Things to Give Away

UPDATE: All the ARCs have found homes, but I still have lots of bookmarks. Thank you all!
FRUIT OF ALL EVIL publishes March 1. As of today, I have both bookmarks and ARCs (advanced review copies).

If I have your address, you'll be receiving bookmarks. If you'd like a few and I don't have your address, just email me and I'd be happy to send them along. This is a transparent ploy to continue to build my mailing list, but I promise to only send fun stuff. And, I would never share your address.

The ARCs - I have ten, but I might end up with a few more. They're copies of the book but they don't have the final round of corrections - there will be some missing punctuation and I probably changed a few words here and there or added or deleted some sentences, but the story is well in place. Also, ARCs don't have the real cover. I'd love to send these out too, but I need to send them to people who are willing to review the book and then post the review on Amazon or BN or a blog, or all three (even better)! Of course, I'm hoping for good or amazing-fantastic-superdee-duper reviews but I don't want you to lie. So, if you didn't like FARM FRESH MURDER, chances are pretty good that you won't like FRUIT. You probably won't want an ARC. If you liked FFM, you might like FRUIT.

Let me know. Here's my email: paige@paigeshelton.com

Thanks in advance!

Happy New Year!
Paige

My Spiritual Book Bag

I feel very fortunate this year - my son is healthy (and, Yay!, since he's sixteen, he's still at home); my husband and I are healthy (as far as we know); and both our parents are healthy (as far as we know). These are the things I cherish the most.

Last year, on December 17, my sister-in-law got hit by car as she was riding her bicycle. She broke her hips into pieces and was down for a few months. Miracle of miracles, she's fine now - walking and back to riding her bike. That terrible event made me appreciate everything so much more.

So, it is my wish that you are blessed with good health and loving family this holiday season. Also, good memories of those who have passed on.

I only knew one set of grandparents. My dad's parents died when he was a kid. My maternal grandmother died when I was nine and my maternal grandfather died when I was sixteen. They were young by today's standards -- only in their sixties -- and losing them was horrible. When my grandfather died, I started a tradition for myself, though, and it has continued to this day. Of course, reading has always been a huge part of my life. I always loved books and then talking about what I'd read with anyone who would listen. Fortunately, my grandparents were good listeners. Well, my grandfather couldn't hear very well, but he always acted like he was listening. Anyway, after my grandfather died and I became very lonely for them during the holiday season, I decided to create something I could share with them, if only in my imagination. I created a spiritual book bag - books that I have a special love for and would love to tell them about. Over the years, it's turned a symbol - symbolizing books that changed my life; changed the way I think about the world or think about writing. I still imagine talking to them and I still imagine their responses - this process has given me many smiles - but what I really enjoy is taking out that list each year and hopefully adding to it. I love lots of books, but it takes something pretty special to get a spot in my spiritual book bag. The good news is that I did add to the list this year.

Here's the list as it stands today:
Charlotte's Web
Are You There God, It's Me Margaret (Judy Blume)
All Nancy Drew
All "Littles" books
All "Borrowers" books
Little Women (Although I read this one again a few years ago and found that I didn't enjoy either the writing or the story, go figure. But it stays on the list because when I was eleven, it rocked my world)
Jo's Boys
All Laura Ingalls Wilder (took a Laura trip a few years back - best vacation ever)
Every single book that Phyllis A. Whitney wrote.
Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean Auel)
Flowers In the Attic (V.C. Andrews - I think an Amazon review describes this as the 'best trashy novel ever written.' I smile when I think about my grandmother's reaction over my love for this book)
Song of Solomen (Toni Morrison)
The Ghosts (Antonia Barber)
Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen - honestly, I'm not a huge Austen fan except for this book. I love everything about it, everything)
A is for Alibi (Sue Grafton - fan of the whole series, but this one was very special to me)
The Boyfriend Club (Sarah Bird)
Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton)
Outlander (Diana Gabaldon - a copy of this book sits on my desk. I'll frequently open it and just read a paragraph or two)
Dead Until Dark (Charlaine Harris - I love the whole series, but this was the first one and it truly changed the way I thought about fiction)
Kill and Tell (Linda Howard)
The Electric Church (Jeff Somers)
All Harry Potter books - yep, every single one.
The Hunger Games

And this year's addition:
The Help (Kathryn Stockett). The imaginary conversation I had with my grandmother about this book was amazing.

This isn't a list of books I think are good or great -- that list would go on forever. Every book in my spiritual book bag is there for a different specific reason, but each one caused some major shift for me, a shift in my own spirit. I love it when a book does that. Some are classics, some have sold millions of copies, but some are truly trashy and you might not have even heard of a few. I'm not even sure I can "recommend" them because their meanings are so personal to me.

