Wednesday, September 9, 2009

THE SMART ONE AND THE PRETTY ONE: A GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE SMART ONE
AND THE PRETTY ONE

BY CLAIRE LAZEBNIK

ABOUT THE BOOK:

"This sparkling novel about two sisters is both witty and stylish. Even if you don't have a sister of your own, you won't be able to resist LaZebnik's charming take on modern relationships. Read it!" - Holly Peterson, bestselling author of The Manny When Ava Nickerson was a child, her mother jokingly betrothed her to a friend's son, and the contract the parents made has stayed safely buried for years. Now that still-single Ava is closing in on thirty, no one even remembers she was once "engaged" to the Markowitz boy. But when their mother is diagnosed with cancer, Ava's prodigal little sister Lauren comes home to Los Angeles where she stumbles across the decades-old document. Frustrated and embarrassed by Ava's constant lectures about financial responsibility (all because she's in a little debt. Okay, a lot of debt), Lauren decides to do some sisterly interfering of her own and tracks down her sister's childhood fiancé. When she finds him, the highly inappropriate, twice-divorced, but incredibly charming Russell Markowitz is all too happy to re-enter the Nickerson sisters' lives, and always-accountable Ava is forced to consider just how binding a contract really is . . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, the youngest of five kids, and went to college about twenty minutes away from home. One of my sisters and my brother were both already enrolled at the same school, so it wasn't exactly a leap into the unknown--neither was my subsequent move to New York, since two of my sisters and my brother lived there by then. But when I moved to Los Angeles in the mid eighties, I was finally mapping out some new territory (although my sister Nell joined me seconds later). I thought eventually I'd move back to the east coast. Turns out I was wrong.

Now I live in the Pacific Palisades (a city in Los Angeles, not far from the ocean) and my four kids are growing up true Californians: they wear tank tops and flip-flops and don't even know what a "snow day" is. My husband writes for TV which doesn't impress people all that much until I mention that he worked on "The Simpsons" for a year and a half and then people get really impressed. Especially teenaged type people.

When I was a kid, I wanted people to think I was really smart, so I read the most impressive writers I could get my hands on, like DH Lawrence and Virginia Woolf. No one was going to catch me with a child's book in my hand. In college, I majored in English Literature and read all the traditional Brits, like Austen, Bronte, James, and Eliot. Charles Dickens was the best, though: here was a guy who not only knew how to entertain and wrote totally absorbing page-turners, but who also made you feel like you wanted to be a better person by the time you finished any of his books. I love Dickens-not his most famous books, though, but the weirder, more modern ones like Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House.

I doubt my night table reading pile would impress anyone these days-now it's all about keeping myself entertained enough to make it to the end of a book, no easy task for someone like me who has no attention span. Ironically, I now prefer kids' books to most adult ones (I like to read what my kids are reading, if it's good)-JK Rawling, obviously, but also Suzanne Collins, Nancy Farmer, Louis Sachar, and Jeanne Duprau, among others. But my true mainstay is fantasy. The best fantasy writers are closer to the tradition of the great Victorians than most modern "literary" writers, as far as I'm concerned. My current favorites are Robin Hobb, George RR Martin, Tanith Lee, and Neil Gaiman.

Two of the funniest people I know have written, collectively, several of the funniest books I've read, so check out Cathryn Michon and Bruce Cameron. You'll laugh a lot, but you'll also keep thinking, "Hey, that's kind of really true." Cathryn writes a blog for ivillage.com and somehow manages to convey something fresh and interesting in every entry.

Best book of all time that doesn't have a romance and was written by someone who's still alive? Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. If you haven't read it, you should, even if you wouldn't normally touch something that falls under the sci-fi category. But don't read any of the other Ender books. Only Ender's Game-it's perfect.


GIVEAWAY
WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK?

THANKS TO MIRIAM AND THE
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE

5 COPIES OF THIS "PRETTY" BOOK
TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU
NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!


RULES:

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHO YOU WOULD WANT TO BE IN THAT TITLE...THE SMART ONE, OR THE PRETTY ONE

+1 MORE ENTRY: NOW TELL WHY YOU CHOSE TO BE THE SMART ONE OR THE PRETTY ONE IN YOUR FIRST COMMENT

+1 MORE ENTRY: IF YOU BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY, LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW

ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY
6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 24


GOOD LUCK!

112 comments:

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

Please count me in for this giveaway.
I subscribe.

traveler said...

This entertaining and unique book is lovely. Thanks for this giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

The smart one since life requires this important quality. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Pam said...

Do I have to choose just one? Can't I be both? If I had to choose just one, I'd choose to be the smart one.

melacan at hotmail odt com

Pam said...

I would choose to be the smart one because looks can only get you so far in life. And what happens when they start to fade? Your smarts stick with you forever.

melacan at hotmail dot com

Shauna said...

I would love to win this please!

Shauna said...

I follow :)
tryingtostaycalm@gmail.com

coffeeeeeeeee said...

