Goodreads Giveaway: Moondrops & Thistles

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Moondrops & Thistles

by LK Hunsaker

Giveaway ends July 18, 2011.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

A Musical Moment: the 70s

I was a child of the Seventies. Now, when most say that, they mean their late teen and early twenties years were during the Seventies and they were smack in the midst of the hippie revolution. I mean I was a child during the Seventies and my teen years began right at the tail end of that decade. But, I was always kind of old for my age and when I was ten, I fell right into that music-obsessed teen-like musician worship stage. Anyway, it seemed to me that all teens and pre-teens were music obsessed and that all conversation centered around who was hot at the moment and who had the better voice/most skill.

Since those days, I've come to realize that isn't true: not everyone centered their teen worlds on music. Unbelievable, though it may be.

They say scent is the strongest neumonic; nothing brings recall better than a familiar scent. Maybe that's true for most, but for me, nothing will bring back a moment in time more than a song, or a band, or even a musical style. Take the Super Bowl halftime show. I don't watch football, but my son called me out when The Who came on. Suddenly, I was swept back in time to when their songs were on the radio and I was in my parents' home locked away in my bedroom working on something to keep my hands busy just as an excuse to be lost in the music. The Who played a mix of some of their top songs and while some were knocking how "old" they are and how "bad" the sound was, I could only think how cool it was to see them perform and be swept away to the past. And to be fair, they gave a strong performance for a band that came out in the mid Sixties.

It was great to share the experience with my son who is older than I was when The Who was on the radio. He was impressed. For "old guys" they played well and were full of energy, which surprised the sixteen year old with tons of his own. He commented on how good the drummer was and how cool the stage looked. See? This is a kid after my own heart. He gets it. It's not only entertainment; it's an experience. [He also found it cool that their drummer for the show was none other than Zak Starkey, Ringo's kid.]

How can you go through your teen years without falling for a particular band, or a particular musician? Music captures moments of time that can't be captured in any other way, and teens are primed and ready for this musical moment-stealing.

I was swept away by many singers and many bands during those awkward years. Donny and Leif and Andy and David, plus Styx and Journey and Chicago and Air Supply … I could spend as much time with them as I could pull from homework and chores and they were always there waiting. Granted, most of the albums belonged to my big sis since she had babysitting money, but as we shared a room and she was a loving big sis, I got to use her record player and her albums.

I still vividly remember the day she brought home a new album of a band I'd never heard of. I thought they were rather odd-looking, to tell the truth, not as cute as Andy and Donny, but still, there was something fascinating about them I couldn't put my finger on (other than their odd clothing choice). And then she played the album. I was grabbed in a way no other music had ever grabbed me.

I've talked with many adults recently who were big fans of the band, as well, and so often I hear it was their looks that were the big attraction. Hmm.. I'm one of the youngest fans and no, it wasn't their looks for me. Heck, I was ten at the time or right at that. Boys were still only undecipherable creatures and interesting but rather annoying (apologies to my little brother, but he understands). It was the music.

As I grew, I moved into the Eighties with Hall & Oates and Madonna and Michael Jackson and Tears For Fears and Julian Lennon, but that band remained number one on my list. Why? Who Knows? Something about them spoke to me. In fact, it spoke loudly enough, it became a story. What were they really like past the media hoopla? What was it like to tour and live in hotels and buses and be stuck with each other for months at a time? Did they get along behind the scenes? What about girlfriends? How do you have one with that kind of lifestyle?

The questions festered until I had to start answering them. No, I didn't stalk the band. They disappeared and all that was left were those albums and the posters previously smothering our bedroom wall and then tucked safety into folders. I was stuck in a little town in the Midwest going to school and family functions. In my head, though, I was on the road. It moved well past questions about that one band to being about a band in general, and a girl who supported them.

I created my own band to answer those questions. The results were thirty-some years in the making, with tons of research and music-following in general and talking with other fans and reading music biographies, and it became my Rehearsal series. It's not why I started writing. I've been doing that since I knew what writing was. It did spur an obsession for story-telling, for discovering the whys and hows and what ifs, even if the answers are fiction. All fiction has its truths. Reading a novel may mean no more than several hours of escape. Or, it may be a moment in time that causes a lasting effect in some way.

That one moment back in the mid Seventies when I listened to that one album lovingly crafted by artists coming into their own was much more than 30 minutes of escapism. It was pure inspiration. It was lasting joy. It was a trigger. If only one of my books could do the same, that would be a legacy I would be thrilled to have.

