Monday, March 7, 2011

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Letters from Home by Kristina McMorris




 

Released March 1, 2011




Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief conversation - cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty - but Liz can't forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees.

Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.



While on a weekend visit several years ago, Kristina interviewed her grandma Jean for the biographical section of a self-published cookbook intended as a Christmas gift for the family. It was only then Kristina learned that her grandmother and late grandfather had dated but twice before they married during World War II, as their relationship had blossomed almost entirely from an exchange of letters. Allowing her Navy man's messages to speak for themselves, Grandma Jean promptly retrieved from her closet a box of his posts, every one of them yellowed and wrinkled from age; yet the words remained just as moving as if he had written them yesterday.

Soon after, Kristina began to ponder how different the couple's relationship could have been had their correspondence been woven with fibers of deceit. Therein bloomed the idea for her first novel. Kristina hopes Letters from Home succeeds in honoring a generation of humble, unsung heroes who should never be forgotten.

About Kristina McMorris

Kristina McMorris lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Her foray into fiction began in the fall of 2006 as a result of interviewing her grandmother for the biographical section of a self-published cookbook intended as a holiday gift for the family. Inspired by her grandparents’ wartime courtship, Kristina penned her first novel, a WWII love story titled Letters from Home. This award-winning debut is scheduled for release in trade paperback from Kensington Books (2-22-11; U.S.) and Avon/HarperCollins (5-5-11; U.K.). The condensed book rights have been sold to Reader’s Digest, and the film rights are represented by the prestigious Creative Artists Agency of Los Angeles.

Prior to her literary career, Kristina acted in numerous independent films and major motion pictures. She began hosting an Emmy-award winning television show at age nine, and most recently served as the six-year host of the WB’s weekly program Weddings Portland Style. Adding to her diverse résumé, McMorris is a professional emcee, literary workshop presenter, and former owner of a wedding/event planning business. Her previous writing background includes being a contributing writer for Portland Bride & Groom magazine and ten years of directing public relations for an international conglomerate. A portion of Kristina’s sales proceeds from Letters from Home will benefit United Through Reading®, a nonprofit organization that video records deployed U.S. military personnel reading bedtime stories for their children. She is currently working on her next novel.

You can visit her website at www.kristinamcmorris.com.




*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*


I am giving away one BRAND NEW review copy of Letters from Home by Kristina McMorris.

To Enter:   

For 1 Entry: All you have to do is leave a comment and Make sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you are a winner. Otherwise, I won't be able to include your name in the drawing. 

For a 2nd Entry (Seperate Comment):  Follow my blog, you can follow through Google Friend Connect to the left in my side column. If you already do, thank you, and please  make sure to let me know in your comment so I can pass the entry on to you as well. Make sure to include your email address.

Open to US and Canada only.

Enter by March 31, 2011.



36 comments:

  1. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. This book sounds wonderful and I would love to win and read it.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I follow by google reader under
    cenya2.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bonnie-this book looks like a really great read. I'll definitely have to check into it. I love reading your blog!

    Susie smr071165@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love books which involve letters so I think I would love this book. Letter writing is very overlooked these days. There is just something so special about a hand written letter. Thanks for the opportunity to win this.

    bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am also a google follower

    bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I thought this one sounded wonderful!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would love a chance to win this book!
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I also follow through Google Friends.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  10. would love to read this beautiful story...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. email subscriber :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Enjoyed reading this story.. Thanks for posting

    ReplyDelete
  13. I so want to read this book! Please, enter me in this giveaway. Thanks!

    gcpeach17 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am a GFC follower.

    gcpeach17 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the giveaway!!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This sounds like a great book!


    Amy // artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Bonnie - Thanks for hosting my giveaway and spotlight! I'm grateful for your help in spreading word about a book that's very close to my heart.

    ReplyDelete
  19. new follower. thanks!

    jen161 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like everything I've read about this book!

    chey127 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow by gfc.
    chey127 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would love to read this.

    misusedinnocence@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. This book has really caught my attention lately. I'd love a chance to win!

    afewmorepages at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I would enjoy reading this book. Thanks.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I follow with Google Friend Connect.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Please enter me into the contest.
    Kevin Meyers
    kalnazzar@gmail.com
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  27. I would love to be entered to win!
    Julie Meyers/Amosette
    officiallyjewels@gmail.com
    Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. It is not normally something I would pick up for myself but I am trying to branch out. Thanks for the chance.
    ykatrina at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love that the idea for this book came from a visit and conversation Kristina had with her grandmother. This book sounds captivating.

    Thnak you for the giveaway!

    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm a GFC follower of your blog!


    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I would enjoy reading this book. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am a GFC follower/Email Subscriber.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  33. This sounds like such a delightful read. Would love to win it! Thanks for the chance.

    susanaudrey33 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I would love to read Letters from Home! Please enter me in this giveaway.

    bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

    ReplyDelete
  35. Follow via GFC.

    bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

    ReplyDelete
  36. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting and sharing a comment!