Monday, October 25, 2010

CASTING ABOUT: AUTHOR INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY


 GIVEAWAY ENDED
CASTING ABOUT
BY TERRI DULONG

 
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In this beautifully crafted and uplifting novel, the author of the acclaimed Spinning Forward welcomes readers back to the lush Florida island of Cedar Key, where the vibrant shades of hibiscus and azaleas are the perfect backdrop to a colorful, quirky community. 

In the four years since Monica Brooks moved to Cedar Key, she’s found a home, a husband, and now a business to love. Taking over her mother’s bustling knitting shop is a welcome challenge, but Monica’s exciting plans are waylaid by unexpected news. Her husband’s ex-wife has been deemed an unfit mother, and custody of their eight-year-old daughter, Clarissa, is to be transferred to Adam.

Going straight from honeymoon to motherhood--especially when she's unsure she wants children--leaves the normally even-keeled Monica doubting herself at every turn. Yet in a place like Cedar Key, nobody goes it alone. With help from friends and relatives, Monica, Clarissa, and Adam begin to forge a close-knit family of their own--one that will need to be strong enough to withstand all the surprises set to unravel.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born and raised in north of Boston, Terri DuLong now resides with her husband, two dogs, and three cats on an island off the west coast of Florida. A retired Registered Nurse, she began her writing career as a contributing writer for Bonjour Paris, where she shared her travel experiences to France in over forty articles with a fictional canine narrator. Terri's love of knitting provides quiet time to develop her characters and plots for her future novels.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

1. Welcome, Terri Dulong. It is great to have one of your wonderful books back on my blog again. Before we move on, can you tell my readers if you have a website that they can look at to find out more about you?

Thank you and you may go to my author website at www.terridulong.com as well as my blog, "Island Writer", at www.islandwriter.net

2. Where did you get the inspiration or idea for this book?
This is book 2 in the Cedar Key Series. Readers of SPINNING FORWARD will recall that Monica is Sydney’s daughter and this is her story. The idea for the book actually was born when my own son was going through a difficult custody situation. I also wanted to focus on motherhood again and I knew I had to tell Monica’s story of becoming a step-mom, which would involve the self-doubt on her part.

3. How did the title of your book come about?
I’d love to say it was my creation, however, it wasn’t. I had a few other titles in mind, none of which were meaningful. Trying to stay with the knitting theme in the title isn’t easy! It was actually my editor that came up with the title and I loved it because it refers to Monica and how she’s “casting about” in her life.

4. Do you see yourself in your characters? Which characters are easiest or more difficult to write?
I don’t normally see myself in my characters situations. However, I do sometimes see myself in how they act or react to certain events or people. I’d have to say that none of my characters have been difficult to write. Once I decide on the theme or issue I want to focus on, the characters pretty much take over and I go with the flow.

5. What books would you say have made the biggest impression on you, especially starting out? What are you currently reading?
The women’s fiction novels of the 60’s and 70’s always made a huge impression on me as a reader. Barbara Taylor Bradford, Fern Michaels, Rona Jaffe, etc. Stories involving female characters that would grow in the story, enabling them to realize their destinies. I’m currently reading the new reprint of Fern Michaels novel, Sins of Omission, and I can’t put it down. Great characters and a plot that keeps me turning those pages!

6. What is the next or current book/project you are working on?
Well, I’m thrilled to say that I recently received another two book contract from Kensington for my Cedar Key Series and will be contracted with them through 2012. Right now I’m working on book 3, which will be released November 2011. This is Grace’s story, who readers will meet in CASTING ABOUT, as she is Monica’s best friend.

7. What is something about you that you would want people to know about you that we probably don’t know?
That I was recently contacted via email by a complete stranger in England—and come to find out, she is my British cousin. Due to a WWII romance in England that my father’s brother had and unbeknownst to the family, he had a daughter. So over sixty years later, she has found me and I now have the female cousin on my Dad’s side that I had always longed for. And yes….truth is definitely stranger than fiction!

8. What is your best advice to anyone, including young people, who want to be writers?
First and foremost, read! A lot! Especially in the genre that you hope to become published in. Second—write! A lot! Get your work critiqued by teachers, other writers, etc. Make sure you learn the craft of writing, such as character, plot, point of view, etc. and then—keep writing.
GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO TERRI AND 

KENSINGTON PUBLISHING,
I HAVE ONE COPY OF THIS DELIGHTFUL
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY TO ONE WINNER!

IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 COMMENTS,
I WILL FURNISH A SECOND COPY MYSELF! 
--U.S. 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:
HERE IS MY REVIEW AND BONUS  
ENTRIES ON WEDNESDAY, 10/27 

+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE CASTING ABOUT OR AUTHOR TERRI DULONG BY VISITING HER WEBSITE HERE

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK THAT I CAN FOLLOW

+1 MORE ENTRY: "LIKE" TERRI DULONG-CASTING ABOUT ON FACEBOOK BY GOING HERE. COME BACK TO REPORT YOU DID IT.