So, along with good health and loving family, I must wish for you books that you can put in your own spiritual book bag; books that change you, maybe fill up something in you that was empty before, maybe something that inspires you.

There's just nothing like a book that touches your heart or your soul.

Merry Christmas, friends. Happiest holiday wishes.

Much love,
Paige

No More Bookmas - Sad Face

Well, I'm sorry that Bookmas is over. I thought it was great fun!

May you have a happy holiday and a wonderful new year!

Paige

Bookmas Day Twelve - Clue

On the twelfth day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

Twelve Morgans moving.

Go here to enter: Bookends

Hint - this clue is about one of the answers only. Not telling which one, though.
Good luck!

And -- Happy Holidays to you and yours! This has been fun!

Paige

Bookman Day Twelve!

Clue will be here around noon EST.

See you then!

Bookmas Day Eleven - Clue

On the eleventh day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

Eleven "How to you expect me to get that into that(s)?"

Go here to enter: Bookends

Good luck!

Bookmas Day Ten - Extra Clue

Hmm. Looks like we still need some winners.

Okay, how about these?

One of these authors was "in" something heavenly, and one of the book titles contains something heavenly.

Go here to enter: Bookends

Bookmas Day Ten - Clue

On the tenth day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

Ten (okay, only four technically) traditional first names.

Go here to enter: Bookends

Good luck!

PS - Okay, this one's tough and you won't be able to figure it out with my clue only. However, hopefully some of the other clues will give direction and mine will help nail it down. By the way, my clue is talking about the authors specifically.

Bookmas Day Ten

Clue will be here around noon EST.

This one's tricky!

See you later.

Paige

Bookmas Day Nine - Clue

On the ninth day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

Nine Rays 'a Flaying

Go here to enter: Bookends

Good luck!

Paige

Happy Weekend!

Bookmas clues will return Monday. Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

Paige

Bookmas Day Eight - Clue

On the eighth day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

8 Kiss Me, Cathy(s).

Go here to enter: Bookends

Good luck!


Paige

Bookmas Day Eight

Clue will be here around noon (EST). I can't figure out if this one is too difficult or too easy, but I enjoyed coming up with it.

See you later!

Paige

Bookmas Day Seven - Clue

On the seventh day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

Seven Ziggy(s) Jumping.

Go here to enter: Bookends

Good luck!

Bookmas Day Seven

See you around noon (EST).

Bookmas Day Six - Clue

On the sixth day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:


Six Golden Fortunes

Go here to enter: Bookends

Good Luck!!!

Bookmas Day Six

Clue will be posted at noon (EST).

Thanks,
Paige

Bookmas Day Five - clue

On the fifth day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

Five In-grid Bergmans!

Go here to enter Bookmas: Bookends


Leave a comment here and you could win a copy of FARM FRESH MURDER.

Question of the day: What's your favorite Holiday movie?

Bookmas

Clue will be here around noon EST.

See you then.

Don't forget to leave a comment here if you'd like to enter to win a copy of FARM FRESH MURDER.



Thanks,
Paige

Bookmas Day Four - Clue

On the fourth day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

Four scary lovebirds.

Go here to enter: Bookends Blog


Leave a comment here for a chance to win FARM FRESH MURDER.

Thanks,
Paige

Bookmas

Bookmas clue will be here around noon New York City (eastern standard) time.

Until then, enter to win a copy of FARM FRESH MURDER by leaving a comment here. Do you have all your holiday shopping done?

Thanks,
Paige

Bookmas Update

Bookmas clues will return Monday.

Update --

FARM FRESH MURDER winners:

Jennifer (mailed)
Donna (mailed)

jarpammy is yesterday's winner, but I don't have a contact. Please email me jarpammy
paige@paigeshelton.com

Thanks!
Paige

Bookmas Day Three - Clue

On the third day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me:

Three teens from far, far away.

Go here to enter Bookmas: http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/

Leave a comment here for a chance to win a copy of FARM FRESH MURDER.

Thanks, and good luck!

Paige

Bookmas Day Three

My clue will be here at noon New York City time.

For now, leave a comment here if you'd like a chance to win a copy of FARM FRESH MURDER.

Thanks,
Paige

Clue Two

On the second Day of Bookmas my agent gave to me:

Two (M)erry Brick Operatives.

Go here to enter: http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

And the first winner of a copy of FARM FRESH MURDER is Offandwriting. Thanks for leaving a comment, Offandwriting!

Paige

Bookmas Day One

Here's my clue:

On the first day of Bookmas, my agent gave to me
an unruly grain in a palm tree.

Here's where you enter your solution:
http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/

Good luck!


And, here are the details on my own contest. It's easy to enter:
Paige's Bookmas