Sunday, August 19, 2012

TEN GIRLS TO WATCH: A PREVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Theprogram_large
 GIVEAWAY ENDED
TEN GIRLS TO WATCH
BY CHARITY SHUMWAY

ABOUT THE BOOK:
A radiant debut novel about stumbling through the early years of adulthoodand a love letter to the role models who light the way.

Like so many other recent graduates, Dawn West is trying to make her way in New York City. She’s got an ex-boyfriend she can’t quite stop seeing, a roommate who views rent checks and basic hygiene as optional, and a writing career that’s gotten as far as penning an online lawn care advice column.

So when Dawn lands a job tracking down the past winners of Charm magazine’s “Ten Girls to Watch” contest, she’s thrilled. After all, she’s being paid to interview hundreds of fascinating women: once outstanding college students, they have gone on to become mayors, opera singers, and air force pilots. As Dawn gets to know their life stories, she’ll discover that success, love, and friendship can be found in the most unexpected of places. Most importantly, she’ll learn that while those who came before us can be role models, ultimately, we each have to create our own happy ending.

AN EXCERPT FROM TEN GIRLS TO WATCH:
Chapter One:
The Internet told me the temperature in Brooklyn was ninety-three degrees, but my fourth-floor apartment wrapped those ninety-three degrees in ancient plaster, a sweaty hug that pushed things that much closer to triple digits. The large windows could have helped, but this was a day when flags hung limp on their poles. Instead of offering a breeze, all the windows did was lap up sticky sunshine. Even standing motionless in front of my blaring fan, perspiration trickled down my temples and pooled around my waistband. Still, before I dialed, I flicked off the fan. I didn’t want to risk missing a word, and the beauty of phone calls is that the other person can’t see how damp you are.
I rehearsed what I’d say to whomever answered the phone. Hi, this is Dawn West. Regina should be expecting my call. Too formal. Hi, Regina asked me to give her a call this morning. My name is Dawn West. I said that one over and over a few times. If I got the words out fast, it sounded okay. And what to say to Regina? Hi, we met this weekend? You said to phone your office Monday? Why was I making everything sound like a question? And surely she’d remember me. It’d only been a day. Cross-legged in the corner that got the very best cell reception, I punched the numbers slowly, my mouth moving as I checked each digit against the ones on the card I held between my fingers: Regina Greene, Editor in Chief, Charm.
Her assistant answered on the first ring.
A whole new line of sweat bloomed on my upper lip. The words blurred together. “Hi Regina asked me to give her a call this morning my name is Dawn West.”  
To read the rest of this excerpt from TEN GIRLS TO WATCH, visit the Simon & Schuster website HERE.  
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Charity Shumway received an MFA in Creative Writing from Oregon State University and a BA in English from Harvard University. After graduate school, she spent nine months reporting on the 50th anniversary of Glamour’s "Top Ten College Women" contest. Her writing has appeared in Glamour, Ladies Home Journal, Fitness, and Garden Design, and her short fiction has been honored by Glimmer Train and Slice magazine, among others. She lives with her husband in Brooklyn, New York. 
PRAISE FOR TEN GIRLS TO WATCH:
"A winning debut featuring the kind of witty, appealing good girl that captures readers' hearts....a sort of modern-day Mary Tyler Moore, Dawn West...is a young woman of substance and her trials are of more consequence than the search for the perfect Little Black Dress."
-- Kirkus
"A smoothly paced plot, peppered with robust vignettes from Charm’s success stories and quirky details from Dawn’s life, ensures a fast, funny, and moving read.”
-- Publishers Weekly
"Debut author Shumway offers a fresh and modern take on chick lit. Instead of showcasing the melodramatic and helpless, she highlights the power and will of women. There is an inspirational undercurrent without being sappy. Dawn makes a great everywoman, and her story will appeal to girls of all ages."
-- Library Journal
“Upbeat and engrossing, this chick-lit novel gratifyingly focuses more on Dawn’s burgeoning career than on which man she’ll end up with.”
-- Booklist
“Delightful…a debut that proves to be nothing short of charming. An intriguing plot, brilliant characters, and beautiful prose combine to create a novel that readers will adore.”
-- Deseret News
"Charming in its honesty and humor, this novel captures that time right after college, when we all feel overwhelmed and adrift. Shumway expertly guides us through a young woman's love life, her family, friends, and career as she proves that perfect endings aren't the only happy ones." 
--Lauren Weisberger, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada
Ten Girls to Watch is an insightful, funny take on post grad tribulations that thoughtfully mines the wisdom of women.” 
-- Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, #1 New York Times bestselling authors of The Nanny Diaries "The heroine of Charity Shumway's lively, smart and funny debut is as inspiring as the female luminaries it is her job to interview. What I loved about this coming-of-age story was its realistic and confirming celebration of feminine resilience, brilliance and generosity. Not your stereotypical single gal novel, Shumway's book is a passion-stirring breath of fresh air."
-- Helen Schulman, New York Times bestselling author of This Beautiful Life
"Once you turn the first page, you won't be able to tear yourself away from Ten Girls to Watch. This is a thoroughly charming, sassy, highly satisfying debut from a writer with a rare gift: She sounds like your best friend, telling a story you don't ever want to end. I adored this book."
-- Sarah Pekkanen, author of These Girls
"A sparkling novel about how we find our friends, our mentors, and our way in the world."