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY SAY SO SEPARATELY AND GET ENTRIES FOR EACH ONE.

ARE YOU ONE OF MY TOP MEMBERS WHO VISIT MY BLOG? ON JANUARY 9, 2011, BOOKIN' WITH BINGO WILL CELEBRATE MY 2ND BLOGOVERSARY WITH A LOT OF FUN THINGS GOING ON! ONE IS TO LOOK FOR THE TOP TEN VISITORS ON THAT LIST TO GIVE THEM A SPECIAL SURPRISE PRIZE! CAN YOU CATCH UP AND BE IN THE TOP 10?

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, NOVEMBER 8!

 
GOOD LUCK!

64 comments:

Team JC said...

I like that this story takes place in the Florida Keys. Please count me in. Thanks!
schaefer7382 at aol dot com

debbie said...

I like that the main character has a knitting shop.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Terri Dalong's moot is "Believe in yourself and great things will happen".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Amy said...

I am interested in readying her previous title. While I visited her web page, I was most interested in the story of her finding her long lost cousin.

avennett AT verizon DOT net

Amy said...

I follow with GFC

avennett AT verizon DOT net

Amy said...

I like Terri on FB as Amy K V

avennett AT verizon DOT net

Anonymous said...

I tweeted:

Carolee888
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/ See this link for giveaway of 'Casting About'


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

+5SWAG

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I "liked" Terri Dalong" on FB.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am an e-mail subscriber of this blog.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I follow this blog with FB.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a GFC follower of this blog.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I follow Booking with Bingo wioth Twitter.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Margay Leah Justice said...

As an avid reader and knitter myself, I find it interesting that Terri writes about knitting.

Margay1122(at)aol(dot)com

Suburban prep said...

SHe was born and raised in the Boston area.

Suburban prep said...

I follow via Google friend. That goes into my Google reader.

msgb245 at gmail dot com

petite said...

This delightful book sounds unique and special. Love the locale. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Her interesting web site was fascinating especially about learning her background. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Interesting storyline which sounds warm and lovely. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I enjoyed her philosophy and her history. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

rubynreba said...

Her motto is Believe in yourself and make great things happen.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I follow on google
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I am an email subscriber
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Facebook friend
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Linda Kish said...

As a retired RN myself, I think it's cool that she also is.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

holdenj said...

I didn't realize that Cedar Key was really a place. The second book in the series looks great!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I subscribe via RSS feed.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

justpeachy36 said...

I think Terri's writing reminds me a lot of Kate Jacobs or Debbie Macomber. She seems to be a writer that can pull of the contemporary romance, with homey elements.

Please enter me in the giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I 'liked' Terri on Facebook.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Please enter me in contest. The book sounds really interesting. Tore923@aol.com

Pamela Keener said...

This is a new to me author but I love that she first wrote about the Mother in Book 1 & now the Daughter in the second book. It is interesting also that she is now a stepmother and has the help of friends is an interesting touch.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I like Terri Dulong-Casting About on FB/Pam Keener
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via GFC
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow Bookin with Bingo on FB/Pam Keener

Margie said...

The plot of this book sounds intriguing...becoming a mother of an older child so soon. The locale also sounds beautiful.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

like Long on Facebook

Margie said...

This blog is on my Networked Blogs list.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

g.g. said...

I think it is interesting she found her cousin

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

g.g. said...

I am a GFC follower

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

g.g. said...

I subscribe via email

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

Allison said...

I love that she was born in Salem!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

Terri's facebook fan

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

GFC Follower

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

Reader subscriber

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

Email subscriber

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Reading said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I like that the main character has a knitting shop. I crochet and I love it, so I can relate to that.

lizzi015 at aol dot com

Tarah said...

I thought it was interesting that her editor that came up with the title.

Tarah
tarah716[at]ymail.com

Anonymous said...

I like the author's saying "Believe in yourself and great things will happen."

farrell@crosslake.net

Daniel M said...

interesting that she comes from north of boston, i live south of boston - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

tallcapp said...

I thought it was interesting how the author found an unknown cousin in the UK.

Anonymous said...

I love to travel to the Florida Keys!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I found it interesting that the story centered on ladies knitting.
diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com

susansmoaks said...

i would love to read this, i love that it is set in florida
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

susan1215 said...

Her motto is Believe in yourself and make great things happen

s2s2 at comcast dot net

clynsg said...

I find that her books which involve knitting fall into the same type of genre as those with cooks (although many of them seem to be mysteries!) and quilters. And the fact that it is set in the Florida Keys seems a little odd to those who do not realize that not all knitting is heavy sweaters!

cgclynsg0 @ gmail dot com

clynsg said...

Follower via GFC

cgclynsg0 @ gmail dot com

Sand said...

I found it interesting the different career paths that Terri chose.

Nancye said...

I like Terri Dulong on Facebook

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

GFC Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I like you on Facebook

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

i follow you on Twitter

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

email subscriber

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

RSS subscriber

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow you on Network Blogs

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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