Sunday, November 8, 2009

THE PAPER BAG CHRISTMAS: PREVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

A BINGLE BELLS BOOK CHOICE
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GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE PAPER BAG CHRISTMAS

BY KEVIN ALAN MILNE
ABOUT THE BOOK:

Dr. Christopher Ringle is the last person you'd expect to find moonlighting as Santa Claus at the mall on the day after Thanksgiving. But it is there that he meets a young man named Molar Alan, who desperately needs a new perspective on the underlying value of Christmas. Dr. Ringle recruits Mo and his older brother as volunteers at a nearby children's hospital for the holiday season. At the hospital, Mo is tasked to help bring holiday cheer to the young cancer patients on the fifth floor. His biggest challenge is befriending a decidedly angry girl who is so embarrassed by her scarred appearance that she hides her face behind the safety of a paper bag.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kevin Milne was born in Portland, Oregon on June 13, 1973. As with the main character of his book, The Paper Bag Christmas, Kevin’s father, Robert Milne, was in the middle of his final examination of dental school when he was notified that Kevin’s entrance into the world was imminent. Robert left his exam, ran over to the nearby delivery room just in time to see his son born, and then raced back to finish the test. Robert and his wife, Diana, toyed for a full week with the idea of naming their child Molar in honor of Robert’s favorite tooth, but reason eventually won out and baby Kevin was taken home from the hospital.

Eighteen years later Kevin graduated from Sherwood High School in Sherwood, Oregon, a small country town outside of Portland. In college, Mr. Milne studied anything and everything that caught his interest. In his first two years as an undergraduate student he changed majors nearly a dozen times, studying such varied fields as film, journalism, communications, philosophy, pre-dentistry, advertising, pre-law, pre-medicine, political science, and German, then finally earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Just about the only thing he didn’t study was business, which, ironically, is what he chose to pursue in graduate school, earning an MBA at Pennsylvania State University in 2000.

Today, Kevin is a business professional by day, an author by night, and a husband and father around the clock. He and his wife Rebecca were married in Washington D.C. in 1995. They now reside in Kevin’s hometown of Sherwood, Oregon, where they are the proud parents of five children: Mikayla, Kamry, Mary, Emma, & Kyler (aka "the boy").

Chief among Kevin’s personal interests is international travel. To date he has spent time in Austria, Bermuda, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, and Ukraine.

Mr. Milne has also lived in many diverse places since his dental-exam birth in 1973, including Oregon, Washington DC, California, Hawaii, Utah, Austria, Croatia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont.

READING GROUP GUIDE--GREAT QUESTIONS TO USE WITH YOUR BOOK CLUB:

1. Molar and Aaron volunteer at the hospital to help the kids there, but in what way did those kids help the brothers?

2. What role does volunteering play in your life?

3.. Through Madhu’s persistence, Molar and Aaron are forced to question not only the origins of Santa Claus, but also the underlying purpose and meaning of Christmas. What does Christmas mean to you?

4. Did this book change the way you think about Christmas?

5. If you could ask for only one thing for Christmas, what would it be?

6. Do you think Dr. Ringle really was Santa Claus?

7. How are Katrina and Madhu different (or the same) in terms of how they cope with personal adversity? Are you more like Katrina or Madhu?

8. Which character changes or evolves the most through the course of the story? What triggered the change?

9. What are the most prominent themes throughout the novel? If you could boil the author’s message down to one word, what would it be?

10. Katrina tries hard to hide her appearance from others. What eventually motivates her to remove the bag? Do any other characters try to hide parts of themselves (flaws, habits, beliefs, etc.) from others?

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO MIRIAM AND THE
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE
5 COPIES OF THIS HOLIDAY
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.


RULES:


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


HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: Comment below by answering either question #2 or #5 in the Reading Group Guide questions above.

+1 MORE ENTRY: Comment on if you follow and where/how, or follow by joining through the Google Friend Connect in the left column of this blog.

+1 MORE ENTRY: Enter one other of my UPCOMING giveaways (NOT ONE YOU ALREADY ENTERED---ONE THAT WILL POST IN THE FUTURE) and then come back here and tell me the contest is that you entered.

ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY
6 PM, EST, NOVEMBER 30

THANKS FOR ENTERING AND


GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

83 comments:

Mitz said...

I am a follower.

I entered your Merry Merry Ghost contest.

As for questions #2 I think volunteering is a wonderful thing I do it to help the community and it makes me feel pretty good.

#5 If I could only have 1 thing for christmas it would be that my boys have a good christmas, they are my main concern.

misty_labean(at)yahoo.com

brizmus said...

