Friday, June 12, 2009

SECRETS OF HAPPINESS BLOG TOUR

THIS GIVEAWAY
IS NOW OVER!

SECRETS TO HAPPINESS
by Sarah Dunn
A BLOG TOUR

A BLOG TOUR MEANS THAT MANY
SITES ARE ALL OFFERING THE GIVEAWAY
OF THIS BOOK AND WE ALL LINKED TOGETHER
SO YOU CAN FIND THE SITES EASILY.
THIS IS IMPORTANT AS YOU WILL
DEFINITELY WANT TO
TAKE EVERY CHANCE

YOU CAN TO WIN THIS SUPER BOOK!

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Holly Frick has just endured the worst kind of breakup: the kind where you're still in love with the person leaving you. While her wounds are still dangerously close to the surface, her happily married best friend confesses over a bottle of wine that she is this close to having an affair. And another woman comes to Holly for advice about her love life--with Holly's ex! Holly decides that if everyone around her can take pleasure wherever they find it, so will she. As any self-respecting 30ish New York woman would do, she brings two males into her life: a flawed but endearing dog, and a good natured, much younger lover. She's soon entangled in a web of emails, chance meetings, and misguided good intentions and must forge an entirely new path to Nirvana. From the author of The Big Love, Secrets to Happiness is a big-hearted, knife-sharp, and hilariously entertaining story about the perils of love and friendship, sex and betrayal--and a thoroughly modern take on our struggle to be happy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A "Q & A" WITH
SARAH DUNN

How was the process of writing Secrets to Happiness different from that of your first novel, The Big Love?

Well, it was much more pleasant. That’s the main thing. I really enjoyed writing this book, and all of those things happened that novelists always talk about, the characters started talking and taking over the story. I never had the slightest idea how it would end. I keep a big cork board on the wall in my office, and I was always re-arranging the scenes in the first half of the book, moving my three-by-five cards around – a lot of procrastinating, really, involving bright magic markers and such – but the entire right side was just empty cork for a very long time. When I started out, I wanted to write a longer book than The Big Love, because everybody was telling me they read my entire book on a single airplane flight, and I was starting to get a little offended. I thought it would be good to write something that took a little longer for people to finish. I think they did something with the font or something, because this one reads just as fast.

What aspects of Holly’s character would you say you identify with most—or least?

I love to give advice. I always have. And about 80 percent of the advice I give is great, but unfortunately the other 20 percent is horrible. I mean, ruin-your-life horrible. And I never know which is which, and I argue for both kinds with equal certainty. And, like Holly, I do tend to meddle, and I suppose I have a dash of the rigidity that she has. My sister read the book and sent me an email that said, “Who was the twenty-two year old? Was there a twenty-two year old?” Sadly, there was not.

Holly has written a book loosely based on her relationship with Spence. As an author, do you often crib material from your own relationships? Are there characters in Secrets to Happiness that are based on real people?

Let me just say, it’s a dangerous thing to be my friend. But some of my friends now want to show up in a book, and they like to pick out the little parts that they know are based on them. For example, my friend Jill always insists on sharing a changing room with me. I have no idea why she does this. She has a lot of sisters, I guess. She also encourages/forces me to buy expensive things that I never end up wearing, and so when Jill got to that scene in the book about Amanda, she knew the scene was based on her. I’ve found that it’s easier to base a character on someone you meet for a few minutes at a cocktail party than on someone you’ve known a long time, because then your subconscious just takes those fleeting details and plays with them until the character comes alive.

Chester and Panty are both adorable sounding dogs. Do you have a dog? Brain tumor-free, I hope….

I don’t have a dog. I have a new baby, and a fat, ill-behaved cat, and a dog would probably throw me over the edge. I had a sad experience with a cat around the time I was writing Secrets and that influenced the shape of the Chester story. It was one of those things where, as a writer, you use the feelings but not the facts.

