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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

My writer friends, an Amazon gift card giveaway & #SunshineSharing

typewriter photo: Vintage Typewriter 16012010233.jpgI fancy myself a writer, but if it weren't for the internet, my writing would be unknown. (Well, it's practically unknown even with the internet.) What I mean is that I haven't written a book, yet. I have a couple of ideas rolling around in my head and even have one that I've gotten a small start on.

Several people I know personally are writers, as in written, edited, and published real books writers. When my friend Jennifer Parker announced the publication of her book, Messy Blessings, earlier this Spring, I thought about all the people that I know who are published authors. It's kind of amazing, really. Honestly, what an accomplishment.

So I wanted to share those people and their accomplishments here. Check out the books and let me know what you think.

Messy Blessings by Jennifer Parker. I first met Jennifer in college. It turns out that she has actually known Mike since they were both in diapers. Messy Blessings tells the very true story of Jennifer's youngest daughter Hope who was born with a severe heart condition. Miraculously, Hope is a happy 8-year old today, despite a stroke that robbed her of her speech when she was very young.

Slaying the Debt Dragon by Cherie Lowe. I met Cherie through the blogosphere and flew beside her in a WWII stunt plane several years ago. Cherie and her husband Brian have been on a journey to pay off debt and find riches that money can't buy. The amount of debt they slaughtered in just four years will astonish you. Cherie's approachable writing style will make you feel like you've made a friend.

How Sweet the Sound by Amy K. Sorrells. I met Amy through a mutual friend when Charlie was just a baby. She is a nurse. When she told me she was a writer too, I thought, "yeah, right." When How Sweet the Sound was published, I bought it and promptly left it on the nightstand for a while. When I finally read it, I was sorry that I waited so long and I had doubted that a nurse could also write. This story is a modern-day retelling of the story of Tamar in the Old Testament.

Then Sings My Soul by Amy K. Sorrells. I haven't read Amy's second book, yet. But it's central figure is a 90-year old man and you know how much my heart loves elders. This book is definitely on my to-read list.

The Forgotten Girl by David Bell. Ok, so I don't actually know David Bell. But his wife, Molly McCaffrey was my roommate for our first week of college, before we moved into our respective sorority houses. Molly and I re-connected via Facebook and that's how I came to know David. So he "counts" for the purpose of this blog post. The Forgotten Girl is a thriller, as are several of David's books.

Listen to Your Mother by Ann Imig. Ann is the brainchild of the Listen to Your Mother speakers/readers series that takes place during the month of May all over the country. Like David, I don't personally know Ann, but I've been honored to be in two LTYM productions, so that's enough connection for me. What's more, one of my Indianapolis cast mates, Natalie Cheung-Hall, has her piece "She Knew It," included in Imig's anthology.

The Giveaway with Sunshine Rewards
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As I was thinking about writing this blog post, an opportunity from Sunshine Rewards came along to do a giveaway for a $50 Amazon.com gift card. I thought it would be a great tie-in for this post. So, there are three things you should know:

1.) The links above will take you to the Amazon.com listing for each of the books. If you buy one of the books from that link, I will earn a few pennies from your purchase.

2.) Sunshine Rewards provided me with a $50 gift card of my own for participating in this giveaway.

3.) I totally love and support independent bookstores and make purchases at them whenever I can. But I also really enjoy the ease and efficiency and don't-have-to-leave-my-chair of Amazon.com. So I felt ok about hosting this giveaway. If you win, you are free to spend your gift card on anything at Amazon.com, not just books.

What is Sunshine Rewards?
Sunshine Rewards is a shopping and discount site that offers you the opportunity to earn cash back on online purchases, shares special discount opportunities for members, and allows you to earn rewards for surveys. The owner of Sunshine Rewards is someone whom I have known through the Indiana bloggers network for several years. For a little more info, check out the FAQ on their site.

Enter to win! (Begins at midnight on July 1)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

29 comments:

kjluedeka said...

I enjoy Meg Cabot, Jennifer Weiner, and Emily Giffin's books.

Michelle said...

I've currently been on a JoJo Moyes & Ann Pratchet kick. I also like subscribing to Bookbub, which emails free & cheap e-books daily!

Unknown said...

I haven't read an adult book in two years lol! I would recommend miss peregrine's home for peculiar children.....one book I have read not long ago.

kellyr78 said...

I would recommend Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson because it is an interesting story about shipwrecks.

Unknown said...

I wish I would read more for myself . It's so relaxing

Unknown said...

I love a good romance and Shana Galen writes some great ones

Unknown said...

It would have to be Stephen king!

Anonymous said...

I often recommend people read Cherie's book!

Amanda E. said...

It would be any of the Terry Pratchett books. Why, because they are good :-)

HS said...

Secrets of the Lighthouse by Santa Montefiore is one great beach read.

Julie said...

A great and terrible beauty was one of my favorite books. I loved getting lost in Bray's world.

Unknown said...

I would say any cozy mystery; they are enjoyable reads, not serious, light-hearted, fun characters.

Eternal Lizdom said...

The Martian. Read it before the movie comes out. Even if you aren't much of a sci-fi person (like me - my husband is the sci-fi guy, not me), the story is really good.

scatteredleaves said...

Avalon a Heartwarning True Cat Story by Vanessa Morgan. People need to read more true things...

618mom said...

If you like zombies the The Enemy series
by Charlie Higson is a good series to read.

lil_lady_dz said...

I would say the book - Modern Romance: An Investigation by Aziz Ansari. It offers a great look at dating that has a sense of humor.

Elena said...

I would recommend The Boy in the Striped Pajamas because it's a great and tragic story

JewelWood said...

Judy Blume has an amazing book out for Adults and it is so good to read-It is called In the Unlikely Event. You should read it!

V Martinez said...

I am into thrillers so any in that category!!

Unknown said...

I would purchase some great books for my kindle.

♡♥♬ Carolsue ♡♥♬ said...

I would recommend Memoirs of a Geisha because it is such a good book and because you learn a lot about the Geisha culture which is interesting
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

dawn keenan (newnameford) said...

To kill a mockingbird is one of my favorite books.

Donna said...

I love the hunger games trilogy because of the suspense!

Donna

Unknown said...

Anything by James Patterson

Crystal said...

For me it totally depends on the person, but The Alchemist, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Jitterbug Perfume are among my most often recommeded!

Unknown said...

Harry Potter series by JK Rolling

Unknown said...

I would recommend the fault in our stars because it's just such a good love story for hopeless romantics in therror hands of fate

Unknown said...

Confessions of a Shopaholic - it was an excellent book and a lot better than the movie version

Amy Orvin said...

I'd recommend The Truth Behind Left Behind by Mark Hitchcock because it gives a clear presentation of prophecy interpretation.