Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

Contingencies: In praise of a young talent

Contigencies

Last year Thomas White wrote his science fiction novel, Contingencies. He was all of fourteen years old.   He is a classmate of my son's and I have known him for years.  We would often discuss what books we were reading, which authors we preferred---you know, chatter allowed between a parent and a teenager.  I'm not sure we made eye contact, but I knew we both ate up books with the same relish.  All this time, however, I never knew he could write.  It boggles my mind that such talent is housed in such a young person. Reading Contingencies, I felt what it was like to read my first Bradbury or Asimov.

Picking up Thomas' book instantly challenged me. He is efficient and economical in his writing, while at the same time pulling the reader into the narrative in a highly unique way.  There is a wonderful scene early on where the citizens of the moon colony are watching artifacts being loaded off a shuttle.  The items have come from Earth as a war is raging on the planet.  What is known and unknown about these artifacts speaks volumes about where the colonists are in time.

In the age of insipid formula-driven narratives, cliched characters, and derivative plots, this book read like a breath of fresh air.

Last night, lighters were given out as favors at the Vanity Fair Oscar party bearing a quote from the late and great Christopher Hitchens.  “Everyone has a book inside them, which is exactly where I think it should, in most cases, remain.”  For Thomas White this is not the case.  Hopefully Contingencies will be the first of many.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday for Grave Refrain

Stop over to Six Sentence Sunday and check out six sentences from an assortment of romance novels, from the refined to the well, you can see for yourself.  Here's six from Grave Refrain, in keeping with the situation:

Sometime in the night Emily awoke. The rain still beat against the windows, their bodies burrowed beneath the covers making a refuge of their bed. Andrew’s solid forearm lay curled across her breasts, his face nuzzled within the nape of her neck, his breath now warm and steady. Having felt her move, he tightened his hold. Not wanting this to be a dream, she slowly turned to face him in the silent ballet lovers do, scared he would disappear if she couldn’t see him, and pressed in drowsy sleep the full length of her naked body to his. In the darkness, she drew her hands softly across the definition of his muscles, memorizing him.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fat Tuesday, The First Chapter of Grave Refrain, and Ashes to Go

Celebrate Fat Tuesday and check out the first chapter of Grave Refrain at D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters.

Because I support the giving up and taking up aspect of Lent, here's the skinny.

Giving up:  Wine and whining, coffee and carping, red meat and chocolate.  Yes, you may ask, why bother living?  But hey, it's only forty days, right?  Right?

Taking up:  St. Aidan's Food Pantry and running (so I'm not the only one at my book group who isn't training for a marathon...)

If you're so inclined, The Food Pantry will be hanging out in the Diamond's Height Parking Lot tomorrow.  You can get Ashes to Go.  No, I'm not kidding.  It's brilliant.  Stop by and say hello.  Pick up a gallon of milk and a smudge.  If you've already read Grave Refrain, you know I have a soft spot for ashes.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

BookShop West Portal now carrying Grave Refrain!

BookShop West Portal is carrying Grave Refrain!  Help support the best indepedent bookstore in San Francisco.  Run in and buy a copy!

Location:  80 West Portal Avenue
                San Francisco, CA  94127
                415-564-8080

BookShop West Portal is a vibrant and important part of not only the West Portal neighborhood, but of the city itself.  The staff is incredibly supportive of beginning authors.  Plus the store is a jewel, full of gorgeous books -- go and fall in love.  And thank the owner, Neil, for his hard work.  He is the best.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

What a decent bottle of chardonnay, a picture of Aaron Eckhart, and cabin fever wrought


Here's the scoop, ladies.  It's a three day weekend.  At some point, you will find your moment of Zen.  The kids will have wandered off, the husband/sig other/roomate will be doing Y/XX-chromosome things, life is good.  This story was originally published in The Summer Anthology Series

It's my gift to you.  It's free.  It's romantic.  It's escapism.  You deserve it for all the support you've given me in supporting Grave Refrain.  But most importantly, you deserve it because of all the day-in-day-out heavy lifting you do.  You keep the world going.

Much love,
Sarah

PS.  If you like this and haven't read Grave Refrain -- I've got the rest of your weekend lined up.  The first martini is on me.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Grave Refrain at #3 and #27

Grave Refrain remains #3 on Amazon Kindle sales for Ghosts/Horror and #26 for Horror.  This tickles me pink since it's also a romance -- but I suppose the supernaturnal just won out.  There's a reason by Love is crossed out on the title and Ghost takes it place!

Very thankful to Andrea for hosting me at her site.  Author interview at Cozy Up With a Good Read:  http://andreasgoodreads.blogspot.com/2012/02/guest-post-sarah-glover-author-of-grave.html where I talk about how I almost assaulted a taxi driver and my love of shoe sales...

If you haven't, PLEASE head on over to Amazon and Goodreads and leave a review.  It's looking a little sparse over there.  In thanks, I mix the best martini in the world -- with extra olives.

Tomorrow, I'm going to sing the praises of my new favorite author.  He is only 14 years old.  I swear, he'll be the next Asimov or Bradbury.  Makes me want to break my toss out my laptop.

Cheers,
Sarah

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Day 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's here!!!! An exhausting and great day.  Grave Refrain hit #3 on the Amazon Kindle sales for Ghost/Horror on its first day! Thanks to you!

Very proud and very grateful for all those who bought, sold, and mid-wifed this book into the world.  Also incredibly thankful for all those  messages and phone calls today.  The list of everyone I'm beholden to is a whos-who of the coolest people on this plant.  I would list everyone, but I would invaribly leave someone out (Anne Caird, I'm still apologizing!!) as I'm about to drop.  But please know it takes a village -- and I have the best $@#** village EVER!

Let's keep the excitement alive!  Remember, on April 5th, the martinis are on me.

All my love and thanks,

Sarah 

Monday, February 13, 2012

Day 29 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain





Only a few hours now!!! Very excited. Here's an author interview on Omnific where they ask me some fun questions and I get to gush about Cary Grant.




Thanks to all of you for all your love and support. Especially the tireless and always upbeat Micha and Elizabeth who deal with my endless questions and requests with a smile.


Remember, buy your e-book tomorrow, leave your reviews on Amazon and Goodreads if the spirit moves you, and come to the bookreading on April 5th. Get those suits and dresses ready! I've got the martinis.


XO,

Sarah

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Day 28 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

Thank you to all who signed up over at Goodreads. Over 500 people have entered! Not bad for some unknown author obsessed with ghosts... Hope you all win. If not, make sure you stop by the bookreading at BookShop West Portal on April 5th at 7pm. Lots of surprises there!

In these last few days, please blog, tweet, threaten your friends about Grave Refrain. It's a romance for those who don't typically like romances, a ghost story with both stylish and evil specters, and a mystery with one foot firmly in the 1930s. Plus, it has stoner spiritualists. Here's a snippet from one of my favorite scenes. Emily is surrounded by these guys while searching for ashes in the Columbarium:


