Friday 2 June 2017

Celebrate #14 plus Cover Reveal

This lovely blog hop led by Lexa Cain and her two co-hosts Tonja Drecker and L G Keltner always makes me smile.  Why not join in by clicking the button above?

This week I am celebrating:

1) Finding the next book n a series by Alexander McCall Smith that I've been searching for in second hand book stores and charity shops over the past couple of weeks - on one of our bookshelves!! I think this goes to show the amount of bookcases we have - I'd obviously bought it previously and because of its height (it is hardback) couldn't put it with the rest of the series so had put it upstairs on another taller book shelf.  Thank goodness I hadn't found it and bought it again!!

2) Having a local radio station come out on a Nordic walk with me and one of my groups so that they can do a recording to be broadcast next week on the morning slot (an excellent time as many people will be listening to the radio as they get up and drive to work).  The interviewer was a very pleasant chap and my group were excellent not only in the way they walked but all of their comments when interviewed whilst walking!!  Which is not as easy as it sounds!

3) Getting housework done.  It's certainly not my favourite thing but this week I seem to have really been able to get going and do a lot of clearing out of things - either to charity shops or the bin/recycling as well as do the dusting and hoovering getting ready for visitors next week which will include my son and his girlfriend - which will be lovely :)

4) Lastly, I am celebrating making a cushion cover with a ruffle round its edge out of a charity shop sequinned and beaded skirt - which I got done over the Bank Holiday weekend.  This is for a charity craft competition I organise each year and to be honest I wasn't going to put an entry in this year as I don't do cushion covers (each year we do something different) but I thought I'd better show willing and I'm happy I did as I learnt new skills through doing it.

I'm looking forward to finding out what everyone else has been up to this week and are celebrating in their lives.  Please feel free to drop me a comment below :)

Now on to the second part - the COVER REVEAL - which I am delighted to be taking part in.

This book, by the very talented Sharon M Himsl - our Celebrate friend - is due for release this July by Evernight Teen publishers.

When notorious Uncle Azman disobeys orders, and sends Callie and Lucas to meet their mother's long lost family in Malaysia, fourteen-year-old Callie believes their troubles are over. After all they've endured, what more could go wrong?
Their American dad is dead, Mom is missing, and their foster dad in Seattle was murdered, with Callie falsely accused. If that wasn't enough, Callie and eight-year-old Lucas stowed aboard a sailboat to escape, only to be targeted by their uncle’s boss in Hawaii upon arrival for immediate sale in Thailand’s human trafficking market.

Disguised in case Azman’s boss sends someone after them, Callie believes it’s simply a matter of time. They need to find safety with family in Mersing and begin the search for Mom, but a shell box, a ruby, and a boy from Chicago named Sam are about to change everything.

  

Sharon loves adventure. Whether traveling through Malaysia on a jungle train, sailing in the San Juan Islands, or flying in an experimental airplane she helped her husband build, her life has been on a road less traveled. She has experienced hurricanes tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, and more. She has seen sunsets that take your breath away.

Her first publishing credit was as a travel writer in Malaysia, traveling by rail from Kluang to Kota Bharu on the now defunct "jungle train." Some of the Malaysian and Thai settings and characters she later wrote about in her novel, The Shells of Mersing, came from her experience living in Malaysia and the diary she kept.

She later edited, researched, and wrote young adult nonfiction for two educational publishers, Greenhaven Press and Lucent Books. Her interest in history stems from a degree in American Studies. Her day job at Washington State University also included editing science papers, articles, and books.

As a storyteller, Sharon knows that facts and life experiences are the foundation of good storytelling. If she were to credit one life experience behind wanting to be a writer, it would be the term paper she wrote in the ninth grade on the bubonic plague. "I don't know why, but I have always remembered the pride I felt writing that paper," Sharon said. And if she were to credit a character in a book who inspired her, it would be “Jo March” in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Jo wanted to be a writer.