--Jean Hanff Korelitz, author of Admission and a 1983 Glamour Top Ten College Women
"Ten Girls to Watch will inspire you to follow your heart and believe in your own dreams, no matter how many challenges or obstacles the universe throws your way. It's a heartwarming story about a gathering of extraordinary women who offer wisdom, warmth and humanity, as well as shoulders broad enough for all of us to stand upon. I can't wait to give this book to my sisters and best girlfriends."
-- Nicolle Wallace, New York Times bestselling author of Eighteen Acres
  GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO THE GOOD FOLKS AT 
SIMON & SCHUSTER AND ATRIA BOOKS, 
I HAVE ONE COPY OF TEN GIRLS TO WATCH
 TO GIVE AWAY TO ONE OF MY READERS 
   
--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 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT 10 GIRLS TO WATCH THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK... DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS 
  • +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT CHARITY SHUMWAY'S WEBSITE HERE   
  • +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING IN THE "AUTHOR REVEALED" SECTION ON CHARITY SHUMWAY AT THE SIMON & SCHUSTER WEBSITE HERE 
  • +1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK 
  • +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES 
  • +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY ENTER EACH WAY SEPARATELY AND THUS EARN MORE ENTRIES  
 
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, AUGUST 31
GOOD LUCK!
  

123 comments:

debbie said...

I would like to see what she learns from all the different women.
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Karen B said...

"...ultimately, we each have to create our own happy ending." How true. Too bad it takes some of us so long to learn this.
I have 3 granddaughters in this age bracket who would love to read this book - after I'm done with it!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Karen B said...


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Suburban prep said...

It just seemed like an interesting read with so many different personalities.

Suburban prep said...

She participated in a sleep study.

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lag123 said...

I would like to see how she learns from these role models.

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Carol N Wong said...

I like this part in the praise section:
A winning debut featuring the kind of witty, appealing good girl that captures readers' hearts....a sort of modern-day Mary Tyler Moore, Dawn West...is a young woman of substance and her trials are of more consequence than the search for the perfect Little Black Dress."


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Carol N Wong said...

On her website, I read about sad furniture, like cardbord chairs and sagging mattresses.

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Carol N Wong said...

If she could onley eat one thing for the rest of her life, it would be ice cream.


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traveler said...

An interesting and unique book. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

The author has written for magazines. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

The author enjoys gardening. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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WeeMason's Mom said...

I love the whole "where are they now" concept and I hope she learns that they didn't all become super awesome successful people

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rubynreba said...

I think the characters sound interesting and it will be fun to follow the different women.
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Unknown said...

I would like to see what happens to her. Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

Linda Kish said...

I like the idea of finding out how people turn out and what she learned along the way.

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Linda Kish said...

Apparently, she and her main character share a lot of the same occurrences in life.

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holdenj said...

It seems like such a great premise. We've all seen articles like that, but rarely learn what happens to the people listed down the road.
Thanks!

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holdenj said...

Charity's revealing questions were interesting. I thought it was good to learn that even published authors can wind up using a word too many times and not realize it! (lovely)
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Colleen Turner said...

I just love stories about smart, young women coming into their own and learning much from the women they interact with along the way!
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Colleen Turner said...

I learned from the author's website that both she and her character Dawn dated inappropriate men...that made me laugh because it takes quite a bit of guts to admit that :).
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Colleen Turner said...

I learned from the Simon and Shuster author revealed that her biggest pet peave is procrastination...I can totally agree with that! I have so many co-workers who wait to the last minute to do things that need to be done NOW while I am always ahead and trying to get the work done so I can read :).
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