Dwayne looked petrified, like someone had just handed him a ticking time bomb, which wasn’t far from the truth. He awkwardly put his arms around her, guiding her off and up the stairs with Emily resisting all the way until they reached the top. A couch was tucked in the corner, the back covered in an abundance of velvet pillows.
Emily finally gave in to his efforts and felt a stray tear steal down her face as she turned her head into the pot-reeking softness of his shoulder. He sat there as she unloaded her whole day, her whole week, her whole month into his tattooed arms.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her voice raw from the telling and a few more of her tears shouldered away, the equally wary faces of Dinesh and Buck poked around the corner. Dinesh ventured closer and offered her a large glass of wine that she took with shaking hands.
“Drink up, sister. You look like the dead.”
She snorted and gulped the wine down in one swallow. It hit her stomach like a fist. Dinesh glanced at Buck who begrudgingly handed his glass over. “But it’s good vino, man. Those Lipshit people are loaded.”
“Lipswitch,” mumbled Dinesh.
The second glass disappeared without a hitch. Warm tendrils of alcohol spiraled down to Emily’s feet.
“Look, we’d really like to help,” said Dwayne, “but we got another gig across town. There’s a Wiccan spiral dance over on Valencia. We promised Dinesh’s girlfriend, Lucretia, we’d be there like a half hour ago. She’s gonna turn me into a newt or some other shit if I don’t get going. Man, witches…”
Buck didn’t utter a word, just looked apologetic and shrugged his shoulders as if to agree with the vagaries of the supernatural.
“Meet you in the van, dude,” said Dinesh as Buck followed silently, and with a wave goodbye, their footsteps clodded away leaving Dwayne staring down at her.
“Look, it’ll probably get me fired, but why don’t you stick around and look for those cre-mains? Just flick the lock on the door when you leave. It ain’t like you’ll be getting any visitors this late at night. I’m just gonna close up the office downstairs. Can you believe them giving me an office? Righteous.
“Oh, yeah, here, if you have any problems.” He patted his jacket and withdrew a card.
Emily held it up in the dim light:
Dwayne Cobshib
Palmist, Tarot Card Reader, Spiritualist and Security Guard, The Columbarium
His phone number was listed, followed by the e-mail address of ghotzseer@dead4u.com. She managed a smile.
“A séance might be just what you need,” Dwayne informed her. “They really like to dish the dirt on each other. The secret is to find the right spirit guide to allow the positive energy to flow.”
Emily nodded weakly and wondered how she had gotten to this point, sitting in a crypt after hours, chatting about communicating with the Great Beyond after barely escaping the clutches of a very live man with the help of a very dead woman.

Grave Refrain, pages 158-159.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Day 27 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

Poor Andrew. He can't catch a break. Find out if he does change fate, or if he becomes a ghost himself. Very exciting! Only two days left!

For those who asked, Amazon will sell the Kindle version of Grave Refrain from 2/14 onward.

So buy yourself a Valentine you'll love. Instead of a box of stale candy or a toaster...


What's the worst Valentine you've ever received? Give me your worst!

XO,

Sarah

Friday, February 10, 2012

Day 26 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

Only a few days left until Grave Refrain is published!! Help out that starving artist or she might float away too.



Visit Amazon on Valentine's Day and fall in love. Because when it comes to true love, one lifetime is never enough.


Afterwards, please leave a review there and on Goodreads. If you do, I owe you a hug and




Thursday, February 9, 2012

Day 25 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

Who said geeks can't be sexy?

Less than a week now! Another great review from Cozy Up With a Good Read: http://andreasgoodreads.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-grave-refrain-by-sarah-glover.html
My favorite part: ...nothing like what I was expecting at all! I have not read many romance novels, to be honest, but I am so glad I read this one (I have a preconceived notion about romance novels and this one definitely changed that for me!) This book really blew me away...

So who is your sexiest geek? Spouses don't count...

Remember, buy Grave Refrain on Valentine's Day!!! Your inner geek will be glad you did!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Day 22 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

A cause to celebrate. How about someone else's words for a change? From That's What I'm Talking About Book Blog Reviewer 2/8/12:








As I began reading Grave Refrain, the debut novel for author Sarah M. Glover, I was instantly drawn in to the real-world situations created. Three women sharing an apartment. Must find new digs. Hot band at the bar – meaning, the guys were cute and the band played **actual** music (probably helped that they were foreign, and Ms. Glover was skilled in utilizing foreign vernacular!). I was also highly impressed with the way in which Ms. Glover presented soul mates. C'mon. It's a romance read. There's a HEA. You know it's coming. What wasn't immediately apparent was the manner in which Ms. Glover would create interest, a flowing plot arc, and characters that feel like they're my besties from college.