First comment, which means I probably won't win. But this just looks SO cute!

+2 question #5 -it I could ask for just one thing for christmas, I would ask for motivation. I know it sounds lame, but I feel like I could accomplish SO much more, not just for myself but for everyone, if i just had a little bit more motivation.

zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

brizmus said...

+1 I follow through google friend connect

zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

rubynreba said...

I would wish for new carpet in our bedroom!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I follow by google.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

KR said...

#5 I pray that my younger son would turn back to Christ. (prolly not appropriate to say on here but it is my #1 wish!)

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

KR said...

I follow on Google Friend

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

fredamans said...

For Christmas I asked Santa, (my hubby) to get me bookshelves for all the great books I have gotten over the last few months.

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Oh I have to give the old person' answer to #5: good health with no aches and pains!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I follow on Google connect and Google Reader.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

holdenj said...

Maybe it sounds too "retail" in a post from a book about giving and volunteering, but I'd really like a good digital camera to record my family's life and times! Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful sounding book.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I follow via google friend connect.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

JJ said...

I want my own home.(BIG) :) I have been married for nearly 27 years and we have leased or rented all that time. (job relocation)

Thanks,
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com

JJ said...

following on my reader at Google
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com

Anonymous said...

#5- If I could ask for only one thing I would ask for my husband's health. He has been really ill and disabled for almost 4 years now. It is so painful to see him in such pain.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I follow through Google Friend Connect.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I entered Fierce Style Giveaway.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

If I could ask just one thing for Christmas it would be a gift certificate for a book store!
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower via Google Friend Connect. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

#5 I would ask for better health. (is that really the old person's answer rhapsody in books??)

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Martha Lawson said...

If i had only one thing for Christmas, it would be a trip to New Orleans!! Been wanting to go forever!!

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Martha Lawson said...

I follow on google.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

#2 - I volunteer with an organization that works with Remote Area Medical each month, as well as disaster planning within the state.


kolists a/t gmail d\t com

Unknown said...

I follow via google reader


kolists a/t gmail d\t com

Lynnie said...

I would love to have a house that is big enough for my daughter and her kids to live comfortably as they are losing their home.

Lynnie Harding
Mytyme2 at gmail dot com

g.g. said...

Question 2: I volunteer as I enjoy working with the people at our local library and I get to be around books that I love so..also it is the little thing I can do to contribute to my community

anjamie4 (at) gmail(DOT) com

g.g. said...

I follow with google friend connect

anjamie4 (at) gmail(DOT) com

Margie said...

I am a subscriber by email (although I haven't been getting any updates...wonder if it went through?)

mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Extra entry....

My Christmas wish is that our whole family will be able to get together during the Holidays.

mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Pam said...

My Christmas wish is that my friend arrives here from Singapore safely and that we all have a fun-filled, happy, healthy holiday.

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

Follow through google friend connect/google reader

melacan at hotmail dot com

Debbie said...

I volunteer quite a bit and really enjoy it. Since I'm not employed full time, I feel it is the right way for me to spend my time.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I volunteer by making hats and scarves for the homeless every fall, and preemie hats and blankets every spring.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Molly said...

+1 entry
Answer to #5...If I could have any one thing for Christmas it would be to see that my boys have EVERYTHING that they want with smiles on their faces!

Mollydawn1981 at aol dot com

Molly said...

+1 entry
I am a long time follower via Google Friend Connect!!!

Thanks for hosting this!


Mollydawn1981 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

I love stories with a Christmas theme, doesn't matter what it's about :-)

#2. I don't seem to have a lot of time but when I can I like to volunteer at my childrens' school. My kids are very fortunate to have amazing teachers. I love to help them out in anyway, plus I get to spend some extra time with my kids.

Thanks for offering this book.

cabadov(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog through my reader (not sure if that counts)

cheers
cabadov(at)hotmail(dot)com

Molly said...

+1 entry for entering your Bingle Bell Bundle Kids giveaway (Chris Dreams Big)


Mollydawn1981 at aol dot com

Jolynn_Reads said...

#5 My 1 wish for Christmas would be- Good Health. I have Chronic Back pain, and sometimes it hurts to sit.
Jolynn_Reads atyahoo.com

Jolynn said...

I google connect.
Jolynn_Reads@yahoo.com

Jolynn said...

I entered wish-n & hope-n giveaway.
Jolynn_Reads atyahoo .com

holdenj said...

+1 I just entered your kids bundle of books givewaway! Thanks for the extra chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Marilu said...