If you're wondering, no, I'm not revealing the band name, because that's not the point (and because I called them odd-looking -- apologies to those of you who do know who I mean, but I was only ten-ish and I mostly changed my mind later).

However, for those following the CRR Blog Carnival (and for anyone else who stops by), I do have a musical prize to be drawn from those who leave comments on this post:

A CD full of music from my youth, much of which is mentioned in my Rehearsal series, plus

Rehearsal: A Different Drummer as Ebook on a signed CD. I'll draw the name on Tuesday morning to give those in other time zones plenty of time to get here. Be sure I can contact you or stop back by to see if I need your contact info!

So what about you? Were you a music-obsessed teen? Who did you listen to? If not, what was your teen obsession?

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This is part of the Classic Romance Revival Valentine's Day Blog Carnival. Winners for the grand prize -- a 5-ARC package from Classic Romance Revival authors -- will be drawn from visitors commenting on the most blogs.  To qualify for the grand prize, you need to register for the contest.  Please visit the Classic Romance Revival blog to find details of all the blogs and to register:

http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?p=1671

Touring Along on my Virtual Book Blab

Everything we do takes learning along the way. That’s how I write and how I market. I learn as I go. I can’t think of anything we don’t have to just jump in and see how it works as we learn: school, socializing, learning an instrument (studying theory is great but until you DO it, you don’t actually learn it). Same with … love, marriage (for those still unmarried, trust me, it’s a huge learning process), even uh.. sex (shh) is a learning process. We also have to learn HOW to learn in order to do it productively. Those countries with better education rates are those who are best at teaching their kids how to learn, not only facts and figures. How is more important. I think we have come too far from that.

I’m a hands-on type (and if you’re giggling about now, take the image from the paragraph above out of your head, thank you). I learn by jumping in and figuring it out. That’s what I’m doing with all my promo, including my current book tour. I’m figuring it out as I go, along with some wonderful assistance from CRR Promotions! Organizing is not my thing. Luckily, CRR is good at it.

So I’m nearing the middle of my tour. What have I learned?

1- It can get exhausting.

I’m a writer. How hard should it be to write blog content based on my book? Turns out, harder than I expected, especially since CRR did such a great job and I have 16 blogs to write for in 31 days. Not a big deal, right? For someone who has done Nanowrimo for 5 years now and nearly doubled the required 50K last year to write 97,000 words in 30 days, 16 short blogs shouldn’t be a big deal.

Yes well, try taking a novel and writing 16 short essays about it, all with different topics. It’s more easily said than done. Still, I’m enjoying the process because after the two years I’ve taken to write and edit (and re-edit and rewrite and re-edit and…) the story, I’ve found it interesting to dissect my own work even further. It may sound strange to non-writers, but there are so many things that go into a story even the author doesn’t know until she looks back and dissects where that stuff came from. Writing is indeed therapy, especially when you force yourself to take such a hard look.

2- Some people will read your blog postings and not comment.

This is something to remember. Just as on email lists there are many more reading than posting, a lot of readers are hesitant to join in with comments. That doesn’t mean if you only get three comments, you had only three readers. And remember that your posts will (or should) stay in those blogs for a long time to come and can always get randomly pulled from search sites. It’s exposure. Unlike being in Vermont in the winter without a coat on, exposure is good for writers.

3- Form your blog content to your host blog as you can.

This is the hardest, I think. Trying to make your posts relate to your book and to your host can be tricky. Use your imagination. Writers know how to do that, at least fiction writers do. ;-)  When you find one you can’t figure out how to mesh, throw in fun things such as character interviews, author interview, excerpts. If you have an excerpt that will fit in any way, use that. It can be a very small connection, such as mentioning the dog rescue part of your book on a host’s blog who owns dogs.

I’ll likely have more lessons to post later. For now, here are the direct links to each blog I’ve been in this month. And another HUGE thank you for the hosts!  Remember that commenters can win a free printed, signed short story and anyone who comments on 8 or more blogs along the way has a chance to win a signed copy of Off The Moon!