The beginning of Grave Refrain was an exercise in excellent character development. By around 100 pages in, I was spun into even more character development as the paranormal entities were introduced much like slim metallic thread in a quality scarf; not too much in one area and evenly distributed. We also were exposed to our FIRST villain and his wretched perversions. The third person omniscient perspective was a FABULOUS choice by Ms. Glover. I thoroughly enjoy watching Andrew and Emily squirm during passionate as well as uncomfortable situations.





....I cannot fathom how Ms. Glover fashioned Andrew and Emily so shrewdly, creatively and passionately that I was completely and utterly floored when I read this passage. “How? How can I want you like this? I was raised better than this, you must know. With manners and etiquette. So proper, so poised at all times. If you cut me, I swear it'll run blue. My father's people were all the epitome of English culture, Emily. My mum, Christ, she'd die a thousand deaths if she knew what I'm thinking of doing to you right now. There's sanity in this head, I swear.” (p. 238) ...





The paranormal bent in this novel is well-distributed, and there are friendly as well as malevolent ghosts involved throughout the story. Some habitation of bodies ensues, and the action-packed resolution follows a creepy séance. I burned through the last 150 pages of this book, to simply see how everything turned out. Ms. Glover surely didn't disappoint!



So buy Grave Refrain on Valentine's Day. The e-book will be available for sale on Valentine's Day. So, it's about the cost of a decent cup of coffee.













































Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Day 21 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain -- One Week Away!

Yes, I understand that roger can be taken different ways.... ahem. Keep your mind out of the gutter, or don't; it's all good. If not, blame Dave, he helped with the slang...
Buy Grave Refrain on Valentine's Day---it's even better than coffee:





One week until Valentine's Day and the release of Grave Refrain!! So, I've been thinking. For Valentine's Day go to Amazon and buy the Kindle, ebook---it costs about as much as a cup of coffee -- and you know how I love my coffee. (Or heck, buy the printed thing).


If enough people buy the book on the release date, it gets a bump and rises from the great morass of the millions of books out there. So if you've preordered, I love ya, if you haven't, remember, buy Grave Refrain on Valentine's Day.






















































































































Monday, February 6, 2012

Day 20 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

And so it starts. First reviews are coming in and they are wonderful. This is not the book for the average romance reader, as one review states, "It's intense."

8 Days to go!!!

Get to Goodreads when you can. I want you to win.
http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/19103-grave-refrain-a-love-ghost-story
Let's get to 500 by Valentine's Day!

XO,

Sarah

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Day 19 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

In fitting with a Superbowl theme. Except in the Superbowl, if the other team doesn't make the point, they aren't killed.


Go Giants!


S.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Day 18 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

If you think you have troubles trying to keep one lover in line...

It's bad enough having half the house root for the Pats and the other for the Giants. It is split on state lines, of course. Maine vs. NJ. May the strong survive.

XO,

The Jersey Girl

Friday, February 3, 2012

Day 17 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain. Ghosts and sexy, smug men, oh my...

Ticking off a ghost always leads to trouble. Of course, Andrew doesn't listen. Not good for him, but makes for a great read.

Also, some results from the twisted fairy tale ending question: The 3 Little Pigs and I like Bacon. Rumplestiltskin gets the baby and a reality TV program. Cinderella gets athelete's foot. Sleeping Beauty suffers from narcolepsy. Snow White, apple, razor blade (yikes!). Good to know I wasn't the only one out there who liked an evil ending.

The day is looking better. Not ready to hit someone in the head with a haddock today ;)

Sarah

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Day 16 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

Which fairy tales tick you off the most? How would you change them? What grissly endings would you invent? I for one always thought Goldilocks got off way too easily....

XO,

Sarah


Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Day 15 of 30 Days of Grave Refrain

Trust me. Andrew's not the best at introductions--but he definitely warms on you...


Also, never take a dog for a walk in the drizzle. Mud happens.