Sunday, October 9, 2011

My First Giveaway!

We are a family of avid readers. Always have been. I started reading aloud to the kids from the day they were born. In fact, the day we found out we were expecting our first child, we happened to be making a trip into town and I had a ball browsing the children's section of Barnes and Noble and picking up a number of books. Next stop, bookcase, yes, even before the crib.

We homeschooled and spent hours upon hours curled up under the flannel quilt reading aloud. I read until I was hoarse and mastered all the voices in the Winnie the Pooh books. You name it. We've probably read it. I have boxes upon boxes of children's books stored. When we moved, we went through them and asked the kids about each one. No, we have to keep that one. Remember when we read that one when the electricity went out. Oh, we read that one when we were sick. 400 books. 20 were weeded out.

Our house was the house where when we tucked the kids into bed, we had to unearth multiple books that were hidden beneath the pillows and blankets. Yes, the kids made their beds with books in them.

I give books as gifts and every new baby we know, gets a book. I have been known as the Book Aunt.

And how can I talk about our love of books without mentioning the library? Ft. Davis, TX has the most amazing library (and librarian) and I spent so much time there that they offered me a job and I ended up automating the library. It was like Christmas all the time. I worked whenever we were in town for various activities. That place was the hub of the communtiy. You could always tell the homeschoolers. They were the ones who would walk into the library with laundry baskets to fill with books. :)

DH and I read in bed every night before we fall asleep and more often than not, DH falls asleep with his book in his hands. Still, I don't get to read as often as I would like. My 'to read' list is long and I love finding new authors and titles.

Oh my goodness, I could talk about books forever, but I'll spare you and get to the book I'm giving away. If you love to read... and you like a good mystery...and you like to get lost in the pages...and you are a quilter...or just love quilts...this is the book for you.

Last year I discovered Clare O'Donohue and picked up her first book The Lover's Cross and I eagerly awaited her next installment  A Drunkard's Path. The Double Cross was the third adventure of Nell Fitzgerald.

The dear people of Plume Publishing  were kind enough to send me an extra copy of her newest release, The Devil's Puzzle:

to share with one lucky reader. I don't have many followers so your chances are awfully good! :)  This is the fourth book in  the Someday Quilts Mystery series and I was excited to see what sort of mischief Nell would find herself mixed up in this time. Here is the synopsis from the publisher:

After their quilting retreat upstate, the Someday Quilts ladies return to Archers Rest to prepare for the town's big anniversary celebration. But their plans are unexpectedly derailed by the discovery of a human skeleton in Nell's grandmother's backyard-making Eleanor the prime suspect in a murder. But a skeleton isn't the only thing that's long been buried. When a wave of vandalism raises fears that the town's bygone history of witchcraft has been reawakened, secrets are unearthed that could change life in Archers Rest forever. In addition to a thrilling mystery and the warm camaraderie of the ladies, The Devil's Puzzle is full of the quilting lore and techniques that Clare O'Donohue's readers adore.

We've been working cattle these past few weeks and we still have a few days left so I haven't had the chance to read this one yet although it's been beckoning me to abandon my ranch wife duties. We'll finish up working on Wednesday so in honor of the end of our Fall Works and my escape from the confines of the kitchen, I'll choose a winner on Thursday morning.

Ok. So what do you have to do? Hmmm...just leave a comment and tell me if you're a quilter or not, and if not, what are your hobbies. I may just add a little something extra in your package and I'll mail anywhere because I think everyone enjoys getting fun packages in the mail. :) Just be sure that you're not a non-reply blogger and if you are, leave me an e-mail where you can be reached!

22 comments:

Deanna said...

These books look interesting and I would enjoy giving it a go. I am a quilter and blogger, too. Congratulations on your first giveaway, which reminds me that it is about time for me to do another one, too.

Karin said...

When I was a kid I always had my nose stucked in a book - I loved to read and still do. Just the time got very limited but hopefully in the winter time I will have more reading time since there is no yardwork to do. I´ve got lot of hobbies.....reading, sewing, restoring old furniture, my horse, cycling, blogging - sometimes the days need to have a few more hours per day! Congrates on your first give-away!

Joy (joy dot evans at rogers dot com) said...