Nov 1: Judah Raine

Introduction - what is literary romance?

 http://judahraine.com/romancewriteup/?p=673

 

Nov 3: Jane Richardson

Artistic Vision and Creative Doubt

http://janerichardsonhomethoughts.blogspot.com/2009/11/over-moon-to-welcome-lk-hunsaker.html

 

Nov 5: Sue Perkins

Traveling Fiction: Places in Story

http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com/2009/11/lk-hunsaker-blog-tour.html

 

Nov 7: Linda Banche

Interview:  Will

http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/2009/11/crr-blog-tour-lk-hunsaker-and-off-moon.html

 

Nov 9:  Sandra Kay

Subplot: A second rescue 

http://sandrakayauthor.blogspot.com/2009/11/subplot-another-rescue.html

 

Nov 11: Liana Laverentz

Behind the Scenes: An Army Brat

http://lianalaverentz.blogspot.com/2009/11/guest-author-loraine-hunsaker.html

 

Also, be sure to catch tomorrow’s blog with Nancy O’Berry:
Celebrities: Truth vs. Hype – Nov. 13
http://obe-romancingtheblog.blogspot.com

Nov. 15: Metaphorical Reality with Sandra Sookoo
http://www.sandrasookoo.wordpress.com

Nov. 17: An Interview with Ned (Ryan’s drummer and quite the character) at Lainey Bancroft’s blog
http://www.elaineforlife.com/LaineysBlog/tabid/463/Default.aspx

Oh, I’m also plugging away at Nanowrimo. I’m terribly behind (several thousand words behind) but no big deal. I’ll catch up.

And, be on the lookout right here for not only more blog dates, but a fun interview by a professional drummer who works out of NYC, owns a drum shop, and was part of the Warped Tour (you younger folks will know what that is). Sign up for email updates to be sure not to miss it.

Well, I’m off and on the run again. Actually, it’s more like a slow and somewhat steady trudge. Hey, it worked for the tortoise.

Preorder now for free shipping within the US and discounted shipping outside the US. As of release date, Nov. 27, shipping will be added.

http://www.elucidatepublishing.com/books.htm 

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Book Tour Day Two

I’m talking about Artistic Vision and Creative Doubt, mixed with a touch of pop culture, on Jane Richardson’s blog today!

Come chat for a chance to win a printed, signed short story that’s so far unpublished and a bit of a prequel to Off The Moon.

Jane Richardson: Home Thoughts From A Broad

I love the title of her blog, as much as I loved her “A Different Kind of Honesty” – a lively and lovely contemporary romance that bounces between England and New York City. Funny … so does Off The Moon to a different extent.

Anyone who comments on at least 8 of my blogs during tour has a chance to win a signed copy of Off The Moon when it’s released!

Thank you again to all the tour hosts. You all rock!

Interview with a Musician: Vicki Blankenship

Vicki Blankenship is not only an Indie Singer/Songwriter, but she’s also president of IndieGrrl.com, a celebration of women in the independent arts. As a member of IndieGrrl, I’m glad to have Vicki here to talk with us about her music and her organization.

I’m also happy to announce that the lyrics of I’ve Waited For You, from her newest album, will be the music epilogue for Off The Moon, my fourth novel due out this month.

LK:  Hi Vicki! First, a public “thank you” for allowing use of your lyrics in my novel. It’s amazing when I was searching for indie songs that would fit with the story, just how well I’ve Waited For You fits. It’s nice to have you here chatting with us.

VB:  Thanks for using my song and promoting my music and lyrics.

LK:  First things first, how long have you been in the music business? When did you first pick up a guitar?

VB: I first started playing guitar and drums when I was 5 years old thanks to a grandfather and great grandfather who were both musicians. I’ve been in the music business off and on since college (1976 – 1981) but went full time in the music industry in 2003 with my first solo release “Don’t Forget To Breathe”.

LK:  It’s wonderful when young children get into the arts! Your music career echoes my writing career a bit – my first release was also in 2003. ;-)

So tell us a bit about your newest release, Blue Flame Trance.

VB:  My latest release Blue Flame Trance was originally slated to be called “Elements” because the songs selected for this project were different elements of my life and the songs were songs I had written from 19 years old to present. Many of my friends suggested that I consider using the name “Blue Flame Trance” as the title of the CD because they considered the song “Blue Flame Trance” an unforgettable song and the name would stand out more. The song itself is about Moonshine which is very prevalent in Franklin County Virginia the area where I grew up.

LK: Your music is reminiscent of 60s/70s folk rock, mixed with a touch of a country flair. At least that’s what I think of when I listen to it. Phoebe Snow comes to mind, but also Martina McBride; it’s both soulful and soothing. Who are your musical influences?

VB:  I grew up in the 60s/70s folk rock era so that is the music I know and love and the style in which I write. I loved bands like Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, Steve Miller, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Crosby Still Nash & Young, and Fleetwood Mac. I am a HUGE Lindsey Buckingham fan. Three other songwriters that I love are Mary Chapin Carpenter, James Taylor and Carol King.

