Tuesday, April 13, 2010

My friend Sarah, who is ever so much more interesting than I am


My friend Sarah Eden has recently released a new book, Courting Miss Lancaster.

This was a BIG event for me.
After I read Seeking Persephone, I started buying Sarah's other books on Amazon as fast as I could afford to... until they were suddenly unavailable. Hopefully (fingers crossed) they will eventually be re-released so I can snatch up the ones I'm missing. Needless to say, I was thrilled to have something new to read from her.
I waited as patiently as I could for her big launch party, which I almost didn't make it to because I have a disease called TLS, or Terminally Lost Syndrome. (For those of you unfamiliar with the symptoms, TLS is characterized by sudden feelings of confusion and hopelessness coinciding with travel outside your 10-15 mile comfort bubble. It is also marked by periods of fervent prayer alternating with bouts of mild cursing.)

Anyway, I digress. The point that I was trying to get to was that because of my self-imposed Whitney reading and various other situations that popped up, I had to set it aside for almost a whole month before I actually got to read it. For a naturally impatient person, I think that this showed a remarkable amount of restraint on my part.

When I finally had the chance to dive in, let me assure you that it was worth the wait. Sarah is the modern-day master of Regency romance. (Those of you who had the chance to read Seeking Persephone know what I'm talking about. In fact, as a side item, Sarah is giving away a mystery item on her blog this month-- unless I am mistaken, I think it's a copy of Seeking Persephone. You definitely don't want to miss this opportunity, since this is the ONLY place you can currently find a copy. Go here and enter! http://www.sarahmeden.com/ )
I love this genre, but it's getting harder and harder to find a Regency romance that isn't, how shall we say, rather smutty. I know that I never have to worry about this with her books; I can count on her for the heart-pounding romance without having to frantically flip through something I'd rather not see.

So... I picked up an extra copy of Courting Miss Lancaster, and if you're willing to play my little game, it could be yours! Sarah has been kind enough to provide us with three rather interesting and little-known facts about herself, only one of which is true. And since she has a very vivid imagination, it might be slightly tricky to pick the right one. Everyone gets one guess, and the winner gets the signed copy of Courting Miss Lancaster. If more than one person picks the correct answer, our lovely friends at random.org will make the final decision. The contest will close on Saturday, April 17th at midnight, and the winner will be announced on the following Monday.

Here are your choices:

Extra-special glimpse into Sarah's life #1:
When I was five, I invented a new game: Roller-skate golf. In our backyard we had a big ol' concrete slab that doubled as a basketball court and a tether ball court. In the middle of this bit of suburban heaven was a hold into which the tether ball pole was inserted. Being the wise girl I was, I put two and two together. Before long I had my roller skates on, a stick from one of our citrus trees and all the ping pong balls from the ping pong table. I am still a crack shot on a putting green.

Extra-special glimpse into Sarah's life #2:
Apparently having a kid in the front of the class whose legs swing incessantly because they don't reach the ground is excessively annoying. I was that kid.
My sixth grade teacher was a riot--just about the funniest guy ever. He liked to give me a hard time about being small and I liked to give him a hard time about being old. He officially won the ongoing battle, however, the day I arrived at school and my chair had been replaced by one he'd taken from the kindergarten classroom. I sat in it all day, without a hint of annoyance. I think that really took the wind out of his sails. By the next day, I had my real chair back.

Extra-special glimpse into Sarah's life #3:
I was EXTREMELY popular in High School. I had so many friends, I often had to hold a raffle to determine who would have the pleasure of sitting by me at lunch. Freshman, blinded by the glow of my amazingness, regularly followed me to calculus and physics just for the opportunity to be near me. There has been talk in recent years, in fact there was talk while I was a student, of renaming the school in my honor.

Okay, time to put on your thinking caps and start guessing! (Hmmm. Maybe they should be guessing caps instead.) Good luck to everyone!

*Also, Rachel Ann Nunes has a new paranormal novel out called Imprints that I am really excited to read. She's having a contest on her blog starting April 15th to spread the word about it, and she's giving away a $50 gift certificate to the bookstore of your choice. Make sure you stop by and enter! http://www.rachelannnunes.blogspot.com/


19 comments:

Krista said...

I LOVED Courting Miss Lancaster, and since it was my introduction to Sarah's writing, I am hoping and wishing for her other works to be re-published! Since I already won the book in a different contest, I won't enter here (though I have a good guess), but I just wanted to put in a good word! Fun review!

Unknown said...

Ok I'm going to take a shot and guess that #1 is true... we'll see. =D

Marsha Ward said...

I'm going to guess #2 is true. I hope I'm right, I hope I'm right, I hope I'm right!

Melanie Jacobson said...

I'd give a lot to sit by Sarah for lunch so I'm not saying option 3 is outlandish . . . but I'm going with #1. I want this book!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I'm going to go with #1. Funny enough to be true? Perhaps...

My dreams of a new dishwasher are slowly dying as I make a list of all the books I plan to buy during my visit next week...

Next week! Woot!

Fire and Ice said...

I have never heard of her so this is exciting!!

Sarah M Eden said...

I'm going to guess... Just kidding!!! (Psst. I know the right answer!)

Julianne said...

Okay I really wanted to guess #3 because I'm pretty sure I saw Sarah M. Eden High School last time I was driving around aimlessly trying to find you while you were suffering from not being able to find English class... but my real guess is #1!! Oh and since I can't buy Seeking Persephone... you need to let me borrow yours! :)

Heather Justesen said...

Having had a long virtual conversation with Sarah, I'm going to guess #1 is the right answer, though it was a difficult choice. I really want a copy of Courting Miss Lancaster--I love me a good Regency romance and will be thrilled to get my hands on one that I can pass on to my niece!

Alli said...

I think it was #2. I went to H.S. with Sarah and while she was much beloved by many I think #3 was an slight overstatement. . . #1 is reasonable, but I'm going with my gut - #2!

Annette Lyon said...

I'm split, but since more people are guessing #1, I'll go with #2.

Aubrey, I have Affectations. If you haven't read it, I'd be happy to loan it to you in exchange for the chance to read any other SME books you have!

Anna said...

I am going to guess Number 1. From reading her blog, it just sounds like something she'd do. She's creative in her INFF interviews.

Taffy said...

I really, really think it's #3. Really.
I would guess #2 but while I read it I kept picturing me and my 3rd grade teacher going the rounds :)

sweetvictorya said...

My guess is #2.

Elizabeth Morgan said...

I think that #2 is the correct one. She is such an awesome one.

Fenwick Family said...

Ahh, I shouldn't have read all the other guesses now I am second guessing the guess that I was going to guess...#2 :)

Donna Hatch said...

Well...all three sound totally likely and totally Sarah!

I'm going to guess #2, mostly because I really identify with short people issues ;-)

If I'm wrong, you can still pick me ;-)

Anne said...

My guess is number 1 because that sounds like the something a person as zany as you would do.

I'm sure you were really that popular, though!

Karlene said...

I'm guessing #2. Just because I can so picture her sitting there and pretending the little chair doesn't bother her.