Secrets to Happiness is a very “New York” story. Do you think this story could have taken place elsewhere? Is finding happiness in New York City particularly challenging, do you think?

One character in the book, Lonnie, says that New Yorkers suffer from ‘excessive ego demands’, and I think that’s true. New York City, I contend, actively conspires against happiness. There are a lot of other things you can get easily – stimulation and excitement and a very good bagel come to mind – but ordinary things are hard. Daily life can become a competitive sport. Honestly, just listening to myself, what the heck am I doing here? Maybe it’s time to move!

Holly spends a Sunday afternoon in The Strand bookstore, but she has to set herself some time and money restrictions before she enters. Are books a favorite indulgence for you, too?

I’m in a bookstore, I’d say, four times a week. I love bookstores, although one thing nobody tells you is that publishing a book can ruin bookstores for you for a while. In that entire sea of books, maybe, maybe you’ll find one or two copies of something you spent several years of your life creating. Or none! But I consider myself a book buyer, not just a reader, so I’ve had to get over that. My father used to take my sister and me to a bookstore once a week, and we each got to pick out two books. Now, all these years later, I’d say I’m still averaging two new books a week.

You recently had a baby boy. How has that affected your writing life?

Writing used to be the hardest thing I did in a day, but now it’s the easiest. I have a nanny most days until 1:30, and, let me tell you, sitting in Starbucks for a few hours every morning, thinking your own thoughts, putting them down on paper – suddenly, that’s paradise! How is it that I used to complain about this? Then I go home and I’m covered in spit up for seven hours. Come to think of it, I’m more or less covered in spit up at Starbucks too, but I really can’t blame that on Harry.

What are you working on next?

I’ve got a new novel brewing. There might be some Hollywood stuff thrown in to pay the bills. I just finished a pilot for NBC called George & Hilly which was really fun to write. I will say, there’s nothing like writing a novel. It is a pretty satisfying enterprise, over all.

Thank you to © 2009 Hachette Book Group

NOW THAT YOU ARE ALL EXCITED
TO WIN THIS BOOK
HERE ARE THE RULES!

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU TO MIRIAM
AND THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP FOR
SPONSORING THIS GIVEAWAY TOUR.

I HAVE 5 COPIES TO GIVEAWAY

U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
NO P.O. BOXES, PLEASE
ALL ENTRIES MUST BE IN
BY 6PM, EST, JUNE 26

TO ENTER:

+1 Entry: Comment with your email address included
+1 Entry: Comment about this Giveaway on your blog and post the link here
+1 Entry: Follow this Blog or become a follower and tell me how you follow
PUT ALL YOUR INFORMATION IN SEPARATE COMMENTS OR THEY WILL ONLY COUNT AS ONE ENTRY, PLEASE!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

ALL THE BLOGS ON TOUR ARE LISTED BELOW


Participating Blogs:
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com
http://nevernotreading.blogspot.com/
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/
http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://abookishmom.blogspot.com
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/
http://zensanity.blogspot.com/
http://scribevibe.blogspot.com/
http://thereviewfromhere.wordpress.com/
http://www.iheartmonster.com/
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/
http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com/
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/

http://thisbookforfree.com/
http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/
http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
http://www.amberstults.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://confessionsofaromancebookaddict.wordpress.com/ http://bookslovejessicamarie.blogspot.com
http://chikune.com/blog
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://www.foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.squidoo.com/bookcase
http://www.readingwithmonie.com/
http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com/
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://danys-san.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset
http://epicrat.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://www.linussblanket.com
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/
http://everydayiwritethebook.typepad.com
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com

61 comments:

Anonymous said...

please enter me in the giveaway
this book looks great

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I'm a goolge friend connect follower

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

holdenj said...

Please enter me in the giveaway too!

I really liked your conversation with Sarah. Interesting questions.

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

Kristen said...

I love the cover. Please enter me.

whitreidsmama at yahoo.com

Kristen said...

