Happy Monday! It's the week of Valentine's Day and what better way to kick off this week than by having Jennifer E Smith on the blog. I'm thrilled to be apart of Little Brown's tour for Jennifer's upcoming release This Is What Happy Looks Like (out April 2nd, 2013). Jennifer's debut The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (now out in paperback) was featured on my favorites list last year. I'm excited to have Jennifer on MM's to talk about her upcoming release.
As an author, I think you sometimes can’t help feeling a little protective toward the characters you create. Just like real people, some of them are easier to love than others. For example, in The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, Oliver is kind of a no-brainer. He’s incredibly likeable, and it was no surprise at all when I started hearing from readers who had fallen in love with him right away. Hadley, on the other hand, can be a bit more challenging. At the beginning of the book, she’s not in the best frame of mind. And who can blame her? She’s on her way to see her father get married to a woman she’s never met before, and she’s pretty bitter about it. Over the course of the book, she softens a bit – with Oliver’s help – but it’s surprised me how many readers have felt a little impatient with her at first.
For me, it’s easy to see the hurt beneath all that resentment, to understand that it comes from somewhere deeper. But then, I’m the one who invented her, so I suppose it’s a bit like how a parent with a really funny-looking kid can’t help thinking they’re beautiful. Oliver senses it too, though; he sees right to the heart of her, and it’s because of that – because of him – that she’s able to start moving forward again. Of course, I wish that all readers could see that too, but their frustration with her is also a sign that she’s three-dimensional enough to provoke that kind of feeling, and as long as they understand her more by the end of the book, then I feel like I’ve done my job. She might not be as immediately easy to love as some characters, but in my opinion, she’s definitely worth the wait. (And, of course, in the meantime, there’s always Oliver!)
THANK YOU Jennifer for being on the blog today!
About The Book:
By: Jennifer E. Smith
Published by: Little Brown
To Be Released on: April 2nd, 2013
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads
If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?
About the Author:
Jennifer E. Smith is the author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, The Storm Makers, You Are Here, and The Comeback Season. She earned her master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City. Her writing has been translated into 28 languages.
Follow Jennifer on: her Website | Twitter
The Giveaway:
Thank you to Little Brown I have an exciting giveaway in-store for today! 5 winners will each win a Jennifer E Smith prize pack that includes a paper back copy of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, a galley of This Is What Happy Looks Like and a happy surprise.
To enter, please fill out the form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
For me, it’s easy to see the hurt beneath all that resentment, to understand that it comes from somewhere deeper. But then, I’m the one who invented her, so I suppose it’s a bit like how a parent with a really funny-looking kid can’t help thinking they’re beautiful. Oliver senses it too, though; he sees right to the heart of her, and it’s because of that – because of him – that she’s able to start moving forward again. Of course, I wish that all readers could see that too, but their frustration with her is also a sign that she’s three-dimensional enough to provoke that kind of feeling, and as long as they understand her more by the end of the book, then I feel like I’ve done my job. She might not be as immediately easy to love as some characters, but in my opinion, she’s definitely worth the wait. (And, of course, in the meantime, there’s always Oliver!)
THANK YOU Jennifer for being on the blog today!
About The Book:
By: Jennifer E. Smith
Published by: Little Brown
To Be Released on: April 2nd, 2013
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads
If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?
About the Author:
Jennifer E. Smith is the author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, The Storm Makers, You Are Here, and The Comeback Season. She earned her master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City. Her writing has been translated into 28 languages.
Follow Jennifer on: her Website | Twitter
The Giveaway:
Thank you to Little Brown I have an exciting giveaway in-store for today! 5 winners will each win a Jennifer E Smith prize pack that includes a paper back copy of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, a galley of This Is What Happy Looks Like and a happy surprise.
To enter, please fill out the form below.
Books and puppies :)
ReplyDeleteBooks & traveling!!
ReplyDeleteAnything involving books and reading/writing never fails to make me happy! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy son makes me happy!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed her debut book last year too, I just added this to my goodreads list :-) -- Things that make me happy? Reading, going to the movie theater, Ed Sheeran, dessert and my kids!
ReplyDeleteSunny days at the beach make me happy!
ReplyDeleteA day at my favorite beach with a good book and my family! Thanks for this awesome giveaway. I can't wait to read this book!
ReplyDeleteHappiness is... bringing a good book to the beach.
ReplyDeleteA good book, a good movie or just being with family.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this! I'm not really a YA Contemporary fan, in general, but I adored The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight so much! As for what makes me happy? Books, of course! Also, being out in wild, hiking, camping, whatever! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteKaris @ YA Litwit
When I receive something unexpected. :) With all honestly, it makes someone complete and the adrenaline rush from unexpected things brings joy that seems very precious :)
ReplyDeleteA good book, a cup of tea, and my kitty in my lap :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband's laugh <3
ReplyDeleteMy daughter makes me happy. Then of course, books, tea, and chocolate!! :)
ReplyDeleteMy family makes me happy
ReplyDeleteSnuggling up in a blanket and reading to my girls at bedtime!
ReplyDeleteMy family & books. Oh, and fuzzy socks on cold winter days. And chocolate. And penguins. :)
ReplyDeleteSpending time with my kids and doing fun activities with them.
ReplyDeleteMy family and books. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteErin K.
Books make me happy. And my dog. And my family.
ReplyDeleteA really good book.
ReplyDeleteBooks and music :)
ReplyDeleteBeing able to see my boyfriend over skype even though we live over 2,000 miles away from each other. :)
ReplyDeleteSpending time with my 3 kids and reading!
ReplyDeleteHappiness is.....a day with my family.
ReplyDeletereading
ReplyDeleteBooks and music and brown sugar cinnamon pop-tarts. Oh yes.
ReplyDeleteMy husband! Baked goods and BOOKS!!!
ReplyDeleteMy family and books!
ReplyDeleteIn addition to a good read, our family dog makes me very happy! Always happy to see me, with a wag of the tail and push of the snout for an ear rub.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me happy? Chocolate. And brownies. and Peanut butter. And animals. AND books. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm SOO excited for this book!
What makes me happy.... Puppies :)) and books of course! Thanks so much for the amazing giveaway!! :D :D :D
ReplyDeleteCoffee and a good book enjoyed in the sunshine on my front porch= my nirvana : )
ReplyDeleteGood books, my favorite tv shows, talking (not small-talk) with my friends, watching a nice movie at the cinema with friends. What else makes me happy? Right! YouTube!
ReplyDeleteSpending time with my kids and dogs, reading, and drinking coffee while eating hersheys kisses with almonds:)
ReplyDeleteCupcakes, cute puppies and babies
ReplyDeleteTop three things that make me happy: my family, reading, working out
ReplyDeleteMy kids make me happy, always.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this giveaway! I just pre-ordered this one for less than $10 for the hardcover on B&N. Good deal! :)
My family, friends, pets, books and coffee.;) Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteSomething that makes me really happy is when someone is kind to another. The little things like opening the door for someone full of groceries, or saying 'Good Morning' when you enter a room.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the giveaway!! :D I can't wait to read this book! After reading The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, I fell in love with Jennifer's writing!
Thank you! :D
New books, waking up on my own before 10 am, finding good new music, not stressing, and saving money.
ReplyDeleteChristina K. in the rafflecopter
ReplyDeleteBeing with my friends!!
Thank you:)
What makes me happy are books and music. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty obvious, but definitely books:) Luckily, 2013 is the year of AMAZING books!
ReplyDeleteMy grandsons!
ReplyDeletelag110 at mchsi dot com
My dog :) Thanks for a great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy friends :)
ReplyDeleteJennyC
A new book in the mail!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Leanne
Cracking open a new book!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy family, my dogs, playing hooky from work, and a good book!
ReplyDeleteMy boys sweet sticky kisses :)
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me happy? Books. Lol. ;)
ReplyDeleteBooks and food! :)
ReplyDeleteLacey T
Reading a good book makes me happy and so does travelling! I'm also loving all these posts from Jennifer for the blog tour. :D
ReplyDeleteSleeping! Or rather, feeling well-rested.
ReplyDeleteLots of things make me happy, but getting surprise phone calls/emails/messages/texts from friends who I haven't seen in a long time always puts a special smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to be myself without worrying about people judging me.
ReplyDeleteMy kids have the ability to say the funniest thing or just give me a random hug at a moment when I am feeling down and it just eases my mind and puts me in a better mood :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful days on the beach, laying under the song with a cold drink and a book in hand!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
BOOKS make me happy. But making my family, especially my parents,happy and proud is the best form of happiness any daughter can ever feel. :)
ReplyDeleteBuying books makes me happy. There's nothing better than getting a brand new book and sitting it on your bookshelf. :)
ReplyDeleteBooks and food!
ReplyDeletereading books eating sundaes and sleeping in~~~
ReplyDeleteBooks and spending time with my family make me happy.
ReplyDeleteWell, books, obviously, and I love running.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, btw. Cannot wait for TIWHLL!