Looks like a great read for me to share with my daughter. Please enter me.
Volunteering has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I remember being in grade 4 and volunteering my "recess" time to help the Senior Kindergarten students with their snacktime, as well as getting their winter clothing on etc, and helping the teacher do "cutting" for activities etc. I continued to do that until I left that school to go to high school. In high school I volunteered as a peer tutor for students with special needs after school, all 5 years and during my "spare' period in my 3rd 4th and 5th year. I have volunteered as a canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I have volunteered as a respite worker for caregivers of dementia patients, as well as numerous volunteer experiences at my daughter's school. I could go on and on ( even more than I have....lol). I could not imagine not volunteering!
Thanks for the entry!
lovemykidsandbooksATgmail DOT com

Marilu said...

I am a follower through google!
lovemykidsandbooksATgmail DOT com

Unknown said...

The one thing I would ask for for Christmas is cat food!


Thank you for a wonderful giveaway!

Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I follow through google friend connect and on google reader.


Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Libby's Library said...

I would wish that my families NEEDS would be met.

Thanks for this giveaway.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Libby's Library said...

I'm a follower via Google Friend Connect!
Thanks

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Margie said...

I just entered the giveaway for The Gift. Looks like some great Holiday books here!

mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

DarcyO said...

I think volunteering is critical. I volunteer at and through my church. In a couple weeks we'll be making up Thanksgiving baskets for area families - we're hoping to make 200 of them since so many are in need.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I follow with Google Friend Connect.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I just entered your giveaway for The Gift.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Toni said...

I am very eager to win this one!! :) I follow. I need to do more volunteer work. At this time the extent of volunteering is knitting hats for a woman's shelter. I guess the work on my blog is a volunteer effort too. I really need a little holiday feel good story. tonigomez(at) surewest(dot) net

Sue said...

#2. I volunteer at my kids' school weekly reading with first graders. I just LOVE it. I love watching them bloom with their reading skills, love how they smile when they find a book they think is fun, love the enthusiasm that comes with learning a new word or the meaning of a word. That's just one small thing, but it really brings joy to my week.

Thanks for the giveaway.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

CherylS22 said...

If I could ask for only one thing for Christmas, it would be for our men & women in the armed services to be able to return home to the USA to spend the holidays with their families.

megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

I entered the giveaway for "The Gift"
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Charleydog said...

#2: Volunteering does not play a large part in my life since I moved to the country. There are much less opportunities here. In the city, I volunteered at a soup kitchen and at the library.

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

mrsshukra said...

#5: Job security!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Google friend follower!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Entered The Gift giveaway!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

traveler said...

Volunteering is giving back and extremely gratifying and a great experience.
One thing for Christmas is a trip for my hardworking, selfless and devoted husband. he needs time off. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Winning Readings said...

#2 - I'm looking for ways to volunteer with a 2yo! So far we've put together a shoebox, but most people I've contacted about volunteering won't let a 2yo in on the job...

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Winning Readings said...

I follow via Google connect!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Sandy Jay said...

I follow with Google Reader.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

FrankSandy said...

For Xmas, I'd wish for happiness for my husband and children. walkerd@primus.ca

Jaime said...

If you could ask for only one thing for Christmas, what would it be?
I would wish for my Father to be able to find some help with the terrible pain he is in due to post polio
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Jaime said...

google follower and signed up for emails
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Debs Desk said...

If I could ask for one thing for Christmas it would be for my daughter to get pregnant.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Debs Desk said...

I am a follower on google connect.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Heidi Main said...

The Paper Bag Christmas sounds great!
For #5....salvation for my mother:-)

heidi(at)heidimain.com

Hope I win!! Heidi

brokenteepee said...

I volunteer at my local food bank every Friday...the need is great.
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

I follow through google friend connect
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

ossmcalc said...

#5. If I could ask for one thing for Christmas, it would be that my daughter bring my grandson to see me for Christmas. My grandson last came to see me in my home for 12 hours - most of which was spent sleeping - when he was 3 months old. He turned three years old in September. She has time to fly to see her grandparents who are two hours away and her dad who is 45 minutes away. I just wish that I knew what I did that keeps her away. My doctors are not letting me travel this year.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I follow through Google Friend Connect and now subscribe via email.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I entered Angels Pop-Up Book Giveaway.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

catss99 said...

#2--I'm hoping to volunteer for local foodbank after the holidays

5-a new car!
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

i follow w google friends
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

i've entered for sense and sensibility and sea monsters
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

Nancye said...

If I could have 1 thing for Christmas it would be a cure for RSD (a nerve disorder that has left me disabled).

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Loyal Follower via Google Friend Connect

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I entered the giveaway for the Sugarless plum.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

dsandyboy said...

Count me in. dsandyboy@gmail.com

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