To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Good in Bed, author Jennifer Weiner is hosting “Cannie’s Hollywood Getaway” contest–a chance for readers to win a luxurious trip to Los Angeles.
Prospective contestants need to log on to Weiner’s Facebook page and write about their best personal memory from the last ten years (minimum 125 words and maximum 175 words). The contest will be accepting submissions until May 31st.
Here’s more about the prizes: “Much like the beloved Cannie Shapiro, a winner and a guest will fly to Los Angeles and experience the best Hollywood has to offer. From Sunday, June 19th through Wednesday, June 22nd, they will stay at the luxurious Beverly Wilshire, enjoying breakfasts and spa treatments, a workout with a trainer, dinner at one of Los Angeles’ top restaurants, and an invitation to watch a taping of State of Georgia, the new ABC Family sitcom co-written and executive-produced by Jen herself.”
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
With book one in the “forts” series due out in just a couple weeks, and book two tentatively scheduled for sometime later in the year I thought I might type up a little something to give you an idea of what to expect.
I personally think the trailer is cooler than Steve McQueen in “The Getaway,” or a beat up Arnold in the chopper after he finished throwing dukes with the Predator, or even Cool Coolerson moments after winning the “National Cool Competition” in Coolsville U.S.A.
He edged out Coolton McCool for the title.
Honestly though, beyond being so darn cool – the trailer really doesn’t tell you a whole heck of a lot about the plot.
Lets start with a little background.
At roughly 120,000 words book one, which is titled “Fathers and Sons,” was written a little over two years ago and took me about year to finish. Why so long you ask? Well, I was only able to write between the hours of 10pm and 2am, and I did take a few months off sometime around June. Why the time off?
None of your business – stop being so nosey.
I shopped the book around quite a bit and amassed an impressive pile of rejection letters. Most were positive, “I like what you’re doing, but I’m just not interested at this time” sorts of things. There was one slightly pompous, “This is good but I’m just not feeling passionate about it, and I can’t get behind anything I don’t feel passionate about” response, and there were even a couple “I have absolutely no idea who in the world buy this” tossed in there.
With memories of my nerdy high school years rising to the surface once again, I had taken just about all the rejection I could handle and was ready to move onto the next project when Canonbridge came along.
Turns out all of those rejections were a blessing in disguise. Canonbridge has been a dream and at this point I can’t imagine there being a better partner in the publishing process.
I’m not saying that just to brownnose either.
Believe it or not that chocolate colored smear on my schnoze is actually nothing more than chocolate. I’m a messy eater. You know those pictures of little kids with bowls of spaghetti on their heads? I took one of those last week – of me.
When book one hits on or around the 20th of this month it’ll hopefully be some of what you’re expecting, and a lot of what you aren’t. If I can leave you surprised and wanting more I’ve done my job.
Without giving away too much of the plot let me tell you that you’ll get very real drama in a world familiar, and even more in worlds not so much. There are ancient prophecies, underground cities, castles, kings, swords, monsters so incredibly large their heads get lost in the clouds, and an army hell-bent on stacking the bodies of the dead just as high. At the center of it all is a group of five children from very different situations with abilities they can scarcely understand, let alone hope to control.
You’ll get some actions, you’ll get some tears, you’ll get some scares, maybe even a couple laughs here and there, and hopefully a few moments that will you feeling like you’ve been slimed.
I of course mean that in the most positive of ways.
In the end, I just hope you dig it.
I dig it.
If I didn’t I wouldn’t have written it, and would feel like the worlds biggest jerk trying to sell it to you.
Steve
Such a well written blog i love you illustrations as well :-)
Thanks again! I should have a sample chapter up tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint! ;)