A big thank you to Caroline Leavitt, author of Cruel Beautiful World for guest posting, as well as for sharing her favorite books.
As all know here I am a book lover from way back. Therefore to have a best selling author guest on my blog is a pretty exciting and awesome experience for me.
Plus, I am also ecstatic for Caroline’s awesome giveaway for her book, Cruel Beautiful World. So you are going to want to check this out below now:
I’m so honored to be guest hosting today, so get barefoot, grab some lemonade, and let’s get to know one another, okay?
I want to giveaway a signed copy of my novel, Cruel Beautiful World, along with a little watercolor I will paint!
To enter, you have a week from this posting to write me at carleavitt@hotmail.com and tell me a story about the 1960s and 70s, where the book takes place! I’ll have my son pick the winner out of a hat!
So—I’m Caroline Leavitt, the author of Cruel Beautiful World, which will be in paperback August 8th.
I’m a two-time NYT Bestseller and critically acclaimed—and this is said in wonder, rather than boasting, because though my first novel was a success, novels 2-8 were failures. Absolute failures. My 9th novel, Pictures of You, was actually rejected on contract, as not being special enough! I knew my career was over, but an editor at Algonquin heard of the book and bought it. (I kept saying, “Are you sure? Are you sure?”) They turned that little non-special book into a NYT bestseller its first month out.
I also review books for the Boston Globe, People, The San Francisco Chronicle, and when I am very, very lucky, The New York Times. And I teach writing online at UCLA and Stanford, and I work with private clients.
I’ve been wanting to write Cruel Beautiful Years since I was 17, but I never knew how. A friend of mine, also 17, who was engaged to a 30 year-old-sort-of-controlling guy decided to break off with him. He stabbed her 45 times and then vanished. I was so upset, I just couldn’t figure out how to write about it. Not until ten years later, when after the death of my fiancé, I rushed into a controlling relationship to keep me from grieving. This new boyfriend wouldn’t let me eat. He monitored my friends. He made me see myself differently and it took me two years to get out of the relationship, but when I did, I understood how my high school friend could have stayed with her controlling boyfriend, and I started to write the novel.
Want a fun fact?
My own mom fell in love “for the first time” at the age of 93, and I put her in the book!
Want another fun fact?
The book is set in the sixties and the 70s, and when Love’s Baby Soft, the perfume of choice back then, found out, they sent me a t-shirt!
I hope you will read and love my novel. You can find more about it here: www.carolineleavitt.com.
WHAT AM I READING?
I read everything in sight, sometimes four books at once. Sometimes the backs of cereal boxes and almost always whatever someone else is reading who is sitting beside me on the subway. These are some faves:
1. Mothers And Other Strangers by Gina Sorell
With an African backdrop, a prose so rich each word is often a diamond, Sorell’s book tracks just how well we know—or-don’t know—our mothers, and what we do with the information when we get it. Plus, it has one of the best first sentences EVER.
2. Mothers And Other Strangers
Bill is a fellow Algonquin writer, and his collection of short stories is both strange and full of wonder, heartbreaking and very funny. An old man has an epiphany while doing King Lear. Three sisters go after a teenager. Come on, you know you want to read this one!
3. Hunger by Roxane Gay
This one is for anyone who has ever felt terrified, trapped or unhappy with yourself—and that’s all of us, right? Roxane Gay talks about how her weight does and doesn’t define her.
4. Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Is there anything that she cannot do? I don’t think so.
Thank you so much for letting me play guest host on this wonderful blog. And thank all of you for reading!
Again a big thank you from me to Caroline for sharing her wonderful book, what’s on her reading list, as well as her fun giveaway, too!
Meredith Spidel says
I remember Love’s Baby Soft! How fun! I would love to read this book! Thanks for the scoop 🙂
Janine says
I know, me too and so happy that Caroline could share her book with us today, as well 🙂
William Holland says
Nice to meet you, Carol! Best wishes on the book. Janine, have a superb weekend.
Janine says
Thanks Bill and happy to introduce you, too here. Have a wonderful weekend, as well now 🙂
Caroline Leavitt says
So happy to meet you all! Love’s Baby Soft sent me a t-shirt and lots of products! It was so much fun, and that scent–I remember it so well, Plus something called Muguet de Bois, which was Lily of the Valley!
Love you all!
Caroline
Janine says
What can I say, but thank you so much again for everything here today, Caroline! Wishing you a wonderful Friday and weekend ahead now 🙂
Caroline Leavitt says
I love doing this–and supporting YOU! xxx Caroline
Janine says
Aw, thank you again and love supporting you, too Caroline!! xxx
AnnMarie John says
WOW! I just read through this and I currently have a friend who’s going through that same thing, but in this case it’s a guy. He can’t talk to his friends, he can’t do anything or she’ll get upset. He can’t even the house without her being there. I have to read this book. I was born in the late 70’s so I don’t know much about that era but I can sure tell you about the 80’s.
Janine says
Wow and I guess it goes to show that this doesn’t have to be gender specific by any means. Oh and I am with you on the 80s, too!
Caroline Leavitt says
Oh no! Tell your friend I am happy to talk to him about how to get away from this. I did it. He can, too.
Allie G smith says
I loved Commonwealth! Thank you for sharing your publishing history, so very interesting. And I’m sorry for the loss of you friend. What a tragic story.
Janine says
Allie, I am so happy to see you here today. Thank you for reading and lending your support to Caroline here today, too <3
Mary says
So nice to me your Carol! I can’t wait to dive into your book! Thanks for sharing this with us Janine 🙂
Janine says
My pleasure, Mary!! 🙂
Jen says
I can’t seem to recall the Loves Baby Soft Scent! What the??!!
What a great book though! Thanks for sharing this with us Janine and nice to meet you Caroline 🙂
Janine says
Happy to share with you, too Jen 🙂
Aunt Gloria says
Sounds like a good read!
Janine says
It is and hope you can try to read it soon xoxo ?
Cynthia says
What fun! Nice to meet Carol and Janine, this post is awesome! I love books – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE books so of course I had to come over and comment and spread the love! I wish Carol’s book much success and hope you enjoy all the other wonderful books you’ve listed here. Have a fabulous week my sweet friend! Sending HUGS! xoxo
Janine says
Aw, thanks Cyndi and hoping you too have a fabulous week ahead. Hugs once again, too!! xoxo
Tamara says
How cool is that? I’d read for the story of falling in love for the first time at 93. That blows me away! And of course, I remember Love’s Baby Soft quite a bit. I was born in the 80’s but that scent was still a big part of my childhood.
Janine says
Aw, love that you read this, too and I know I can’t forget Loves Baby Soft either 🙂
Caroline Leavitt says
And we have a winner! Tamara, send me your address for a free book and some goodies! carolineleavitt@gmail.com
And thank you Janine!
Janine says
Awesome and huge congrats to Tamara!!!! 🙂 🙂
Schnelle Acevedo says
Congrats to Tamara for winning such an awesome giveaway!!
Janine says
I agree and congrats once again to Tamara!! 🙂