I would like to say that I want to be the smart one, but sadly, I probably would rather be the pretty one.

mmmmmmcoffee(at)gmail(dot)com

coffeeeeeeeee said...

I chose the pretty one because pretty people really do get better treatment in life.

mmmmmmcoffee(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the giveaway
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I would choose to be the smart one
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I be the smart one because looks can only get you so far.Being smart and intelligent is sexy.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

KiraR said...

I would rather be the smart one.

kirar59(AT)yahoo(DOT)ca

KiraR said...

Reason ~ The thought of being intelligent is more appealing than being a brainless bimbo!

kirar59(AT)yahoo(DOT)ca

chey said...

I'd want to be the smart one.

chey127 at hotmail dot com

chey said...

I'd choose to be the smart one, because looks eventually fade, any luck and brainpower can stay with you longer.
chey127 at hotmail dot com

Jo-Jo said...

I think I would want to be the smart one.

joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I pick the smart one, because if you are the pretty one you have to waste too much time staying pretty! lol

joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Molly said...

I would have to choose to be the smart one.


mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

Molly said...

I choose to be the smart one, because in this day and age, looks are what matters. It is how you look at life and how you act in life that will get you somewhere.I want to be someone and get somewhere in life with what I know, not how I look.


Mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

Molly said...

I have blogged this giveaway:
www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com (also on facebook:www.facebook.com/jboyzmom)

Mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

Molly said...

I have tweeted (or twitted-whichever it is!) this giveaway...www.twitter.com/jnjzmommi

mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

rubynreba said...

I would be the smart one
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I would be the smart one because if I was smart enough I could make myself pretty and I'd have the best of both worlds!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Linna said...

I would be the smart one. :D
linna.hsu at gmail dot com

Linna said...

I want to be the smart one because wisdom lasts ling while appearance does not. :D

linna.hsu at gmail dot com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I guess I'd pick the smart one. At least I can then read books (while I'm sitting all alone on weekends!) :--)

Oh and I agree about Ender's Game!!!!!!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

holdenj said...

Although it never hurts to be pretty, I would prefer to be the smart one.

JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I would choose to be the smart one because I think that would help you best throughout your life. Pretty is more subjective and changes with time.

JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

KR said...

I'd pick pretty...

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

KR said...

..cause I've always been the smart one!!

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

DarcyO said...

I'd want to be the smart one.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

Because keeping up your looks is hard and beauty fades over time.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would want to be the smart one!
Looks fade and smarts will actually get you further in this world. Although I would most rather have both!

dancealert at aol dot com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I am a subscriber!

dancealert at aol dot com

renee said...

I would like to be the pretty one.
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca

renee said...

I would want to be the pretty one since i have already been the smart one this time around.
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca

renee said...

I tweeted here
http://twitter.com/nicjosemm
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca

renee said...

I follow with google

reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca

Simply Stacie said...

I'd want to be the smart one.

simplystacieblog (at) gmail (dot) com

Simply Stacie said...

I choose smart because beauty fades while smarts won't for awhile (hopefully anyways!).

simplystacieblog (at) gmail (dot) com

Kelli said...

I'd be the Smart One!

corys_katch AT yahoo DOT com

Kelli said...

I'd like to be the Smart One because smarts is a necessity in life. Secondly, if I'm the Smart One, I'm smart enough to figure out how to make myself the Pretty One [too]! Hee hee!

corys_katch AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I would prefer to be the smart one.

I chose the smart one because I believe that beauty is only skin deep and doesn't last forever.

wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Margay Leah Justice said...

I would like a chance to be the pretty one for once.

Margay

Margay Leah Justice said...

As a "smart one" bookended by two pretty ones my entire life, I have always wondered what it would be like to have someone think you're beautiful. Plus, there's a real burden to being the "smart one" - more is expected of you because "you should have known better" because you're smart. When you're the pretty one, you seem to get away with a lot more stuff, at least that's how it seemed in my family!

Margay

Margay Leah Justice said...

I tweeted it here:

http://twitter.com/Margay/status/3878430098

Margay

Amber Leigh Williams said...

I'd be the smart one, of course. Because where would my characters be if I didn't have a brain? :)

Email: amber@amberleighwilliams.com

Reposted at http://twitter.com/ALeighWilliams

throuthehaze said...

the smart one
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

because beauty doesnt last forever
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Commchick said...

I would want to be the pretty one.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Commchick said...

I chose the pretty one because everyone in my family always said I was the smart one and I never had any fun.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

CherylS22 said...

I'd want to be the smart one!
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

I chose to be the smart one because I think that brains are important to have in order to have a good career. Looks can only get you so far!
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

enyl said...

I prefer to be the smart one.

enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I'm reasonably attractive. Looks fade with time, you may not be able to handle the loss of your looks if you're beautiful and can't afford plastic surgery.

enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

Icedream said...

I would prefer to be the smart one.

Icedream said...