LK:  Ah, some of my favorite artists there, also.  I have to tell you I grinned when I went through your website and read about Kiva, your rescued Dalmation. I have a rescued lab mix who is also such a joy, and Off The Moon features a rescued dog. Would you like to share a bit about your Dalmation rescue mission?

VB: Dalmatians were over bred when the 101 Dalmatians movie came out. And Dalmatians tend to be very active dogs that need a lot of attention. So a lot of them got abandoned when they grew older. I have helped place many Dalmatians in good homes that will work with them and show them the attention they need. Kiva is one that I kept myself. She is deaf and is one of the smartest dogs I have ever owned. She understands a doggie sign language that I made up and is very obedient. She knows no strangers and is friendly to everyone so she makes a good travel companion on the road.

LK:  Just for fun and since I ask everyone, what is your favorite color? Do you have a favorite artist or art style?

VB: My favorite color(s) is a toss between royal blue and purple. I love Vincent Van Gogh and my favorite painting is The Starry Night. I also like Georgia O’Keeffe and Klimt. I also paint; mostly oils and acrylic, and most of my paintings would be classified in the contemporary abstract style.

LK:  How did you come up with the idea of founding IndieGrrl? Will you tell us about it?

VB:  Actually Holly Figueroa founded Indiegrrl as a networking forum for female singer songwriters in 1998. I joined the network in 2003. Later I founded Indie Music For Life in 2004, a non profit to raise money for cancer research and other programs. I took over Indiegrrl in October 2005 and brought it in under the umbrella of Indie Music For Life. Now the non profit has completed revamped as of this year and in February we officially changed the name to Indiegrrl Women in the Arts, Inc so that we could include all aspects of the arts into the non profit and build on other things among networking. Indiegrrl Women in the Arts, Inc. works to create networking, educational, and showcasing opportunities for women of all ages involved in the arts. We also produce several festival events to help raise funds for various charities and are working to raise funds to build an Indiegrrl Music and Arts Camp for children between the ages of 7 and 17. Indiegrrl also produces an annual conference as an educational and showcasing opportunity and we are working on other educational forums, workshops, and seminars to help with entrepreneurial development in music and other aspects of the arts. If you believe in what Indiegrrl is trying to develop please go to our website and make a contribution. http://www.indiegrrl.com

LK:  I better wind this up so I don’t take too much of your time, but before I let you go, I’d love to hear what you’re working on now.

VB:  I am working on developing many Indiegrrl Women in the Arts programs and opportunities. Personally I am starting to promote my new CD “Blue Flame Trance” which you can find at http://www.spottedkivaproductions.com

LK:  Vicki, thank you again! Please leave any links you’d like us to know about.

VB:  http://www.indiegrrl.com and http://www.spottedkivaproductions.com are the main links. There are also Myspace links http://www.myspace.com/indiegrrlrecords and http://www.myspace.com/vickiblankenship and the facebook link http://www.facebook.com/vicki.blankenship

A note to readers: A signed copy of Vicki’s CD, Blue Flame Trance, will be included as part of the release party give-away for Off The Moon. Stay tuned here or sign up for my newsletter for more info.

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My BLOG TOUR for Off The Moon, featuring Vicki’s lyrics, “I’ve Been Waiting For You” kicks off TODAY! 

Here’s the first link: http://judahraine.com/romancewriteup/?p=673

To follow the tour, find the schedule either at CRR Promotions:

http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?p=1520

Or at Elucidate Publishing:
http://www.elucidatepublishing.net/events.html


Today is my Author Introduction. Leave a comment for a chance to win a so-far-unpublished prequel short story, signed and mailed!  On Tuesday, I’ll be talking about Artistic Vision And Creative Doubt, hosted by Jane Richardson, author of “A Different Kind of Honesty.”
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Music Review: Yellow Submarine

While listening to a short band interview the other day where they talked about pyrotechnics and wanting MORE for each tour, I had to wonder why it’s so hard now to go to a “simple” rock concert and just … well, LISTEN to the music. How about getting rid of all that elaborate, expensive menagerie of stuff, lowering the price, and focusing on the music?

I guess I’m a tad old-fashioned. I go to concerts for the music. I like bands because of the music, not because of the looks and hype. I listen to words. I pay attention to intricacies.

So, when I find new music that takes me back to the days of concerts focusing on music, I can’t help but share it.

On September 9th, 1971, 38 years ago today, John Lennon released the “Imagine” LP. Even those who know next to nothing about Lennon or the Beatles know the title track. Imagine. The Seventies were very much about imagining. It was a creative, highly artsy time. I was only 5 when the album was released so to me the Seventies meant starting grade school and family birthday parties and little contact with the wider world. There was, however, music. Within music of the times, as I mentioned in an earlier post, we find the inner depths and attitudes of the times.