Karin - I've been reading your blog pretty much since the beginning and am excited about your first giveaway!(wondering when you are giving away a week's stay at the end of your dirt road!!!) I have always been a reader, just discovered Jennifer Chiaverini and am excited to learn of another quilting series. I wouldn't say I'm a quilter, just a quilter wanna-be! I've started 4 quilts over the past years and am finally finishing up one of them - a cozy flannel rag quilt. Just a few more blocks to snip the edges of. My other hobbies are scrapbooking, photography, rowing and dreaming of traveling to places like the end of your dirt road!

Staci said...

Hi Karin! What a fun giveaway!
Well, I'm a quilter and a reader and a really good cook! That pretty much sums me up!

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

I would love a copy of the book. I am a quilter but I also do counted cross stitch, embroidery, and crochet. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway!

Cow Pies & Mud Pies said...

I am NOT a quilter, my my m-i-l is...I'm a scrapper...when I have time.

little apple tally said...

I'm a someday person... someday I'll get back to my quilting projects that are in my work area, someday I'll read more of those books that are on my list.... someday I'm going to study up more of my genealogy. But for now I work an interesting job that takes me to big cities twice a year for convention work, follow rodeo, especially all my grand kids rodeos, and watch some tv.
I would assume you've discovered Earlene Fowler's books? Mysteries that play around quilting and ranching. My favorite authors are Sandra Dallas who lives in Colorado and Nancy Pickard who lives in Kansas. Am friends with both on facebook which is interesting.
My main email is stally@ksu.edu.

ytsmom said...

I am a quilter, and country girl. I really enjoy your blog posts about your life on the ranch. I have read the first 2 books in this series, and would love to read her latest.

Denise :) said...

What a fun giveaway! I am a quilter ... and a reader, a baker, a sewer, a grandma ... all kinds of things! :)

agent713 said...

I am resisting quilting because I just don't have the space. Hopefully someday, when I'm a "grown up" I will be able to take it on. As for reading, these days it's only school books but I should have time at Christmas. Same for scrapbooking. Not much now but over the summer and at Christmas it's my favourite activity.

I am with Joy above, when are you giving away a stay at the end of the dirt road? ;)

Theona said...

Well, I lost my previous comment somewhere in the wireless world, but I would love to get this book and start reading a new author.

I love to quilt, read, bake, scrapbook and talk to friends. Quilting is therapy--just the touch of fabric has a calming influence. :-)

Kelly@ Charming Chatter said...

HOW FUN!! Your very first giveaway! I'm so with ya - I'm a big book lover! Oh, and I'm a quilter too! Thanks for the fun chance to win :)! Hugs!

Tracy said...

I'm in...I love to read and quilt, although I'm in a rut in the quilting area.

yorkie mom said...

Congratulations on your first giveaway!! I love quilting! I also love scrapbooking and reading! Would love to curl up and read that book!

Sallie said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I'm currently reading book 3 in this series. You may be interested in http://quiltersbooksandbindings.blogspot.com. I'm a quilter and a reader! I LOVE to go to the library - it always makes me feel so RICH to take home so many books.

Hilachas said...

The book sounds interesting. Yes, I am a quilter but my other love is reading. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.

Michele T said...

When I was a kid I lived in the library... it was located across the street!! I stil love books and always have my nose in one. Ane yes, I am a quilter, so I can be found either working on a quilt project or reading (well, when I don't have to work!!)

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Great giveaway! I love to quilt and read. Thanks!

Deb said...

First time here...found you via Stray Stitches. I enjoyed reading your About paragraph on your sidebar. Wow, 128,000 acres!!! That's a lot! I'd love to be entered to win...yes, I'm a quilter and think I'd enjoy the book. Thanks so much! debgiro at wildblue dot net

Janet said...

I'd love to read this book. I am a quilter, knitter, sewer....when I have time which seems like never right now :(

Kathy H said...

I would love to read this book. I am always looking for new authors (my favorite authors don't write fast enough I guess). A real treat is when I find an author I like and she has written a whole series of books and I can read them all in a row. Heaven. Thanks for the chance to win this book. I am a quilter and enjoy reading the different quilting authors.

NaomiG said...

Aw, I'm bummed I missed this giveaway with all my moving madness! Will have to add that book to my wishlist, it looks great.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...