Merry Christmas Wishes x

We would like to wish

all our blogging friends

and our Beck Valley Books customers

A Very Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year xx

Our blog will re-open 4th January 2013

Something you can practise on while we're away !! :-)

Interview with Karey White author of For What It's Worth plus $25 Amazon GC & Book Give Away

Tour Schedule

For What It's Worth by Karey White
Twenty-four year-old, Abby Benson has dreams of owning her own wedding cake shop. An inheritance from her aunt gives her the ability to make those dreams come true. She hires Dane, a handsome contractor, to help her get the bakery up and running and soon they’re moving toward their own happy ending.

Unsure what to charge for her cakes, Abby has a crazy idea to let the customer decide what they think their cake is worth. This plan has its ups and downs, but the novelty of the idea makes her a local celebrity. When she is interviewed on television about the unusual idea, business booms and Abby has cake adventures she never dreamed possible. But as her fame grows, Abby is swept up in a whirlwind that threatens everything she values. With the challenges that face her, will she be able to determine what is worth the most?

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Book Trailer

Author Karey White 
Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Links

Website * Twitter * Facebook 

Interview with Author Karey White
What or who inspired you to start writing? 
I had a couple of English classes in junior high and high school that sparked my interest. Mr. Higginson and Miss Reynolds were a big part of that.

How did you come up with the idea for the book? 
I delivered a beautiful wedding cake to a bride with a candy-themed wedding. The table decorations were huge glass jars of brightly colored candy and the cake was white fondant with these colorful swirls. The other of the bride saw the cake and expressed her surprise that it was such a bargain. It made me wonder what she'd have paid if she'd determined the price. It just kind of evolved from there.

What would your dream wedding cake look like? 
Either something very elegant, like white-on-white and lacy, or something very playful and interesting, like a hand-painted cake.

What has been the hardest part of writing and publishing your book? 
Finding the time to write is a challenge and I have to guard writing time carefully. After the book is written, the hardest thing for me is some of the things involving marketing and promotion. I feel awkward and conspicuous at book signings. Hopefully it doesn't show too much.

What did you like to read as a girl? 
As a little girl, I loved Nancy Drew and The Boxcar Children. As a teenager, I enjoyed romances.

Who is your favourite author and why? 
This is such a hard question because I read so much and enjoy such a variety. But if I had to base my decision on what author I've read the most, it would be a tossup between Bess Streeter Aldrich and Lee Child. Those two couldn't be more different from each other, but I've read everything either of them have written.

What is your favourite tv / radio programme? 
I don't listen to a lot of radio. If I'm with my kids, they hook up their iPod and we listen to music. If I'm alone, I like to use that time to think and plot and brainstorm. As far as television goes, I enjoy Shark Tank, The Amazing Race and Top Chef. I really liked The Closer and was sad it ended, although it went out in the best possible way.

What is your favourite time of the year? 
My favorite time of year is from Thanksgiving until New Years Day. Good food. Lots of family time. Celebrating gratitude, the birth of our Savior and fresh starts. It doesn't get any better than that.

Do you have a particular favourite Christmas themed book? 
I adore the children's book The Tale of the Three Trees. I cry when I read it.

Besides writing, what else do you like to do? 
I love to cook, read, sew, travel and spend time with my family.

Have you already started writing your next book? 
I'm working on a new romance about a girl who is obsessed with the Matthew Macfadyen Mr. Darcy. It's been so much fun to write and I'm really excited about it.

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card + A Copy of For What It's Worth

Paperback available to US only, Ebook Available Internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Praise for For What It's Worth
Reading Karey White’s books, like eating chocolate cake, is always satisfying and brings a smile to my face. For What It’s Worth is light, romantic, and delicious. It’s a great pleasure read. Sit down and get lost in the charming world of wedding cakes and love. As an added bonus, each chapter  starts with a recipe, so it’s a novel and cookbook all in one. A fun read!
—Teri Harman, KSL columnist, Studio 5 contributor, and author of Blood Moon, available June 22, 2013

I just loved the book – loved it. Hated putting it down and hated finishing it. Karey White is my new Maeve Binchy, her writing as warm as the bakery her novel is set in. For What It’s Worth surprised me, made me smile, say “no” out loud in a public place. I love when a character feels like my sister. I didn’t want to finish it, so now I may try the recipes that began every chapter.
—Amanda Dickson, author and radio personality

This book oozes charm, romance, and mouth-watering recipes. If you want to escape reality and curl up with a darling story, For What It’s Worth is the perfect fit. Thank you, Karey White!
—Rachael Anderson, author

This is a book worth every penny of the price. In the business of baking wedding cakes, every detail must be perfection, but this story remembers that real life is oh-so-messy. White’s clear and honest writing left me hungry for good food, a close family, and a little romance. A beautiful marriage of food, family, and faith.
—Regina Sirois, author of On Little Wings, 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

MVM Giveaway Linkup Time !!

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• List your giveaways below.
• Hop over and enter 1 or 2 (or all) of the giveaways! If you're the lucky winner, we'd love to hear!

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Sharon x

   

http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Winner of the St Claws $50 Amazon and Books Give Away is.....

WINNER OF THE
ST CLAWS $50 AMAZON AND BOOKS GIVEAWAY
IS

SHERRI C

CONGRATULATIONS !!

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Puffin Post Says Goodbye !!

Sniffup, Puffineers. Puffin Post, the much-loved children's books magazine which has been running for more than 40 years, has breathed its last.

Launched in 1967 by Kaye Webb, the legendary editor of Puffin Books, the magazine has boasted contributions from some of the most acclaimed names in children's literature, from Alan Garner and Roald Dahl to Joan Aiken, Leon Garfield and Spike Milligan. A mix of stories, jokes, interviews, competitions and quizzes, the magazine was also packed with reader contributions, and by the end of its first year Puffin Post had 16,000 members. At its height, this reached more than 200,000 readers, who would greet each other with the secret code: "Sniffup", which required the response: "Spotera" ("Puffins are tops", backwards).

Puffin Post was discontinued in 1982, but relaunched in 2009 through The Book People as a bi-monthly magazine including contributions from Charlie Higson, Cathy Cassidy and Michael Morpurgo, along with free books and – of course – collectable enamel membership badges. But a spokesperson for the magazine said today that "after careful thought and consideration, we will be returning the Puffin brand to its original home at Penguin Books and, as part of this decision, Puffin Post will not be continuing in the new year". The November issue, he said, had been the last.

A message to subscribers on Puffin Post's website said: "Firstly, thank you for all your support and apologies for any disappointment the closure of Puffin Post may cause … At the end of December, The Book People will cease to have use of the Puffin Brand and so will no longer run Puffin Post. As a result, subscriptions to Puffin Post will no longer be available and unfortunately Penguin are unable to offer the service into 2013."

"I'm genuinely sad about this," said the award-winning children's author Philip Ardagh, an honorary life member of the Puffin Club and a "huge fan".

"The Puffin Club was very exciting for me as a child. It was in the days when children didn't get mail, so to get a magazine through the post was very exciting. And it was very interactive in the days before websites. You could send in jokes, finish a story, write something original, do a drawing, you could join in as much or as little as you wanted to, as well as find out about authors – how they worked, what their houses were like."

The Grubtown Tales author said he had been "very excited" when the magazine returned in 2009, and added: "I really do hope that Penguin revive it. It still has little stubby Puffin legs and Puffin wings."

But Caroline Horn, children's books expert and editor of the children's books resource Reading Zone, felt it was unlikely that Puffin Post would rise from the ashes. "There is a lot of emotional attachment out there to Puffin Post [but] with the internet now, they don't really need it. So much is done online and through social media, and Penguin and Puffin are very good at that.

"Puffin Post is a really expensive way of getting to consumers, and you don't need it if you've got a lot of online support."

Guardian.co.uk

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Winners of the "If I Should Die Before My Dog --" Signed Book Give Away are .....

THE LUCKY WINNERS OF THE
"IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE MY DOG --" SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY
ARE

KATHLEEN M
JENNY L M
JODI
GLORIA W
VANESSA W B

CONGRATULATIONS !!


Special thanks to the authors Joe and Cathy Connolly for these marvelous prizes.x

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Follow My Pins !! Pinterest Hop !!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE for Karma Media Users - please read

<a href="http://beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGGXdzzh9vN-q7jTjoe2-ccMlPkx26Maqj3ewqrATDwPyKd0jcidHYL8V2TazAkAr3rBnEiRdKMOuJOKiT7kBU7DO95un_eLOOtXU0ezjww40ONEqLK9-6aFITL8fyWReqIKCgMA0LJXI/s1600/pinny.jpg" border="0" alt="Follow My Pins Pinterest Hop" /></a><br />

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Add your Pinterest link and follow those on the linky.

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Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Winner of the Goddess Girls $100 Give Away is.....

WINNER OF THE
GODDESS GIRLS $100 GIVEAWAY
IS

JAIME N

CONGRATULATIONS !!

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Winners of The Fear Of Things To Come Signed Book Give Away are......

WINNERS OF
THE FEAR OF THINGS TO COME SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY
ARE

MISTY N
JULIE T
ADRIEN B

CONGRATULATIONS !!

Special thanks to the author for this fabulous giveaway xx

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Winners of the Watcha Want Christmas Give Away are......

WINNERS OF THE
WATCHA WANT CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY

ARE

LINDA B
KAREN H
BECKY D
DONNA G
CHRIS C

CONGRATULATIONS !!

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Winner of the For What Its Worth Give Away is......

WINNER OF THE

FOR WHAT ITS WORTH BOOK BLAST GIVEAWAY

IS

JASMYN N

CONGRATULATIONS !!

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com

Book Humour - If Only !!

Sharon x

   
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com