Book Signing: Leila Howland - Author of Nantucket Blue - Giveaway

A special thank you to Patricia @ TUABFC for making me this graphic

Yesterday was a signing that I had been really looking forward to. I had heard great things about Nantucket Blue from a lot of bloggers that I follow and thought it would be a perfect book for a summer read. And I was thrilled to find out that the author Leila Howland was going to be at the Huntington Barnes and Nobles on a Thursday. So I gathered up my usual troops and we head down there for the signing. But this signing was extra special because we got to bring my friend's 4 year old son Dean with us.

When we got there we started talking to a girl in front of us about books and different signings that we went to or planned to attend. I had a feeling she was a blogger, because she had an ARC of Nantucket Blue with her. She also looked familiar, but I had assumed I had just seen her at different signings. But when I got home I realized that she was Rachel from The Reader's Den so I quickly sent her a note on Goodreads to say Hi. Its just amazing to me how great the YA blogging/reading community is and how you can always run into people you follow or have discussed books with at a signing.

When Leila started she read an exert form her book. She had originally had chosen another piece, but changed her mind after spending the day at the water. If you would like to listen to her read you can go here!

Then she followed with a Q & A. Here were some of the questions asked.

Q: Have you ever been to Nantucket?

A: Yes she actually spend a summer down there when she was 18 as a chambermaid. Just like Cricket her protagonist.

Q: How long did it take you to write this book?

A: About a year.

Q: Did you have someone like Jewel in your life?

A: Yes she did. She really hoped that she did Jewel justice. That she were pain enough to make her anger seem real. She had known people that when they go through a major life change, they push away the people closet to them. And with Jewel her tragedy is so severe, that she is not ready to cope with it yet.

Q: There's a sequel? (YAY) Who is the protagonist?

A: Cricket is the still the protagonist, but there is a whole new set of cirumstances. It takes place a year later in the summer. High school is over and now they are starting to face the reality that they are starting college.

Q: Is Cricket still with Zack ? When does it come out?

A: "Ohhh I can't tell you that!" There is no date yet, it is still with her editor.

Guys I don't know about you but I am SUPER EXCITED about this book and am so happy to have my own copy! And let me just tell you guys how sweet Leila is. 1st - Dean wanted to get his coloring book signed and she was so sweet to him and even left him a cute note.

2nd- I had tweeted Leila about how excited I was about coming to her signing. I didn't mention anything to her when I went up to get my book signed. I figured authors get TONS of tweets from their fans daily. But Lelia remembered and shortly after the signing tweeted me. That is super cool of her!

Anyways guys! You know how much I love finding new great books! And I love sharing them with you! So I have a signed copy to giveaway! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below! and Good Luck! Yes this is open internationally!