I'd really love a chance to win Testimony!

    Thank you so much.

    mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

    P.S. I'm already a follower =D

    ReplyDelete
  47. I would l♥ve to read these! Please count me in :)
    tryingtostaycalm@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Please enter me.

    Thanks!

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  49. Please enter me in this drawing. Either book would be great! Thanks for the opportunity! Indigo

    ravensquietscreams@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I'm also a follower! Thanks! Indigo

    ravensquietscreams@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I've heard good things about both books.

    patricjames@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. My roommate turned me on to your blog. I read Shoot the Moon and loved it so I'm looking forward to her new book. She reminds me of John Steinbeck.


    mjgroesbeck@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Please count me in for either one...They both look great and I would enjoy reading them. :) Thank you!

    I'm a follower!

    rachie2004 AT yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  54. I'm a follower!

    I'm a high school librarian. Every year at Prom time, we have a Prom Contest where the teachers bring in pictures of themselves as teenagers at their proms. We scan the photos, blow them up really big and make a bulletin board out of them. The kids (and the staff) have a ball trying to identify their (ancient) teachers when they were young and cute in the 1970s and 1980s formal wear!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I just finished reading All He Ever Wanted. Anita is GREAT.

    ReplyDelete
  56. whoops. forgot my email.


    jimmyrug@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  57. Would love to win either book. I have heard they are a great read! Thanks jacquecurl1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I am a new follower. jacquecurl1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  59. My friend had a ugly prom dress!It was bright orange and had puffy sleeves. We look back now and laugh. jacquecurl1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  60. I'd love to win "Made in the U.S.A.".

    Please count me in - Thanks!
    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  61. My prom dress was blue & white gingham overlaid with a sheer floral fabric. It had flutter sleeves & a blue ribbon at the empire waist. It was pretty at the time. But, looking back, I hate the baby blue tux that my date wore!

    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  62. Both books sound like good reading but I would prefer Made in the USA.

    Thanks for the contest.

    dbarta@cogeco.ca

    ReplyDelete
  63. Please include me in your drawing for Testimony. I am a follower.
    Thanks
    Carlene
    iluvreading(at)verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  64. I would love to read either of these books, please enter me in the contest.
    thanks,
    Tobi

    tokemise@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. I would love to win Made in the USA.

    Thanks!
    jlhal@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  66. I'm a new follower.

    jlhal@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  67. My prom was many years ago but I thought I looked great. Now when I look back at my green dress, I wonder what was I thinking! And the curls!

    jlhal@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  68. Please count me in! I would l♥ve to read this book! Thanks for the chance! tryingtostaycalm@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  69. Please enter me. Thanks.
    nazatraz (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  70. Please don't enter me anymore, I have already gotten my own copies of these two books. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Please enter my name in this great draw. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  72. Either one would be great, but I am leaning more towards Made in the USA.
    digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net

    ReplyDelete
  73. I follow you
    digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net

    ReplyDelete

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