I'm also a google friend connect follower.

whitreidsmama at yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Google Reader.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Shauna said...

I follow
tryingtostaycalm@gmail.com

Shauna said...

Please count me in I would l♥ve to read this one!

rubynreba said...

You make the book sound so interesting - I really want to read it!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Gaby317 said...

this sounds like a fun read!
please count me in

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

Gaby317 said...

i'm a follower

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

chey said...

Hi,
Sounds like a great read!

Chey127 at hotmail dot com

Jess said...

sign me up -- this looks like a fun read!

jedziedz@hotmail.com
jess
barney's book blog

Jess said...

I am a follower!

jedziedz@hotmail.com
jess
barney's book blog

JessicaLeigh said...

Wow! I've wanted to read this for a long time! My email address is jessicaleigh4 (@) gmail (.) com

scottsgal said...

I can't wait to read this one - been reading good reviews so far
msboatgal at aol.com

JessicaLeigh said...

I follow this blog on Google Reader! :)

Unknown said...

I would like to read this book.

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

Unknown said...

Already following

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

Don't enter me. I just wanted to say I enjoyed the interview!

nfmgirl said...

Awesome! Please count me. Thank you!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

I follow

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

Sounds like the perfect beach read...Please enter me.

LooseEnds(AT)Snet(Dot)Net

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

I am also a follower! Thanks

Pam said...

Love the cover, love the title and I've read a few reviews on this now and I think it would be a great summer read!

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

Follower

melacan at hotmail dto com

Pamela S said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway!

pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

Kat Bryan said...

this sounds like a good summer read.

Kat Bryan said...

This sounds like a good (wish I were at the beach) book.

Kat Bryan said...

I am an email subscriber.

Debbie said...

That is an exhaustive list of sites! I'd love to have this book.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com

Debbie said...

I'm a google follower!
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com

Kitten22 said...

This looks great! Please enter me!

BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

Kitten22 said...

I'm a subscriber (through Google Reader).

BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

L said...

I'd love to read this. Enter me please!

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

L said...

I'm a follower.

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Please include me, thanks!
delilah0180 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Belinda M said...

Please include me in your giveaway


"Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
CoolCanucks.ca"


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Belinda M said...

I follow



"Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
CoolCanucks.ca"


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Dixie said...

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southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

Dixie said...

I follow thru google friend connect.
southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

dag888888 said...

I would like to win this book, thanks!
dag888888 at yahoo dot com

Carlene said...

Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)Verizon.net

Carlene said...

I am sorry I think I entered this contest twice.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)Verizon.net

Bingo said...

With so many stops on the tour, I hope everyone enters them all and then perhaps mathematically it will work out that EVERYONE can win somewhere! That would be nice!...and thanks for entering mine! Do come back often!

Anonymous said...

I'm throwing my name into the hat for this book. It sounds like a good summer read, thanks Bingo for being on the tour and giveaway.

annmariebro(at)hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I am also a follower.

annmariebro(at)hotmail.com

Vera said...

Please enter me - vvperesk@gmail.com

I'm a follower

Jo-Jo said...

I would love to win this one!
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I'm also a follower.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

CherylS22 said...

I'd love to read this book - please count me in!

Thanks,
megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

CherylS22 said...

I follow via Google Reader

megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

budletsmom said...

I would love to win this book - thanks for entering me.

budletsmom(at)yahoo(dot)com

budletsmom said...

I am a follower.

budletsmom(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

Please enter me :)

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Rebecca Cox said...

I really need to find the secret to happiness since I am putting my husband through grad school and he is just finishing his masters. Only 3 more years to go...
I am a follower and I tweeted at ccqdesigns.
rebecca.cox@charter.net

Unknown said...

Interesting book! aitmama (at) gmail (dot ) com

Unknown said...

Follower

disneyfanheather said...

I would love to read this book!

disneyfanheather said...

I'm a follower on blogger.

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY