Saturday, May 7, 2011

HERE, HOME, HOPE: AUTHOR INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 GIVEAWAY ENDED
HERE, HOME, HOPE
BY KAIRA ROUDA

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Kelly Mills Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her middling middle-American existence and her neighbors’ seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding. But Kelly’s own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan.

From page one, Kelly’s witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan—she places Post-it notes all over her house and car—will have readers laughing out loud. The next instant, however, they might rant right along with Kelly as her commitment to a sullen, anorexic teenager left on her doorstep tries her patience or as she deflects the boozy advances of a divorced neighbor. Readers will need to keep the tissue box handy, too, as Kelly repairs the damage she inflicted on a high school friend; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own blend of home and career.

Here, Home, Hope will surely appeal to readers of chick lit and other women’s fiction titles who are ready to transition into something new in their own life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kaira Rouda is a former newspaper columnist, reporter, contributing magazine editor, and freelance writer for numerous regional and national publications. The previous author of Real You Incorporated, Kaira created Real Living Real Estate, the first national women-focused brand in real estate and now the fastest growing international brand.

She is the recipient of Best Entrepreneur of 2008 from Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and Entrepreneur magazine placed Real Living on its “Top 50 Fastest-Growing, Women-Led Companies” list. During her twenty-year career in marketing, Kaira has received multiple ADDY, Webby, Telly, Communiator, Prism, WebAward, and W3 awards. She is one of Forbes’ top 30 women to follow on Twitter.


For more about Kaira Rouda visit www.kairarouda.com or follow Kaira on Twitter: www.twitter.com/KairaRouda   

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: 
1. Welcome, and thank you for agreeing to an interview for BOOKIN‘ WITH BINGO. Is there any personal information you would like to start out with today?
Thanks for inviting me here Karen!

My website is http://www.kairarouda.com/and I’m always online on Twitter -@KairaRouda – and Facebook – Kaira Rouda Books. I have four kids, a husband of 21 years and two great dogs. Life is very wonderful and I’m blessed.

2.  Where did you get the inspiration or idea for this book?
The inspiration for HERE, HOME, HOPE is my fascination with what lies just beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. My characters tend to be ordinary women who are pushed to the limit – who are restless for more. The story popped into my head during a trip to the dentist, and that is captured in the opening scene.

3. How did the title of your book come about?
Titles come first for me. I know that’s weird as many authors talk about their struggles with finding the perfect title. I love titles – I have the title in mind before the story is fully formed.

4. Do you see yourself in your characters? Which characters are easiest or more difficult to write?
I do see myself in my characters – I hope in all of them. To be able to write believable characters I have to find at least one component of each character that I can relate to, believe in. Even in my less than perfect characters, I try to find a redeeming characteristic. None of us are all good – or all bad. That’s life.

5. What books would you say have made the biggest impression on you, especially starting out? What are you currently reading?
I devoured all types of books  – from Nancy Drew to anything written by Susan Isaacs to my all time favorite, The Great Gatsby. Currently I’m reading The Murder’s Daughters, The Postmistress and Don’t Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training (Yes, we just got a new puppy!).

6. What is the next or current book/project you are working on?
My next novel is set in the same fictitious suburb of Grandville. Some of the characters from HERE, HOME, HOPE will make an appearance, but the star of the story is a different character. I like the setting – there are many stories to tell there.

7. What is something about you that you would want people to know about you that we probably don’t know?
I would want people to know that I’ve been dreaming of being a novelist since 4th grade. I’d want them to know that I didn’t give up – and they shouldn’t either, no matter what the dream is you only have this one life!

8. Do you own an eReader of any kind and how do you feel about their impact on books, as well as you as an author?
I own an iPad, a Kindle and I just tried out the Nook at a Barnes & Noble and loved it, too. This is ridiculous as it leads to excessive book purchases…and at the end of the day, what do I do? Curl up with my printed books! ...This has to be a favorite answer for me, Kaira, probably because I do the same thing!

9. What is your advice to anyone, including young people, who want to be writers?
Write. Write. Write. And then, start over. Believe in yourself. It will happen.
 

GIVEAWAY 
THANKS TO JESSICA AT BOOKSPARKS,
I HAVE ONE COPY OF HERE, HOME, HOPE
TO GIVE AWAY TO A LUCKY WINNER 
HERE IS MY REVIEW LINK
SO YOU CAN EARN BONUS ENTRIES! 
 
--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:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE INTERVIEW AND IF YOU COULD, WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK KAIRA ROUDA, AUTHOR OF HERE, HOME, HOPE 

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: "LIKE" KAIRA ROUDA BOOKS ON FACEBOOK HERE AND COMMENT THERE ABOUT ENTERING TO WIN HER BOOK HERE, HOME, HOPE ON BOOKIN' WITH BINGO

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ANOTHER GIVEAWAY OF MINE YOU ARE CURRENTLY ENTERED IN. YOU CAN COMMENT ON EACH ONE YOU ENTERED BUT MUST DO IT SEPARATELY TO COUNT

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, MAY 23!

 

120 comments:

debbie said...

I find it interesting that when she takes stock of her life, she realizes all she has. I would like to read the book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I entered innocent in death.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I entered everything I was.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I entered the writing circle.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

ordinary women...who are restless for more...wow that really hits home. sounds like a great summer read. my question for her would be...does the story evolve as she writes or does she know how it ends when she write the first line?
charlcr(at)aol.com

Pamela Keener said...

I truly loved the interview. The fact that the story popped in her head during a trip to the dentist is too weird not to be true LoL
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I entered "I'd Know You Anywhere" giveaway.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I entered the Potluck Cookbook giveaway
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I entered "Everything I Was" giveaway
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Unknown said...

I liked that in the interview I found out she likes to write about people who seem perfect on the outside. It always seems this way, but once we get a closer look it's never true. I would love to win this book.

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I just tweeted about this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/#!/christauf4/status/66931702232125441

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I like Kaira Rouda books on facebook and left a comment telling her you sent me!
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=206269592747171&id=125389587505763

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I entered your Dirty Little Secrets giveaway!

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I entered your Life: The Royal Wedding giveaway!

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I entered your The Potluck Cookbook giveaway!

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I entered your The Writing Circle giveaway!

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I entered your Big Girl audio book giveaway!

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Carol N Wong said...

Your question about where she got the inspiration for the book was great. I like that it popped into her head when going to the dentist.

My question for the author is what does she do next? Does she just start with that opening scene and it traveled to place that she didn't expect? Or was it more planned?

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

My Twitter name is Carolee888 and I tweeted:

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2011/05/here-home-hope-author-interview-and.html Giveaway of 'Here, Home, Hope'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I liked her on Facebook and left a comment about entering to win her book.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'Dirty Little Secrets'


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'Summer Light'(audio)


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'Innocent in Death'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'Changing Habits'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'The Royal Wedding'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'Everything I Was'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

Sounds like a really good read. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
"The Writing Circle'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

Note: I don't think this one saved!

I entered the giveaway for
'Guilt by Association'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Kaira Rouda said...

Karen! Thanks so much for having me here! I loved answering your questions - and I'm happy to answer your fans' questions, too!

Catherine: Does the story evolve or do I know the ending?
It evolves! I know I'm supposed to outline but I've never been good at that! My characters get started and they take the story from there!

Carol: As you can tell by my answer to Catherine's question, once my opening scene popped into my head (dentist offices give me the heebies), my story started unfolding.

To be clear though, there is still a lot of revision as my characters tend to be very verbose, like me! :)

Thanks so much everybody! Good luck on the contest!

Kaira

traveler said...

She mentions how fortunate she is. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Innocent in Death. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered The Writing Circle. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Guilt by Association saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Potluck Cookbook. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered I'd Know You Anywhere. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Dirty Little Secrets. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Royal Wedding. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Everything I was. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

A talented author whose book interests me greatly. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Potluck Cookbook. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Royal Wedding giveaway. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Dirty Little Secrets. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Guilt by Association. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Innocent in Death. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered I'd Know You Anywhere. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered The Writing Circle. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/67036745010659328

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

mamabunny13 said...

Loved the interview. My question would be "Did you already know the ending when you started writing the book?"
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

tweet http://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/67061657846812672
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I like Kaira Rouda on fb-mamabunny shelor and commented on her wall about your giveaway
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaira-Rouda-Books/125389587505763?sk=wall#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=196639930380728&id=100001199655476
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Dirty Little Secrets giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered summer light giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered I'd Know You Anywhere giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mamabunny13 said...

I entered innocent in death giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Changing Habits giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Everything I was giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered The Writing Circle giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Guilt by Association
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Potluck giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered angelina ballerina giveaway

mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

lag123 said...

Great interview! I would ask her who her favorite author was as she was growing up.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/lag32583/status/67232218115870720

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I liked Karen on FB and commented.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Linda Kish said...

I loved the interview. The most important question...tell me about your puppy (of course).

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered ANGELINA BALLERINA 4 BOOK SET

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered CHANGING HABITS AUDIO BOOK

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered LIFE: THE ROYAL WEDDING

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered EVERYTHING I WAS

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered THE WRITING CIRCLE

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the I'd Know You Anywhere giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered GUILT BY ASSOCIATION

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the SUMMER LIGHT AUDIO BOOK GIVEAWAY

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Innocent in Death giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered TORN

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the ANGELINA BALLERINA 4 BOOK SET GIVEAWAY

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Potluck Cookbook giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the CHANGING HABITS AUDIO BOOK GIVEAWAY

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Everything I Was giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the LIFE: THE ROYAL WEDDING GIVEAWAY

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Guilt By Association giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the THE WRITING CIRCLE GIVEAWAY

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the BIG GIRL AUDIO BOOK GIVEAWAY

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Colleen Turner said...

I just love Kaira and have been following her on Facebook for a little while now (her dog is ADORABLE!). This book sounds fascinating and so relatable, as I am sure everyone will have that moment in life when they think about what else they could be accomplishing and what they are willing to sacrifice now to get there. I would love to ask her, if she wasn't a writer, what would she be doing as a career?
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I like Kaira on Facebook and posted that I entered this contest on her wall (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaira-Rouda-Books/125389587505763#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=196995210345200&id=541104522).
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I entered the Litlle Einstein books giveaway.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I entered the Dirty Little Secrets giveaway.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I entered the Everything I Was giveaway.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I entered The Writing Circle giveaway.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

+ 5 swagbucks #1.
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Colleen Turner said...

+ 5 swagbucks #2.
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Colleen Turner said...

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Colleen Turner said...

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Margie said...

Good interview! I don't have an ereader, but I think I will stay with my books. Couldn't give them up! I'd like to ask her if any of her friends have found themselves in her books!?
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Dirty Little Secrets
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered I'd Know You Anywhere
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered for the Angelina books
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Innocent in Death
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Everything I Was
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Writing Circle
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Guilt by Association
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

+5 Swag
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered The Year We Left Home giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered 44 Charles Street
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Secret Daughter giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered PLANTING DANDELIONS
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Big Girl giveaway
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Anonymous said...

I feel that I am getting restless in my relationship too

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks

mamabunny13 said...

I entered A SOUTHERLY COURSE
giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered THE ROYAL WEDDING GIVEAWAY
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mamabunny13 said...

I entered Faith giveaway
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mamabunny13 said...

I entered Please Look After Mom
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Summer In Th South
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

May Bonus entry - I like BookinWith Bingo II
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mamabunny13 said...

I entered Come And Find Me giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I enteres Here, Home, Hope giveaway part 2
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Glenda said...

Sounds like a wonderful book and a wonderful author! Would love to win the book. (Love the Cover)

gka444 (at) gmail (dot) com

Meredith said...

I love that this author followed her childhood dreams!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

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