Monday, October 5, 2009

BREAKING THE BANK: PREVIEW, INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
BREAKING THE BANK

BY YONA MCDONOUGH

ABOUT THE BOOK:


M
ia Saul is down on her luck. Dumped by her husband, jettisoned from her job and estranged from her adored older brother, she and her young daughter Eden have had had to make a downscale move to a crummy apartment where their neighbors include a tough young drug dealer and a widower who lets his dogs use the hallways as their own personal litter box. Juggling a series of temporary jobs, wrangling with her ex-husband over child support and trying to keep pace with Eden’s increasingly erratic behavior have left Mia weary and worn out.

Then one evening a routine stop at her local bank’s ATM yields a surprise. The machine begins producing bills—quite a lot of them in fact—that are neither recorded nor debited from her account. At first Mia attributes the excess cash to a stroke of much needed luck. But when the machine continues to give her unaccounted for money and actually begins communicating with her, her life gets turned around in ways she never thought possible. An up-to-the minute urban story that has just a whiff of magic, Breaking The Bank is a wholly original, engaging work of contemporary fiction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yona Zeldis McDonough is the author of the novels THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS and IN DAHLIA'S WAKE. She is also the editor of the essay collections THE BARBIE CHRONICLES: A LIVING DOLL TURNS FORTY and ALL THE AVAILABLE LIGHT: A MARILYN MONROE READER. Her short fiction, articles, and essays have been published in anthologies as well as in numerous national magazines, and newspapers. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

Yona McDonough was kind enough to grant me an interview. I asked Yona if she had any personal information she would like to share with us and this is what she told me.

I live in Brooklyn, NY with my husband and our two children. My website is
www.yonazeldismcdonough.com; please visit!

What is the current or next book you are working on?

I am working on a new novel about a former ballet dancer who is content with her solitary, circumscribed life until she is called upon to step in when her younger sister dies suddenly, leaving three small children.

What have you just finished reading?

I recently read THE BIRD CATCHER by Laura Jacobs and REPEAT AFTER ME by Rachel DeWoskin; I loved both of these books and recommend them highly.

What books would you say have made the biggest impression on you, especially starting out?

Perhaps the books I read—and re-read, multiple times—in childhood: A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, A LITTLE PRINCESS.

What gets you started on a new book? A character or story idea or….?

For me, it’s always a voice, speaking urgently into my ear, telling me something important. When the writing is going well, I feel less like I am creating something of my own, and more like I am transcribing the words of the character who is talking to me.

What is something about you that you would want people to know about you that we probably don’t know?

I collect dolls and have more dolls than any adult should admit to!

What is your best advice to anyone, including young people, who want to be writers?

Read! Read like your life depended it; in fact, your life as a writer does depend on it.

What is something you would like to share with us about writing your favorite genre in general?

I write novels but I am perhaps more attached to short stories, their ability to pierce and invade the soul. I like the compression of them, and were there a better market for stories, I would probably still be writing them.

Many thanks to Yona for her interview. She is an amazing woman and was king to do this. I hope you all will read her book and check out the website. Thank you, Yona!


THE GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO SARAH AT SIMON & SCHUSTER,
I HAVE TWO BRAND NEW COPIES OF
THIS WONDROUS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

SO HERE ARE THE RULES:

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--PLEASE INCLUDE AN EMAIL
ADDRESS IN YOUR ENTRY
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE
TO COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE


+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT MY INTERVIEW WITH YONA MCDONOUGH

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT IF YOU ARE A GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT FOLLOWER OVER ON MY LEFT HAND COLUMN. IF NOT, JOIN AND EARN THE EXTRA ENTRY. (TRYING TO GET TO 500, SORRY OTHER FOLLOWERS)

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT IF YOU ARE ANY KIND OF FOLLOWER AND WHAT KIND (I KNOW FOR GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT THIS IS LIKE A BONUS BUT IT IS STILL A SEPARATE COMMENT)

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO YONA'S WEBSITE BY CLICKING HERE AND HAVE FUN LOOKING AROUND. COME BACK AND TELL ME THE NAME OF ANY OTHER BOOK SHE HAS WRITTEN

+1 BONUS ENTRY: HONESTLY, IF YOU HAVE READ ANOTHER BOOK OF YONA'S, TELL ME WHICH ONE IT IS ( I WILL KNOW IF YOU AREN'T TELLIN' THE TRUTH AS I HAVE MY FIERCE GUARD DOG/BOOK BUDDY WATCHING)
THAT'S IT!
ALL ENTRIES DUE BY
6 PM, EST, OCTOBER 21

GOOD LUCK!

71 comments:

Commchick said...

I think it's cool that she admits she collect dolls.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Commchick said...

I follow you on blogger.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Commchick said...

The Four Temperaments is another novel she has written.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

tawndam said...

sounds like a dream! lol
I love books that seem to flow on their own... There is much to be said for the transcription method of writing... that is... if the 'dictator' is well spoken... ;-)

tawndam said...

GFC follower...

holdenj said...

I think it's interesting that Yona collects dolls. I wonder what kind?
Looks like a great story.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

+1 I am already a Google Friend Connect follower.

JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

+1 bonus? I follow through Google Friend Connect.

Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I liked reading about McDonough's favorite childhood books.

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I am a Google Friend Connect follower :)


fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I also follow you through Google Reader.

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I visited Yona's website and thought The Four Temperaments also looked interesting!

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

rubynreba said...

