Spotlight + Giveaway: Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

Seven Days of Us
Author: Francesca Hornak
Genre: Adult Contemporary/Holiday
Release Date: October 16, 2018 (Paperback edition)
Publisher: Berkley Books

Description:

"Sharply funny."--People

Only the most extraordinary circumstances can reunite the Birch family for the holidays...

It's Christmas, and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof. Even Emma and Andrew's elder daughter--who is usually off saving the world--will be joining them at Weyfield Hall. But Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home because she has to. She's just returned from treating an epidemic abroad and has been told she must stay in quarantine for a week...and so too should her family.

For the next seven days, the Birches are locked down, cut off from the rest of humanity, and forced into each other's orbits. Younger, unabashedly frivolous daughter Phoebe is fixated on her upcoming wedding, while Olivia deals with the culture shock of first-world problems.

As Andrew sequesters himself in his study writing scathing restaurant reviews and remembering his glory days as a war correspondent, Emma hides a secret that will turn the whole family upside down.

In close proximity, not much can stay hidden for long, and as revelations and long-held tensions come to light, nothing is more shocking than the unexpected guest who's about to arrive...  

Francesca Hornak is a British author, journalist and former columnist for the Sunday Times. Her debut novel Seven Days Of Us will be published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in October 2017. Little Island Productions has pre-empted TV rights to the book.

Francesca's work has appeared in newspapers and magazines including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Metro, Elle, Grazia, Stylist, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and Red. She is the author of two nonfiction books, History of the World in 100 Modern Objects: Middle Class Stuff (and Nonsense) and Worry with Mother: 101 Neuroses for the Modern Mama. 

Author Links:
http://www.twitter.com/FrancescaHornak 

(1) Paperback copy of Seven Days of Us - Open to US only

  a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Spotlight: A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

A Boy Called Christmas

Author: Matt Haig
Illustrator: Chris Mould 
Genre: Children/MG/Fiction/Holiday
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Description:

Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible... Lemony Snicket meets Elf in this warmhearted Christmas caper.

Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him.

Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late...

Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called Christmas is a cheeky new Christmas classic-in-the-making from acclaimed author Matt Haig and illustrator Chris Mould.
 

Praise for A Boy Called Christmas:

 

«“Like stockings hung by the fire, this spellbinding opus may well become a yuletide tradition.”  —Kirkus Reviews

 

“Matt Haig has written the most evergreen, immortal Christmas story to be published for decades. Future generations will receive the same comfort and joy from A Boy Called Christmas that they derive from mince pies, snowmen and creamy liqueurs.” —Stephen Fry, Actor and Comedian

 

“The Christmas book of the year.”—The Sun

 “A Boy Called Christmas delivers an utter blast of joy.” — Herald

 

“A new festive classic”—Mail on Sunday

 

“Like enjoying the warmth of a good fire on a cold day. […]Chris Mould’s brilliant line drawings inject rich humour into this gentle, affecting story, perfect for Christmas in every way.” — Independent

 

“Matt Haig puts the Happy back into Christmas.” —Jeanette Winterson, award-winning author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

“The definitive (and funny) history of ho, ho, ho! My children loved it.” —Yann Martel, bestselling author of Life of Pi
 

MATT HAIG is an award-winning author whose novels for children and adults have been translated into 25 languages. His children's books have won the Smarties Gold Medal, the Alex Award, The Blue Peter Book of the Year, and been nominated several times for the Carnegie Medal and the Waterstones Book Prize. He lives in Brighton with his wife and two children.

http://www.matthaig.com/ 


Chris Mould is the illustrator of Captain Beastlie’s Pirate Party, written by Lucy Coats. Chris went to art school at the age of sixteen. During this time, he did various jobs, from delivering papers to washing-up. He has won the Nottingham Children’s Book Award and been commended for the Sheffield. He loves his work and likes to write and draw the kind of books that he would have liked to have on his shelf as a boy. He is married with two children and lives in Yorkshire.

Chris Mould spends his working day in one of the prestigious art studios at Dean Clough Mills in Halifax. His studio is clearly marked with a skull and crossboned warning as to what might lie within.

Chris is not confined to book illustration. He has worked for the RSC, the BBC, the FT and many other famous initials, aswell as film development work for Aardman Animations which included character and environment development work on the film Flushed Away.

When away from his studio, Chris spends most of his time with his wife Sue and his two daughters Emily and Charlotte. (Author bio and photos taken from Goodreads)

http://www.somethingwickedlyweird.com/ 




 

Review: The Lost Gift by Kallie George & Stephanie Graegin

The Lost Gift: A Christmas Story
Author: Kallie George
Illustrator: Stephanie Graegin
Genre: Picture Book/Holiday
Release Date: October 18, 2016
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

Description:

In this charming Christmas-themed picture book that feels like a classic, four animals deliver a lost package for Santa.
 
It’s Christmas Eve, and Bird, Rabbit, Deer, and Squirrel are eagerly waiting for Santa to fly overhead. When he does, a gift tumbles out of his sleigh, landing in the woods. The friends find the gift and read the tag: “For the new baby at the farm. Love, Santa.” And so, in spite of Squirrel’s grumbling—“It’s not our baby”—they set off on a long journey to deliver it. Sweet, poignant, and starring a cast of truly adorable characters, this is a story sure to be shared year after year at Christmastime.  

PRAISE FOR THE LOST GIFT:

“Graegin creates...an atmosphere of quiet magic as the animals discover the rewards of doing a kind deed.”—Publishers Weekly

“A delightful, quiet story with a subtle theme of giving to others as a gift in itself.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A cheerful choice for lapsits or storytime.”—School Library Journal

“Listeners and readers will empathize with the characters’ emotions, captured in friendly, digitally colored pencil-and-ink-wash illustrations.”—The Horn Book Magazine

The Lost Gift: A Christmas Story is an adorable picture book that will enchant readers of all ages! The story follows four animal friends on Christmas Eve as they discover a present that has fallen off of Santa's sleigh. They decide to help Santa by delivering the present themselves, and in the meantime, they learn some fantastic life lessons. Even though this is a picture book, the story was well developed and the animal characters were rounded. Each had a unique personality and traits that set them apart - which made it easy to empathize with them right away. Although the story isn't very long, it touches upon several great topics including friendship, doing what's right, and helping others. 

The illustrations were so cute and well done. There was a great amount of color and shading to bring the story and characters to life in front your eyes. The use of colored pencils was a good choice and the artist did a wonderful job creating fun illustrations to accompany the story. This is a fantastic story for children learning to read, as the text isn't overwhelming and will keep them engaged. It's also a great book to read to small children during the holiday season - or for all readers who enjoy a cute story with furry friends.

Kallie George
 I’m an author, editor, and speaker living in Vancouver, BC, near the sea. When I’m not writing or editing, I’m teaching creative writing workshops.

I have my Masters of Children's Literature from the University of British Columbia.

I love picture books, fairy tales, beautiful art and music, and baking cookies.

http://www.kalliegeorge.com/



Stephanie Graegin is the illustrator of Forget Me Not by Nancy Van Laan; Water in the Park by Emily Jenkins, which received three starred reviews; and Happy Birthday, Bunny! by Liz Garton Scanlon, which received two starred reviews. Graegin earned her BFA from the Maryland Institute for Fine Arts and her MFA in printmaking from the Pratt Institute. You can visit her at graegin.com.  

*A huge thank you to the wonderful people at Random House Children's Books for sending me a copy of the book for review!*