Summer reading.
Ahhhh….that simple pleasure that transports you no matter where you are. Poolside. Shoreside. Curled up in a favorite chair.
Well, get ready to add to your summer reading list! Overseas, by first time novelist, Beatriz Williams, is launching tomorrow and the early reviews are stellar! Here are just a few about this passionate sweeping novel of love that transcends time.
— The Library Journal (Starred Review)
— Ladies’ Home Journal
— Examiner.com
— Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA from Columbia, Beatriz spent several years in New York and London trying to hide her early attempts at fiction. First, on company laptops as a corporate and communications strategy consultant and then as a stay at home mother of four! Beatriz now lives near the Connecticut shore balancing writing and laundry.
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| Copyright Sigrid Estrada |
As we are approaching Mother’s Day weekend, Beatriz wrote a short essay for us about balancing work & motherhood that will have you smiling and give you a taste of her witty writing style. Enjoy!
is so familiar by now, I almost get a kick out of it. “Four children?” the woman demands, eyebrows shooting into outer space. “Oh my goodness. How do you do it?”
place at a cocktail party in carbon-conscious Marin County, California, rather
than back home in the iconic East Coast afflu-burb into which life has pitched
me. Families with four and even five kids aren’t
all that uncommon where I live, although it’s
considered rather vulgar to attempt it without at least one nanny, so my brood
can safely walk around town without any Von Trapp jokes flying our way.
we don’t have a nanny. We don’t even have a second car, just a minivan with an interior
coated in a timeless film of stickiness. If my kids go out the door in matching
outfits, it’s purely by lucky accident; if
a week goes by without me racing after the school bus with a homework folder
waving frantically from my hand, it’s a divine miracle. So I can’t quite explain how I’ve managed to write six novels
in the past three years. I can only offer a few survival techniques, and if you
successfully apply them to balance your own career with family life, you’re a better woman than I am, Gunga Din.
necessities: family, writing, and running. Anything else – including sleep, sadly –
gets done in the bitter dregs of time left over from these activities. Look, if
you think you can accomplish anything without sacrifice, think again.
expectations.
Over the past few years, I’ve carefully cultivated a
reputation for absent-mindedness among my friends and family. That way, no one’s offended when I forget to RSVP for the party until the
day before, or when the Christmas thank-you notes arrive just in time for
Easter.
not. In fact,
the life of a stay-at-home mom is well-suited to a writing career. As I race
the Sticky Minivan along the leafy streets of town to pick up Four from nursery
school, my mind is hard at work on a dialogue between my protagonists. While
Two pouts her way through ballet class, I’m trying to work out a plot
conundrum without killing off any major characters.
years ago, when I wrote my first published novel during a six-week period of
insomniac creativity, and I recently upgraded from grande to venti. Don’t ask me why it took four kids and six books. Like I said
before, I haven’t the faintest idea.
Now to the fun part. Beatriz is going to give away a signed copy of her new novel, Overseas, to one of you! Just leave a comment by Sunday, May 13th and I’ll pick one at random. Open to everyone…so spread the word!
Let’s get busy reading!
Oh Elizabeth,
I would love to win this and place it on the pile of Summer reading! My Mother always taught me to walk with your head held high and your feet firmly planted on the ground, down to earth qualities she said are hard to come by but never let it stop your head from reaching for those stars. I think Beatriz sounds like she had a very similar Mom.
pve
woo hoo, I sure could use a good summer read.
I'm smiling, Beatice has learned the tricks, always be thinking no matter what you're doing. Even when I'm riding our tractor around the side field I'm thinking and have a pen and paper with me to write things down for work. Sounds like a wonderful book and the perfect read for me!
XX
Debra~
Love Beatriz's third point – I find myself composing blogs as I drive to work or wait for the boys to get off the river… Voice notes on the phone is a god send! This looks like a must-read and a great book to follow 50 Shades!
xxoo
I'm always looking for a good new summer read! And love "finding" new authors.
Sounds like a great read. I'm adding it to my list!
Best,
Susan
I would love to have a good book to read. Almost through the school year with the kids and really looking forward to some down time.
Wow she sounds like an amazing multi tasking intelligent woman who has it going on! Would love to win her book…the coffee and the prioritizing part are daily mantras of mine….funny about cultivating a reputation for absent mindedness, clever!
Oh I loved Overseas, it was the best book I've read in ages and will definitely go on my best of 2012 list. I have a copy but would LOVE to have a signed copy
Beatriz will be featured tomorrow on my B&N forum and my blog here on google too.
thanks for the contest and the great article
deb
Would love a copy, Elizabeth! Looks fabulous, and I love a good book.
Thank you for sharing this author with us.
Teresa
xoxo
She sounds fascinating! I am always looking for new books 🙂
Both she and her book sound simply marvelous. As the mother of four as well, I can sympathize and relate to much of her advice!!
Forget the giveaway…the post was the real prize! Would love to hear even more but there's no way there is time 😉
Sounds like Beatriz is making it all work. Like her style of writing the book should be a good read and perfect for the summer. Lindabberry@aol.com
I have known Beatriz since we were 6 years old, so I know how talented she is! I am so happy for her and can't wait to read the book!
Kelley Byes
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for sharing a Beatriz's witty little article with us:)
I laughed out loud seeing how she "manages expectations" by proving absent-mindedness on a regular basis. Not a bad idea to appreciate the value in it.
I'm infamous for RSVPing the day after and I repeatedly feel guilty.
Next time around I'll think of this essay and smile knowing I'm simply doing it for the greater good.
Would be honored with an autographed copy of Overseas because I'm an amateur writer myself and truly look up to Beatriz's unique style and insane work ethic.
Your house and flowers are stunning by the way…i've always loved classic looking colonials.
Stay pretty in pink,
Nikki
Would love to win this book – sounds like the perfect summer read.
I'd happily add this to my stack of books to read! Never enough books!
xo Cathy
Sounds like a great laugh out loud summer read! I can't wait to pick it up… may not be able to wait until then!
I love to read and belong to two bookclubs. The book looks like something I would definitely read.
Deanne H.
dhelgesen@sbcglobal.net
Can't wait to read this. barbara@martineer.net
Sounds like a good summer read! Count me in!
Oh, Beatriz is a woman after my own heart. I already indentify with her; working mother of 3 children, imperfect and doing everything we can to stay organized and trying our head above water. Can't wait to read her novel. mggiecr@aol.com
Oh, her blurb is great. Having come home from whole foods with the kids safe, but the groceries left in the cart in the parking lot a couple of weeks ago (thank godness they were there when I came back 10 minutes later!) and having driven around town today w/o the kids only to realize in the carpool line that I'd been listening to kids music all morning while running errands completely unaware….and in the land of 4+ kids, no work outside the home and everyone having a nanny…..I can identify with this. I have thought of writing a novel since I quit my corporate job…..always have an excuse and more first chapters scribbled down than I care to admit. I feel inspired…..at least to buy the book for our beach vacation coming up 🙂 Hope the remodel isn't killing you…almost there, right?
Please enter me in the drawing, the book sounds wonderful.
I will definitely put this book on my summer reading list. I love all your suggestions! I hope I win!!!
This sounds like a wonderful book. Happy Mother's Day.
Sounds intriguing! I need a summer read!
The excerpt sounds amazing!
Sounds like a good read. Enjoyed her dispatch, too.
Happy Weekend.
I was just looking for my next book to read. This may be the one. Love your blog!
Would love a copy! She sounds like an amazing woman.