She collects dolls.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I am a follower on google.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Kind of interesting that she hears a voice in her ear!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I am a Google Friend Connect follower.

nbmars AT yahoo DOTc om

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I follow on Google Reader.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Pesky Cat Designs said...

Thanks for the lovely giveaway. This book sounds quite interesting! I am curious what the ATM has to say. Would love to win a copy. :)

my website www.peskycatdesigns.com

Linna said...

I'd like to read this book. please enter me.

linna.hsu at gmail dot com

Linna said...

i'm a google follower.

linna.hsu at gmail dot com

bermudaonion said...

I found it interesting that Yona collects dolls. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

holdenj said...

Another novel Yona has written is
The Four Temperaments.

JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Rebecca Orr said...

I am really interested in the next book that she is writing about the ballet dancer called upon to take care of her sisters children. I often wonder who I would leave my son with if I suddenly passed away...and my fiancee and I have both come to the conclusion that my sister would take him. And both my sister and I used to be ballet dancers. So this really hits home! I hope to be one of the two winners! Thanks, bekki1820cb@gmail.com

Rebecca Orr said...

I am a google friend connect follower! bekki1820cb@gmail.com Good luck getting to 500!!! You ate at 465 right now...your are so close!

Rebecca Orr said...

I follow via google reader and via email
email: bekki1820cb@yahoo.com
reader: bekki1280cb@gmail.com

Rebecca Orr said...

The Four Temperaments is fiction book she wrote! bekki1820cb@gmail.com

traveler said...

Thanks for this great giveaway. Interesting to learn about the authgor's favorite books that she read in her childhood. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

It's interesting that Yona writes novels but really loves writing short stories. Some authors claim writing short stories is actually more difficult!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Google friend follower! Love Bingo's blog!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Yona also wrote The Four Temperaments!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Gwendolyn B. said...

Well, everyone seems to have noticed the line about collecting doll! I found it interesting because I make art dolls - I'd make more if I got hit with a windfall big enough that I could quit my day job! thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book - it sounds terrific!

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. said...

. . . and, I'm a Follower!

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. said...

Well, of course, I'm going to tell you that Yona also wrote THE DOLL SHOP DOWNSTAIRS.

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. said...

Google Friend Connect. (Are you getting the idea that I would really like to win a copy of this book? LOL)

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Linda Kish said...

She said if there was a better market for it she would write more short stories. I have always liked the conciseness of short stories.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I follow on google friend connect

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She also wrote In Dahlia's Wake

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Tea said...

I enjoyed the interview. I like the way Sarah gets an idea. A character, she says, whispers urgently in her ear. I think that's fascinating.

teakettle58atyahoodotcom

Tea said...

I am a Google follower.

Tea said...

I'm sorry, earlier I called Yona Sarah. I am soooo sorry. I love the title "Four Temperaments." The father and son fall in love with the same woman, interesting. Hmmmmm.

Beth (BBRB) said...

Her new book sounds rather like Raising Helen.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I'm a Google Friend Connect/Blogger follower.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Oregon Kimm said...

I like (aka found interesting) that Yona is a fan of Anne of Green Gables. Such a great book!

oregonkimm(at)gmail(dot)com

Oregon Kimm said...

I'm a Google Connect follower

oregonkimm(at)gmail(dot)com

Oregon Kimm said...

I also subscribe via Google Reader


oregonkimm(at)gmail(dot)com

Oregon Kimm said...

Visited Yona's website:

The Barbie Chronicles is another book she's written (non-fiction)


oregonkimm(at)gmail(dot)com

DarcyO said...

I enjoyed the interview. It's neat that she collects dolls. I wonder what kind she has?

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I follow with Google Friend Connect.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Glenn said...

I found her comment about how she gets started writing on books interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.

glenn_pessano AT yahoo DOT com

Rebecca N. said...

She admits that she collects dolls! I am a doll lover myself!

This book sounds so good! Thanks!

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

I also follow you on blogger and twitter

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

IN DAHLIA'S WAKE sounds like a great read as well.

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Jaime said...

She's a doll collector, I just started collecting dolls
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Jaime said...

I am a google friend follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Jaime said...

2 I am a google friend follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com

FrankSandy said...

I think it is interesting that she collects dolls. walkerd@primus.ca

Jolynn said...

+1 I'm a follower
Jolynn_Reads atyahoo.com

Jolynn said...

+1 another book she wrote is The 4
Temperaments
Jolynn_Reads atyahoo.com

Jolynn said...

I'm a google connect follower too.
Jolynn_Reads atyahoo .com

CherylS22 said...

I found it interesting that the books that made an impression on Yona are A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, A LITTLE PRINCESS.

Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

I follow in GFC
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

Yona also writes children books one of which is THE DOLL SHOP DOWNSTAIRS
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

I follow in Google Reader
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Cindy said...

From reading your interview and also the website of the author, I learned that she includes her real life interests in her books, such as ballet and dolls. I think that is neat!

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I went to the author's website. It has some interesting info about her and her books.

She also has written some children's books such as The Dollhouse Downstairs and Louisa, The Life of Louisa May Alcott.

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I am a follower of your blog on Google.

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I also follow you on Twitter. My username is Soccermom213

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I have not read any of this author's books...yet! So, I hope I win this giveaway so I can start reading her books!

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Nancye said...

I think it is interesting that she collects dolls. I used to collect them too!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I am a follower via Google Friend connect

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

She also wrote "IN DAHLIA'S WAKE"

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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