I would chopse smart over pretty because we all know, beauty fades.

waitmantwillie at hotmail dot com

Sue said...

I want to be the smart one. Thanks for sharing this book!

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Meg Hitt said...

I would want to be the smart one.
meghitt01 at gmail dot com

Meg Hitt said...

why? because I was the smart one growing up--my sister was the pretty one, the popular one, the one in fashion while I was the smart-nerdy one, but hey it's served me well in life so far!
thanks!
meghitt01 at gmail dot com

Meg Hitt said...

http://twitter.com/meghitt/statuses/3949010358
check out my tweet above
meghitt01 at gmail dot com

catss99 said...

the smart one
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

I would choose smart because it can get your farther in life
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

tweet

http://twitter.com/catss99/status/3951728481

amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

The Giveaway Diva said...

i would want to be the smart one!!

pretty only gets you so far and it fades over time!!!

nicolemarielum @gmail.com

Belinda M said...

I would want to be the smart one


Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Belinda M said...

I chose smart because pretty ends up disappearing as you get older. Smarts will help you get ahead in life


Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I'd say smart. You can always buy pretty.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Jaime said...

The Smart one
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Beth said...

Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me. I would prefer the smart one.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Beth said...

Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me. I would prefer the smart one.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would be the smart one

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

The reason I would be the smart one is that is how I was perceived growing up in a family of underachievers. My sister was smart but she never believed it. I had to work hard for everything, tho.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

cqueen2 said...

i would pick the smart one

wadesherry@hotmail dot com

cqueen2 said...

i picked the smart one cause look just isn't everything!!

wadesherry@hotmail dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

The smart one.

Misusedinnocence said...

I chose the smart one because beauty fades.
misusedinnocence@aol.com

Ms. Cindy said...

I'd love to be smarter!

monkeyami1@yahoo.com

Ms. Cindy said...

I'd love to be smarter because it would help me out in life more! Thanks!

monkeyami1@yahoo.com

Ms. Cindy said...

Tweet!
http://twitter.com/monkeyami/status/4071059679

monkeyami1@yahoo.com

Marie (MUM) said...

I would love to win a copy of this.

Marie
utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com

Marie (MUM) said...

I would choose the smart one.

Marie
utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com

Marie (MUM) said...

The reason I would choose the smart one is because then I'd make enough money that I could make myself pretty as well. lol. Besides, looks don't last as long as brains. Eventually it's all gonna wrinkle.

Marie
utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com

Marie (MUM) said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/utah91960/status/4094422983

Marie
utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com

Natalie A. said...

If I could choose I would want both, but if only one I'd choose Smarter! Thanks!

coolnatty12@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I chose that because I'd love to be more smart as you grow older instead of forgetting and etc. when you get older! Thanks!

coolnatty12@yahoo.com

Natalie A. said...

I tweeted!

http://twitter.com/natdey/status/4097580539

coolnatty12@yahoo.com

Lee P said...

I would like to be the smart one. Thanks for this giveaway and please count me in.

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

Lee P said...

I picked the smart one because you can only go so far with looks. Being smart is a quality that will let you advance to certain levels in life that looks can't get you to.

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

Lee P said...

I shared your giveaway on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/chinook92/status/4134195381

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

Sarah Z said...

I think I would rather be the smart one!
Thanks
Sarah
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com

Esme said...

I would be the smart one.

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

I follow

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

tweeted: cococroissantsGiveaway for The Smart and Pretty ONe http://bit.ly/Krfg9

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

you cannot really become smart but you can always doll up pretty.

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Nancye said...

I would like to be the smart one because.......

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I would like to be the smart one because.......looks go away and your brains generally stay with you.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/4298435097

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Debbie F said...

+1 I would want to be the smart one!

thanks
dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Debbie F said...

+1 - Because I would want to make money and the best way to do that is with your brains!

thanks!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net

cheryl c said...

This sounds like a delightful story, so please enter my name in the drawing.

castings at mindspring dot com

cheryl c said...

If I had to choose, I would want to be the pretty one!

castings at mindspring dot com

cheryl c said...

I would choose to be the pretty one because when I was growing up I was the smart one. Now I want a turn to be the pretty one!

castings at mindspring dot com

Rebecca Orr said...

I would want to be the smart one!

Rebecca Orr
bekki1820cb@yahoo.com or bekki1820cb@gmail.com

Rebecca Orr said...

Looks will only get you so far. I know I wouldn't be satisfied with just being pretty. Although, really, If I could pick both, I would. Haha.

flowerchild said...

i would want to be the smart one....
thanks
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com

flowerchild said...

i chose to be the smart one because ,being smart gets respect and gets you places..thanks
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I would choose the smart one because I feel like it gives you more control over your life. Looks only get you what others choose to give you, but if you're smart you can make things happen for yourself.
dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

MoSher said...

I would rather be the smart one. Being pretty all the time seems to be SO boring.

Moncoleman {at) gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would chose to be 'the smart one'...

Anonymous said...

the smart one because...beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

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