Today Sharon is working on a second novel at home in Central Washington, where she lives with her husband on the edge of a desert runway . . . but that's another story!

You can find out more about this book launch by visiting Sharon's web page at http://shells-tales-sails.blogspot.com



17 comments:

  1. I love it when you find a treasure that you already own. :-) I've done that a couple of times (and once or twice bought a book only to discover I already have it)!

    And it sounds like your Nordic Walking is going really well. I'm glad to hear that your radio interview went well. :-)

    Cait @ Click's Clan

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  2. Hi Senco - Sharon's book looks really interesting a tale across continents with rather more intrigue that Callie needs by the sound of it ... and her cover seems to suit the story.

    Glad you found the McCall Smith book ... funny how easily they stay hidden. But enjoy your visitors and all the preparations ... cheers Hilary

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  3. Refinding a book- that's golden.
    Walking and talking- that is tough
    I need to tackle some housework but it is quite dreary here this weekend. Not inspirational.
    Highlight of the week is the new David Sedaris book. Theft by Finding. He is very funny
    Have a good weekend!

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  4. Second things first: that's a great little piece on Sharon. I really like the cover and hope the book does well. Sharon and I have been blog buddies for a few years now, having met during the A to Z.

    Re the home clean out. You're not going to believe this, but I love clean ups/outs. I have moved so often since my divorce that I have become ruthless at getting rid of stuff. I'm an anti hoarder. I even throw away things with sentimental value sometimes.
    Had to laugh about you already having a book you were looking for...yep. too many books. I'm glad you didn't buy it again though. Sounds like you had a great week. I hope the coming one is just as good or better.

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  5. Yay to finding that book- that is a happy moment. And congrats on the pillow case. It sounds lovely.

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  6. What a busy week you had! I can't imagine walking and being interviewed at the same time. Kudos to you and your group! And yay for the new book, cushion, and getting housework done! Congrats to Sharon for her beautiful new cover!! Have a great week!

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  7. Lots of good things. Very cool to realize you already owned the book you were looking for.

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  8. Pempi, THANK YOU SO MUCH for hosting my Cover Reveal last week. For some reason did not see your post until now. And thanks too for my "blog buddies" who commented :)

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    1. Also wanted to applaud you for an amazing week. The walking interview sounded fun and that charity cushion cover you made with the ruffle, divine. I keep thinking I'm going to do something with all the material I saved from my sewing days. This is a wonderful idea.

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  9. Hello Pempi! Long time no see. So glad to stop by today. You're making me envious with all you're up to- reading, and walking, and cleaning and sewing... with sequins, no less. But soon, very soon, me too. Only one. more. week. left of school! Yippee. And then I hope to be doing all of the fun stuff, too. And hey, if you're talking books, then please do link up with my Teacher Book Talk linky- for kid books, teacher, books, and books for reading fun. Love hearing about The Shells of Mersing! Keep it up, you celebrity you, on the morning talk shows! Later, Kathleen

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  10. i really likes your blog and You have shared the whole concept really well. and Very beautifully soulful read! thanks for sharing.

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  11. Popping in to say hi. Looks like it's been awhile since you've blogged. Same for me, but am dusting off the blog and getting back into it. Hope to hear from you.

    Sandy's Space

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  12. Me making blog rounds again this am, wanting to see if you were back at it yet? Happy Thanksgiving to you. will check in again later and hope to see you.

    Sandy's Space

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  13. Thought I'd give it one more try in hopes of seeing you here. Will Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. If you get back to blogging, please sing out so we can re-connect.

    Sandy's Space

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  14. Very nice post really ! I apperciate your blog Thanks for sharing,keep sharing more blogs.

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  15. I've been doing some clearing out of stuff myself. I have so many books scattered around my house that I'm sure there are some gems that I don't even know are there.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  16. Very well written and informative post.
    Thanks for sharing such an amazing post
    AlexaRaymond

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