Thursday, March 4, 2010

Coming Soon! Gayle Brandeis


Contest alert. Next week you can win a signed copy of Gayle Brandeis' latest book, MY LIFE WITH THE LINCOLNS (Henry Holt).
And you may also ask Gayle questions in the comment section about writing or about the process of researching Abraham Lincoln and the Chicago Freedom Movement.
The book jacket blurb reads:
Mina Edelman believes that she and her family are the Lincolns reincarnated. Her main tasks for the next three months: to protect her father from assassination, her mother from insanity, and herself--Willie Lincoln incarnate--from death at age twelve.
Apart from that, the summer of 1966 should be like any other. But Mina's dad begins taking Mina along to hear speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. in Chicago. And soon he brings the freedom movement to their own small town, with consequences for everyone.
Monday's post will feature an interview with Gayle about researching and writing this fascinating book. And Gayle graciously agreed to answer questions you ask.
This is Gayle's first novel aimed at younger readers. She is the winner of Barbara Kingsolver's Bellwether Prize for THE BOOK OF DEAD BIRDS. The prize is awarded to books that address social justice and the impact on culture and relationships.
Gayle's writing is at once lyrical and meaningful. Here is the opening from 'Dead Birds,' a story of a mixed-race girl whose Korean-born mother had been trapped into prostitution with American soldiers.
I remember the first time I flew.
I was four years old. My mother decided to take me to Balboa Park for the afternoon. I watched the back of her short-sleeved blouse as we crossed the parking lot to the playground; the sky-blue fabric tightened, then loosened, tightened, then loosened, across her shoulder blades, pointy as chicken wings. I tried to catch up, but my mother was too fast. Even then, I knew she didn't like to be seen with me in public.
From the beginning, the tone is set for this difficult mother-daughter relationship, for a child who doesn't fit, for the freedom of flight.
Gayle's other books include SELF STORAGE, a novel set in the year following the September 11 terrorist attacks, and FRUITFLESH: Seeds of Inspiration for Women Who Write.
2010 also marks the release of another of Gayle's novels, DELTA GIRLS (Ballantine) on June 22.
Disclosure: The hardcover copy of MY LIFE WITH THE LINCOLNS is from the publisher, and I should note that I've known Gayle for years and we are friends.
The contest rules will be like most. You'll get one entry for a comment, an additional one for posting a link and another for tweeting. I hope you'll join us.

17 comments:

Donna said...

I'm a longtime Gayle Brandeis fan. I had fun listening to an audio selection from MY LIFE WITH THE LINCOLNS. I think it was on Amazon.com. THE BOOK OF DEAD BIRDS is a favorite of mine.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

This book sounds wonderful. I can't wait for next week! :-)

Liza said...

Wow. Contest or not, just based on the snippet you included from Dead Birds, I'm going to add that to my reading list...which will mean her others too. Thank you Tricia.

Jade said...

It sounds like a really interesting book. I'm looking forward to it.

BK Mattingly said...

This book sounds great! Like Shannon, I can't wait until next week!

sarahjayne smythe said...

Sounds like a great contest and a great book. Can't wait. :)

* said...

Sounds like a treat of a book!

PS: Thanks for commenting/posting Clifton's Blessing the Boats on my blog. You are a gem, as is that poem.

Bish Denham said...

This books sounds like it's right up my alley!

Jemi Fraser said...

Wow - all of those sound like powerful books! Well worth a read :) I'm looking forward to the contest!

Karen Denise said...

These books sound very interesting. Thanks for the alert!

VR Barkowski said...

Looking forward to the interview and learning more about the new book.

Oh, and any woman writer who hasn't read Fruitflesh, should. It's full of beautiful words, wonderful meditations, even writing exercises. Awesome book.

MG Higgins said...

Looking forward to the interview. That snippet is great.

Robyn Campbell said...

The interview sounds great. Can't wait. I shall tweet and sing and whatever else I can do to spread the word my friend.

How are ya anyway? Have you been revising, revising, and revising?

Thanks for your friendship and prayers and caring for Christopher. Pat, it means more than you could ever know. Happy weekend pal. And I blew my dang diet today. *sigh* Oh well. I had fun eating lots of yummy bread. Tomorrow back to it. *maybe* =)

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Oh this looks wonderful. Sounds like something I would want my thirteen year old to read. What a great contest!! I'll be sure to tweet and whatnot. Is this the official contest announcement?

lisa and laura said...

This book sounds amazing. What a cool concept! I'm adding it to my TBR list!

Tess said...

I've heard great things about this one ... a MG novel, I think. Must pick it up (unless I'm the lucky one who WINS a copy) fingers crossed!

sanjeet said...

This book sounds wonderful. I can't wait for next week! :-)
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