Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

How 'Bout Them Apples?



GIVEAWAY, REVIEWS, INTERVIEW!

Go to Swept Away By Romance for an awesome giveaway that includes APPLES SHOULD BE RED, apple lip balm and soap. I also got two fabulous reviews by Dorsey and Karla. My favorite quote:

"62 is the new bad boy."

Yes, yes it is!

And for an extra added bonus, there is an interview that includes a photo of me from college, some new abbreviations for geriatric love stories, and the word "ballsy."

Have fun.


More kick-ass reviews and quotes for APPLES....

"Hilarious and sweet, a delightfully romantic gem of a story." -- Laura Florand, Bestsellling Author of The Chocolate Series

"Gutsy, funny, and bold, APPLES SHOULD BE RED is a delight." -- Theresa Weir, NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author

Dear Author: "[APPLES SHOULD BE RED] puts the comic back into romance and the romantic back into comedy. It is absolutely precious."

New York Journal of Books: "A romance between a 59-year-old prissy heroine and a 62-year-old grouchy hero should not be sexy...Wrong. Dead wrong."

Romance Novel News: "Tom and Bev's courtship is an absolute delight."

Babbling About Books: "Penny Watson proves that romance is alive, well and sexy after fifty-five."

Lurv A La Mode: "...a healthy dose of snort-worthy laughter...Watson has a uniquely clever and amusing voice..."

Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books: "Despite the unconventional set-up, APPLES SHOULD BE RED is actually very traditional in its promotion of community, family, love, and second chances."





Have a great day!
Penny


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Penny Vs. Decapitated Barbie Head: I'm Putting My Money On Barbie





For some God-forsaken reason, my daughter loves Decapitated Barbie.

That's what I call those huge Barbie heads that were created to practice styling hair, putting on make-up, or perhaps act as a stand-in imaginary friend for sad little girls.

I stupidly purchased Decapitated Barbie for the first time when she was about four years old. After she and her posse of girlfriends were finished with that thing, it looked like Chuckie (see photo below)...


...another disturbing doll, had done unspeakable things to Decapitated Barbie Head that involved Sharpie markers, sharp objects, glitter, and some pink nail polish.

Decapitated Barbie Head was dumped, unceremoniously, into the garbage can.

A few hours later, she showed up on the dining room table.

Undeterred, I tried again. Decapitated Barbie Head was dumped in the trash bin in the garage.

The next day, I found her on the stairs.

OK. So I was perhaps slightly discombobulated by seeing Barbie's glittery eyes staring at me from the stairway.

I covered her with a rag and put her in a trash can hidden in the far corner of the garage.

By dinnertime, Decapitated Barbie mocked me from the kitchen counter.

It was full-on war, and I was determined to win this battle.

On garbage day, I waited until the truck pulled up in front of my house, and hand-delivered Decapitated Barbie to the garbage men. Her hair had been hacked and was standing up like an electrocution victim. Her face was covered with Sharpie doodles. I don't think Ken would have been too keen to go out on a date with this Barbie.

The garbage men, God bless their souls, raised an eyebrow and chucked Decapitated Barbie into their truck.

Victory!

One month later, as Natalie opened her birthday gifts, I stared horrified at not one, not two, but FOUR Decapitated Barbie heads. Without my knowledge, she had asked all of her friends to get her Decapitated Barbie Head as a birthday gift.

(Yes, my daughter is diabolical if you haven't figured that out yet).

And so the battle continues to this day. Decapitated Barbie Head taunts me. I attempt to dispose of her. And lo and behold, she turns up in the laundry basket. (See photo above I took this morning).

I concede defeat.

Decapitated Barbie Head has kicked my sorry ass.


Some exciting news and updates...

Some great reviews for LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE!

❀ From Tales of Whimsy: "The art is pure whimsy...The story is equally clever and whimsical...Lucy is one fab pooch and I look forward to her future adventures. 5 STARS"

❀ From Darlene Marshall: "The illustrations are dynamic and vibrant, and the story by Nina Clark captures the essence of diva dachshunds."

❀ From Pearls Cast Before A McPig: "...it is an awesome book...the story is cute, touching and funny and the illustrations not only fit the story very well, they're really beautiful in my opinion."

❀ From Babbling About Books: "How can you not want to read about an adorable doxie who becomes a super weenie dog with special powers? Also the illustrations are wonderful!"

❀ From Pam Smallcomb, author of EARTH TO CLUNK: "Lucy (a licking-obsessed wiener dog diva) is sure to tickle the funny bones of young kids and wiener dog-lovers of all ages. The bright, charmingly wacky illustrations build the perfect world for a wiener dog with a newly-found superpower."

❀ From BookHounds: "...absolutely loved it...This should be on any dog lover's book shelf."

ALSO, BookHounds loved LUCY so much, they are offering a give-away! So please stop by to enter the contest. Here is the link...



YIPPPEEEEEEE!


LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE is now available in paperback and digital formats!

Have a great day! (Even Decapitated Barbie Head)
Penelope

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

And This, My Good Friends, Is Why You Need A Sense Of Humor



This book is too sickly sweet.
This book is so sweet! It's filled with Christmas spirit.
I love Nicholas and Lucy.
I hate Nicholas and Lucy.
I love that Nicholas has a beard.
I hate that Nicholas has a beard.
This is very well-written.
This book is terrible.
This book is charming.
This book is wacky.
I love the cover.
I hate the cover.

And my favorite...
I want to burn this book because Phantom Menace is clearly the worst Star Wars movie ever made.


All In A Day's Work, My Friends
Penelope

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

In Defense Of Spoilers



I have been following an interesting thread at Amazon where folks are discussing the pros and cons of spoilers, among other issues. Here are some thoughts on the subject.....

First of all, there is a difference between stating an "opinion" of a book, and writing a review. For example...

This is an "opinion".... That book sucked.

This is a "review".... That book sucked because of poor writing, shallow characterization, too much purple prose, and unresolved conflict.

This is an even better review..... That book sucked because of poor writing (do you not know how to spell "captin"?), shallow characterization (we never got to see any deep POV for Charlie's character), too much purple prose ("your petals are filled with the sweetest dew") and unresolved conflict (what happened to the sister trapped in a Turkish prison)?

In other words, an opinion is just a statement with nothing to back it up. A review should be supported by details. Specific details make it even better.

I have an academic background. You always, always, always, support your hypothesis. You cite specific examples from the text to back up your claim. It's still an opinion. What I consider purple prose someone else might think is the best writing since the holy bible. But at least I am supporting my point of view with details.

This is why I use spoilers in my reviews. This is also why I usually don't read full reviews of books until AFTER I have read them. I don't want to spoil the read for myself, but I enjoy checking out other folks' opinions after the fact.

It is possible to write a general review that includes basic details without including spoilers. I do it all the time. It just sounds like a more generic review. "Great pacing, lovely setting, beautiful love story!" This is fine. But this is even better..... "The moment when Zsadist scribbles 'I love you' on a scrap of paper and hands it to Bella is one of the most touching scenes I have ever read in a romance." It's a spoiler, but it also captures what is magical about that book.

So, those are my deep thoughts for the day!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday,
Penelope