Now, in the form of an intriguing, enlightening new CD titled “Yellow Submarine” and produced by Marino De Silva, we have a nice recapture of the times and soul of the Sixties and early Seventies.

I have to say when I first heard about the CD, I was less than overwhelmed. I expected it to be all Beatles remakes and in general, I’d rather listen to the real thing than to a remake. There are exceptions.

Why did I order it, then? I’m big on research. I have to be for my job. So I researched the CD and found that not only do proceeds from the CD benefit Angels on Earth, De Silva’s foundation to help children with autism, but De Silva has also been an advocate for assisting the military and their families. That sold me. What can I say? As spouse of a retired soldier and Desert Storm veteran, I do have fondness for those who at least try to understand and care about what the military deals with, and especially those who try to do something to help. I’m also supportive of children’s charities. I didn’t order one. I ordered two.

The review: What can I say? I’m so impressed with this CD I’m thinking I should have bought more than two and used them for gifts. I still might. I’m a sucker for acoustic music, especially acoustic guitar, and for music that highlights individual instruments. With Yellow Submarine, there are lots of acoustic and highlighted instruments. I’m enamored with Steven Swinford’s Two Of Us acoustic guitar track and John Argent’s gorgeous piano version of Lady Madonna. The flute highlight in Jethro Tull’s Pavane is impossible to work through instead of stopping to listen (and I can work through most anything). The production of songs featuring greats Jimi Hendrix, Roger Daltrey, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Mick Jagger, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, and Jimmy Page is so well done I can hear every sound in all its glory. It’s crisp and clear and about the music, not the hype. I was introduced to a few names I didn’t know and will now remember. Of course De Silva’s guitar work shines through and the title track by Duncan Faure featuring Marino De Silva is one of the exception remakes, a great cover.

Along with incredible music, there are clips of interviews with the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.

I love this mix of music old and new, all in the same style and texture and technical excellence. There is no mush here. This is music by those who excel at music.

This is a must-have CD for anyone who enjoys 60s-70s sounds, as well as for anyone truly into the sound and skill of music at its best.

Find it here: YellowSubmarineCD.org  and add them at Myspace

Find info on Marino De Silva on his website.

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Since I have an extra CD, I’m using it as a giveaway – a raffle for anyone who comments about this review. Leave your own review if you’ve heard it or just say hello! I’ll run it through the weekend to allow time and make the cutoff date Monday the 14th at noon Eastern. I’ll throw in a few things of my own, as well. ;-)

Twelve Days...

It's a Twelve Days of Christmas Give-Aways raffle from LKHunsaker.com!

LK Hunsaker, literary romance novelist, is celebrating Christmas by giving arts-related gifts to readers. To enter, email your name and general location to ElucidatePublishing[at]yahoo.com and list your favorite fiction genre or your favorite novel. There will be a random winner drawn each day beginning December 14th and ending December 25th, so be sure to have your entry in before 6 pm (Eastern US time) on the 14th! Winners will be emailed and asked for their mailing addresses (info will not be shared in any way). In January, all entrants will be sent an invitation to subscribe to LK Hunsaker's newsletter, which can be either accepted or denied.

Raffle prizes:

14th: 12 signed bookmarks
15th: 11 blue mood pencils
16th: 10 Elucidations art pens
17th: 9 signed book plates
18th: 8 stamped postcards
19th: 7 artsy pencils
20th: 6 packs of stickers
21st: 5 calligraphy markers
22nd: 4 sheets of labels (personalized)
23rd: 3 pretty notebooks
24th: 2 music candles (rain-scented, custom made by http://www.schoolcornercrafts.com/)
25th: 1 Rehearsal gift set: signed copy of Rehearsal: A Different Drummer, 3 treble clef soaps (by http://www.schoolcornercrafts.com/), several tea bags of different flavors, and 1 each of prizes 12 through 3

One each of prizes 12 through 9 will be given to every winner. Prizes 12 through 5 will be mailed before Christmas. Prizes 4 through 1 will be mailed shortly after the New Year. Labels are mailing labels personalized with winner's name and address and theme of choice.

Winners will also be posted daily at http://www.myspace.com/lkhunsaker Please say in your email if you do not want your last name used!

Family members of LK Hunsaker or Elucidate Publishing staff are not eligible to win.

Good luck! Feel free to pass this email along to friends or post in any reader gathering spots.

LK Hunsaker
http://www.lkhunsaker.com/