The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson (Guest Post/Spotlight/Giveaway)

About the Book

Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: March 22, 2016
Format: Paperback



Synopsis from Goodreads...

A provocative and hauntingly powerful debut novel reminiscent of Sliding Doors, The Bookseller follows a woman in the 1960s who must reconcile her reality with the tantalizing alternate world of her dreams.

Nothing is as permanent as it appears . . .

Denver, 1962: Kitty Miller has come to terms with her unconventional single life. She loves the bookshop she runs with her best friend, Frieda, and enjoys complete control over her day-to-day existence. She can come and go as she pleases, answering to no one. There was a man once, a doctor named Kevin, but it didn’t quite work out the way Kitty had hoped.

Then the dreams begin.

Denver, 1963: Katharyn Andersson is married to Lars, the love of her life. They have beautiful children, an elegant home, and good friends. It’s everything Kitty Miller once believed she wanted—but it only exists when she sleeps.

Convinced that these dreams are simply due to her overactive imagination, Kitty enjoys her nighttime forays into this alternate world. But with each visit, the more irresistibly real Katharyn’s life becomes. Can she choose which life she wants? If so, what is the cost of staying Kitty, or becoming Katharyn?

As the lines between her worlds begin to blur, Kitty must figure out what is real and what is imagined. And how do we know where that boundary lies in our own lives?

Author Guest Post

Inviting an Author to Your Book Club

By Cynthia Swanson, author of The Bookseller: A Novel

I remember my first time.

Just before the release of The Bookseller, a member of my own book club said she’d mentioned me to another friend. It went something like this: “I told her my friend has a novel called The Bookseller coming out and I might have, maybe sorta, said you would meet with her book club.”

I was happy to oblige. That first book club meeting has led to dozens more in the past year. Some are friends’ clubs, or friends of friends. Some I’ve met at readings and events. Others find me via my website or Facebook author page. Each club is different, and each is a treasure. I love talking about The Bookseller and my writing process. I like talking inspiration and ideas. It’s fun to compare favorite authors.

If you’re thinking of inviting an author to your book club, my first piece of advice is: Do It! You might not get J.K. Rowling or Jojo Moyes, but many authors will be thrilled to meet with your club.

A few things to keep in mind:

·        Look for local authors and “rising stars.” Some authors meet with clubs via Skype or FaceTime; others prefer to meet only in person. You’re more likely to get a “yes” from local and/or lesser-known authors than celebrity authors. Contact authors via their websites or social media.

·        Ask club members to buy the author’s book. Few of us can afford to purchase every book we read. Authors are readers, too, and they understand this. But if an author is going to make an appearance at your club, she’ll truly appreciate it if you buy her book. (Most authors are just as happy if you purchase an e-book as a hard copy.) Authors are generally happy to sign hard copies at the meeting, too.

·        Socialize before the author arrives. Virtually all book clubs enjoy socializing and catching up among members. To allow time for this, ask the author to arrive a bit later (thirty minutes after the start time often works well).

·        Introduce yourselves. The author wants to know you. Talk about how the group got started. Have members go around the room providing their names and a bit about themselves.

·        Ask the author “deep” questions. This is your chance! As readers, we often speculate about what was meant by a particular passage, how the author developed a character, what inspired her to include some aspect of the story. Authors love answering such questions. Many readers also want to know about the author’s path to publication, and authors generally are happy to talk about that.

·        Limit side conversations. Especially if you’re meeting virtually, this can be challenging. On- screen, the author cannot ensure she’s making eye contact. Not wanting to be impolite, she may hesitate to rein in the conversation. You might want to designate a moderator to help with this.

·        Have fun! Share personal stories. Talk about what you enjoyed in the book. You’ll make a new friend - and learn a bit about writing and publishing along the way.

Book clubs are lifeblood for authors - and readers, too. We wouldn’t give up our afternoons or evenings - not to mention the time we spend reading - if we didn’t love talking books. Enjoy!

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Cynthia Swanson is an author and a designer. She has published short fiction in numerous journals and has been a Pushcart Prize nominee. Her debut novel, The Bookseller (HarperCollins), was published in March 2015, releases in paperback on March 22, 2016, and is being translated into 11 languages. The Bookseller was an Indie Next selection, a 2015 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction, and is a nominee for the MPIBA Reading the West 2015 Award. Learn more about Cynthia and The Bookseller at www.integritymodern.com.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

Thanks to the author and the publisher I have two trade paperbacks of The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson to giveaway to two lucky winners.

Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the rafflecopter form below.

2) Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

3) US Residents Only

4)  For one extra entry: Leave a comment telling us about authors who have visited your book club - or the authors you'd love to have visit.

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited.

The giveaway begins on March 22nd (midnight est) and ends on March 29th (midnight est).

The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. I will announce the winner here on my blog.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway