Friday 6 April 2012

Lovin' Me Lovin' You - the Giveaway Issue

**GIVEAWAY QUESTIONS BELOW**

As countdown to publication marches on I find myself in a frenzy of book promotion, worrying that my scribblings will never be enough to send this baby into the fray. On Wednesday I wrote a piece about Women's Commercial Lit: Does the Object of Desire Always Have to Be a Hot Twenty-Something? Fun, silly, but ultimately I believe that the discerning 40+ year old seeks an epiphany that goes beyond a tasty tryst. No? Then yesterday (in my uggs sitting outside on a wet bench) I did my first phone interview, blabbing and blabbing (sorry Lee) about the poverty of women's self-image in this country, where women often feel too insecure to age with grace. Hence a batch of 40-year-old Barbies at the school gates whose Gucci bags are as taut and tanned as their faces.

I also learned that my aunt is concerned my mother will not like the semi-hard sex scenes. And I learned that my mother can't wait to get her hands the book! I heard from a friend who was reading hers at the hairdresser's (thanks Downith) and another in Germany who has had hers snatched by a friend. I was even accosted by the optometrist during my daughter's appointment yesterday, an aspiring writer who studies English religiously, who refused a gift copy and preferred to pay this messy-looking writer with bright red lipstick. Even the lady at the local post office - bless her and her calender of Maori rugby players, always a such pleasure to the eyes - has demanded I bring a copy for her to buy next time I am in there sending off a blogger review copies!

My goodness - my first sales! These are all fairly localised and in fact I wrote a more telling article last week about book promotion while your target market is in another neck of the woods. Details will follow about this rash of activity. Already we are told that many many valid authors are having trouble selling their manuscripts. That accomplished, we must clear the hurdle of distance with hours and hours online. It helps - yes - and as generous Trashionista editor Elle Symonds says, it's 'well worthwhile', but holymoly I feel as though I am glued to the screen and I don't know how but Ivana-the-lovely-optometrist says that these eyes are still hot to trot!

I wanted to post my first chapter but now that seems rather long after my rave, so I will do another post early next week. **I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT I AM HAVING MY FIRST GIVEAWAY AND INVITE YOU TO TAKE PART**. I will select two winners from wherever you hail on our fair and chastised globe. Here are the questions:

1. My biggest gripe with Italian men is that they:

A. are attached to their mothers
B. leave wet towels on the floor
C. spend too much time in front of the mirror
D. wear white jeans

2. The reason I adore Italian men is because they

A. know how to treat a lady
B. are great in bed
C. ski hard
D. take you to divine restaurants

If you've read my blog before you won't have any trouble with these flimsy questions. If you're new to this zone then just take an educated guess and add your email address to your answer/comment. The two winners will be chosen by my half-Italian Dubstep DJ son Omar, who STILL has to learn how to open a prosecco bottle before coming to the book launch in London.


PS MANY ENORMOUS THANK YOUS - MILLE GRAZIE - TO OUR MODEL PAOLA WHO SEEMED VERY PLEASED WITH THE DLC COVER SHOT AND KNOWS HOW TO THROW BACK QUALITY PROSECCO!

26 comments:

  1. Answers: Q1) A and Q2) C

    PS The book launch in London will be wicked!

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    1. Thanks for dropping by A. I have a feeling you are going to be right about that!

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  2. Living in fear of Gucci faced ladies.....
    I'm just here to oggle the All Blacks...
    Bah! All sense leaves me...

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    1. How about a shot at the questions Rachel? Yes I do enjoy the All Blacks at the post office, deep in the Veneto countryside who'd have thought?

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  3. Q1: B. He does it all the time and drives me nuts!!!

    Q2: B. He does it all the time and it drives me nuts!!! ;)

    Oh ... I thought you were talking about my Italian man!

    I'm new around these streets, take 'er easy on me.

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    1. I love this! I do hope you are having a great avventura - apart from the wet towels!
      Grazie per la visita ciao cat

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  4. I'm taking a stab today - I had thought I'd subscribed to your blog, but I will try again. Best of luck with the launch!! In bocca al lupo
    1. My biggest gripe with Italian men is that they:
    A. are attached to their mothers

    2. The reason I adore Italian men is because they
    B. are great in bed
    Ingrid@dreamlifeofmine.com

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    1. Thanks for dropping by Ingrid. I think you may need a Google account to follow, prova ancora magari?

      Thanks also for your good wishes and yes the mother-in-law factor took me a decade to understand. And bed talents? I'm sure we all have a lot to contribute here.

      Ciao cat

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  5. not sure this will work being italian myself, but lets give it a shot:
    Q1: A I really think italian mothers are creating little self obsessed monsters that behave more like women than women themselves!?
    Q2: D I also appreaciate italian men who can actually speak correct italian...

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    1. Grazie Chiara for dropping by. I'm sure you can contribute a lot of insight as far as the topic is concerned. Ciao Caterina

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  6. Oh gosh, I don't know, but I"m going to go with 1A and 2B :D Good luck with all the promotering! Yay exciting times!

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    1. Thanks Hannah! Yes deciding which heels to hoof about London is really tough on the brain! But I am wildly excited and looking forward to the bash. Xxx

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  7. I have no idea, but congratulations on your first sales! Super exciting!

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    1. Thanks Talli! It is exciting, hearing that people want to read your words. I feel so overwhelmed and humbled. Sometimes I think I never imagined this far ahead. Crazy isn't it?

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  8. Not sure if this contest is international, but either way, I'll choose A for both questions!

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    1. Yes this is totally international and thanks for entering Laura! Ciao cat

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  9. 1) D - 2) C
    Sono felice che manca poco alla presentazione! Mi piacerebbe tanto esserci ma virtualmente saró li a gioire con te!!! Adoro il tuo modo di pensare e vedere la vita! Riesci a vedere aspetti da un' altra prospettiva, semplifichi le cose grazie ad un puro spirito di osservazione libero da pregiudizi! Sei fantastica, Catherine! Tanti tanti auguri per il tuo libro!

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    1. Rosi mi conosci troppo bene! Grazie per le tue parole cosi belle. Speriamo bene per Londra, non so cosa aspettare ma cerco godermi questi momenti.

      Mi manca la montagna! Baci cat

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  10. Don't enter me as I already own the book but I'm going to guess A and B all the same. I hope we can connect when you are over here - would love to get my book signed.

    Top tip - Bring a jumper! And a raincoat!

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    1. 1.A 2.D

      Heiiii, cat-woman, finaly i'll be able to find out more about that latvian caracter :) see u soon!

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    2. Downith you are fab! Fancy reading my book at the hairdressers. This is perfect!!

      Yes we must meet up and I promise I will bring a pen and a raincoat xxcat

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  11. Hi Tamara,
    Yes there is a very chic Latvian character I almost forgot! You must tell me what you think about her..
    Xxcat

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  12. Yay!!! The book is alive! Congratulations, Cat, and don't think I've forgotten about that interview. I'll be shooting the questions your way this weekend. The book is charming and beautifully written, I'm loving it!

    XOXO

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    1. Oh Averil I'm so relieved you like it. You KNOW that feeling. Next year I'm sure it will be you up here, trying to explain to people that YES you are kinky, but that doesn't mean you ARE your character. Or you really did all of those things...

      I'll be meeting Downith over in England - so excited to meet my first of the clan!

      xxxcat

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  13. 1. All of the above?

    2. C

    I'm gonna buy it anyways

    Chapati Animal

    xxx

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    1. Hi Chapati Animal,
      What a great guess anyway and I do hope you enjoy the read.
      Ciao cat

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