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March's FEATURED AUTHOR: Meet Sarah Pekkanen!

March 9, 2011
Ok, I finally got my act together, and can finally introduce the lovely Sarah Pekkanen to you... Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Sarah!

drey: Hello and welcome to drey’s library, Sarah, and congratulations on your newest little joy!

I REALLY appreciate your taking the time to visit this month, so shall we get started? Tell us a little about yourself...

Sarah: I'm the mother of three young sons and a former journalist. I left my job as a features writer for The Baltimore Sun newspaper after my first child was born. I free-lanced a bit, but stopped writing altogether after I had another baby. But I missed writing so much that one night I brought a glass of wine to my computer and began to type--I didn't really plan it, but I felt as though I would burst if I didn't do it! I put together a book, and it caught the attention of a literary agent (oh, that makes it sound too easy. I promise it wasn't that easy. But it was so worth it!)

drey: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Sarah: One of my most prized possessions is a letter I wrote at the age of 10 on Raggedy Ann stationary to a New York publisher, demanding to know when my book--titled "Miscellaneous Tales and Poems"--would be published. I think I've always wanted to be a writer, even before I could articulate the thought!

drey: Where do you find inspiration for your writing?

Sarah: Everywhere - in things people say, in things I observe, in things I read. Writers take lots of experiences and emotions and filter them through a kaleidoscope before sprinkling them onto the page. There may not be a strong resemblance to the original experience, but the shards are there.

drey: What do you do to recharge your batteries?

Sarah: Read, watch Reality TV (the shame!) and take long walks with my rescue lab, Bella.

drey: Tell us about Skipping a Beat.

Sarah: Skipping a Beat is the story of Julia Dunhill, a 30-something party planner who is married to an incredibly wealthy man. One day her husband Michael stands up at the head of the table in his company's boardroom and collapses. Four minutes and eight seconds later, he is revived--but he's a different man. Julia has three weeks to decide if she should stay with her husband, now a stranger, or leave him.



drey: Smackdown: Your favorite authors face off in the ring. Who are they, who wins, and why?

Sarah: Jennifer Weiner would take on Truman Capote, and kick his ass with her humor. She wouldn't have to land a single punch; she'd slay him with her wit.

drey: What’s up next for you?

Sarah: I'm finishing up my third book, which is the story of three very different women who end up being roommates in New York City. It doesn't have the same characters as either of my first two novels, Skipping a Beat and The Opposite of Me, but there is one similar thread: It's a book about women who get chances to step into completely new lives.

drey: And, last but not least, the quickie 5:
  1. Favorite author? Jennifer Weiner!
  2. Best thing to curl up with on a cold winter night? My kids, dog and husband--all in one bed cuddling!
  3. Salad or dessert? Oh, come on. Dessert. Seriously, does anyone say salad?
  4. Jazz or alternative rock? Jazz.
  5. Chocolate: Solo or paired (& if paired, with what)? Solo. Why mess with perfection?

drey: Thank you so much for visiting us this month, Sarah! I hope you enjoy your stay. :)

Sarah: I loved it. Thanks for having me!

Everyone, find Sarah online at her website, www.sarahpekkanen.com, facebook, and twitter.

Giveaway!
I have a copy of Sarah's Skipping a Beat for you, if you live in the US. To enter, comment with your email address and tell us if you watch Reality TV, and if so, which show(s)? I'm not a huge fan, except when it comes to The Amazing Race. I'm still trying to figure out how I can take the time off to be a participant! *grin*

Good luck, y'all! Enter before 6pm CST March 29th!

14 comments:

Carol N Wong said...

I love Amazing Race!! I would love to travel all around the world and watching it makes me so excited about visiting other countries. I do like Biggest Loser too but that is it. Don't care for the other reality shows.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Ruthie said...

I love the Real Housewives...all of them. It's something I'm not proud of but yet I just can't stay away from watching the trainwreck about to happen on every show!!!

email subscriber...ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I used to watch American Idol. I don't anymore. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Anonymous said...

does hoarders and intervention count? i also have a very sick obsession with sister wives
dianam167@sbcglobal.net

bermudaonion said...

Great interview! I adore Sarah and her books, but have to tell her I'd pick salad! I can't wait for her next book! No need to enter me.

Margie said...

I like to watch American Idol, but that's about it. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Priya said...

I watch How do I look? and Jerseylicious (I hate to admit it, but alas, t'is true!)

I would love to win =]

swaid124(at)gmail(dot)com

angie said...

I am a reality tv show junkie:) I hate to admit it, but I think I watch just about everyone on tv.
Thanks for the giveaway! I've been looking forward to this book!
bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

petite said...

I watch American Pickers.Thanks for this giveaway. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

sarah pekkanen said...

Kathy, really! Salad? Can we go out to dinner and I'll have your dessert?

CrystalGB said...

I like The Amazing Race, Survivor and American Idol.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com

ossmcalc said...

I love The Amazing Race and Survivor. I don't tell many people that I watch The Real Housewives and Top Chef. I truly wish that I had had the opportunity to be on the Amazing Race before I got injured. When they went to Japan, I recognized all of the places that they went.

Thank you,

Christine W
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Lu said...

I don't watch a lot of television, but in the summer I do watch Big Brother. When I do watch television, (maybe 2 - 3 hours a week at most) it is quite often a reality show. Some of the ones I watch are ManTracker, American Pickers, Ghosthunters, as Life As I know It.

I would love to enter. I am Canadian, but I do have a US address. (one of my good friends lives in US and I can use her address, and she can forward to me if I win.) If this is ok with you, please enter me. Thanks!

lusravesandrants AT gmail DOT com

Anita Yancey said...

I don't watch reality shows, I don't care for them. I prefer drama and comedy shows. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

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