Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Guest Post & GIveaway with Gabi Stevens

Today I want to welcome Author Gabi Stevens *waves* Hi Gabi !!! Thank You so much for stopping by to tell everyone about  your escapes and about your novel As You Wish.

More than anything, I read for escape, sweeping adventure, and an emotionally satisfying ending. That usually means a happy ending. I like it when the good guys win, the bad guys get what they deserve, and I can cheer at the action. Call me shallow, but I don’t want to leave despairing at the human condition, the futility of life, or lost in the mire of unanswerable questions. Reality entertains us (ha!) with enough surprises to depress the best of us; so reading about depressing things is the last thing I want to do. Wait, I take it back. Don’t call me shallow. Call me optimistic.

In my novel, AS YOU WISH, Regina Scott has overcome a childhood of not belonging. The only non-magical being in a family of Arcani, she has made a success of her life and helped her friends along the way. When she discovers she’s next in line to be a fairy godmother, her world changes. Suddenly she has to deal with burgeoning powers, a new love interest, a megalomaniac, and her too enthusiastic mother. The makings of a great story, if I do say so myself. Not only do you have the good fight, there’s also a love story. Sigh.

That doesn’t mean every problem is solved. Reggie runs a bakery, and her bakers are the friends she made while in special education at the magical school she attended (she didn’t have powers, remember). Tommy and Joy are two individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Instead of seeing what they can’t do, Reggie focuses on what they can and gives them the chance to prove themselves. Of course, Tommy and Joy have it a little easier because they have magic, but they are based on reality. I should know. My daughter has IDD. She is a typical teenager in more ways than not—fiercely independent, filled with attitude, and more concerned with her cell phone than her chores. For the first time in her life, she receives and sends texts and calls all thanks to a wonderful group.

Best Buddies International is a group that focuses on forming friendships between people with IDD and peer buddies. That’s it--friendship. My daughter has become more confident, takes an active part in her community, and has friends because of this group. Best Buddies™ opens up opportunities for individuals with IDD through programs in schools, colleges, and the community. So in honor of my two bakers and my daughter, I’ve pledged ten percent of my royalties from AS YOU WISH to Best Buddies™. Best Buddies™ fights the despair of reality. See, happy endings do exist in real life. Good guys do win, one can cheer at the ending, and despair can be defeated.

And I hope AS YOU WISH will give you that feeling too.

Here is a brief list of books and movies that left me cheering:
The Shawshank Redemption
Second Hand Lions
Dandelion Wine
Notting Hill
The Lost Duke of Wyndham
Bewitching

So what books or movies have left you cheering? One lucky commenter will receive a copy of AS YOU WISH. To win you MUST leave your email to be contacted or you will miss out!!!

--Gabi Stevens

AS YOU WISH (Available now)
THE WISH LIST (May 2010)
WISHFUL THINKING (March 2012)

Visit Gabi Here : 
or at Facebook and Twitter

Again Thank You Gabi for stopping by and I hope you have a chance to visit with me again soon : )  

Gabi will be picking her own winner by herself so good luck!!!

18 comments:

  1. Movies the made me cheer:
    LadyHawke, Ever After, Last of the Dog Soldiers, Sweet Home Alabama, Galaxy Quest, My cousin Vinny, etc.

    Books that made me cheer:
    Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands, The Dirk and Steele series by Marjorie M Liu, The Tairen series by CL Wilson

    You know, I really like this post. Not just because of your book that sounds like a wonderful read and just made it to the top of my wishlist, but because it's also for such a great cause. I hope this books sells out and gives back as much as you've put into it. Congratulations on this new release.

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

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  2. Love Actually always has me cheering for the couples in the end - especially Colin Firth and the Portuguese woman.

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  3. I agree with LadyVamp, Sweet Home Alabama did leave me cheering for the couple in the end.

    venturinhawendy(at)gmail(dot)com

    -Mocha from A Cupcake and A Latte: YA Reads, Reviews & More!.

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  4. I love these movies. I'd forgotten some of them.

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  5. Not entering the giveaway, I just wanted to say what a great book this is, and I loved the guest post. :)

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  6. Movies that left me cheering for the couple in the end: Brothers, An Officer and A Gentleman, Pretty Woman, and my favorite You've Got Mail.

    Books: I am still hoping that Georgina Kincaid ends up with Seth in The Succubus series by Richelle Mead.

    Yay for giveaways! Michelleoboyle(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. (not entering)

    This is a fantastic book!

    What books/movies have left me cheering? There have been so many! Movies (and yes I am a popcorn movie gal): ID4 (watch this at least 4 times a year for the Randy Quaid up yours scene); The Fast and the Furious (go Vin D go); Major League (Wild Thing); and Bridget Jones (it really is just a dairy). Books: The Stand by Stephen King; Wishes by Jude Deveraux; and Miss Piggy's Guide to Life (don't laugh)!

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  8. I just recently saw Easy A with Emma Stone. I loved it!!! I did girly claps when it was over.
    I highly recommend seeing it. I love Emma Stone too, she's so cute and funny.

    I'd love to be entered in the giveaway!

    jcross719 at yahoo dot com

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  9. Movies that left me cheering:

    Sweet Home Alabama
    How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days
    While You Were Sleeping
    Moonstruck
    27 Dresses
    Kate and Leopold

    Books that left me cheeringt:

    1. Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
    2. River Marked by Patricia Briggs
    3. The Dirk and Steele Series by Marjorie Liu
    4. The Brides books by Nora Roberts

    junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. All great choices. I've got some good ideas to add to my list of reading and viewing. Thanks.

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  11. Oh, for me 2012, Volcano, Independence Day, Twister... see the theme here *winks*

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

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  12. Hi Gabi,

    I enjoyed Confessions of a Shopaholic

    Ktalley28@gmail.com

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  13. I'm rarely watching movie, so I will tell about books that left me cheering and happy. My favorites are books by Sandra Hill, Shelly Laurenston, Kerrelyn Sparks. I love their writing, and after read their book, I always smile, my mouth hurt because so many laughing and my sad and depressed feeling disappear.

    Thanks for the giveaway
    sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com

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  14. Movies that left me cheering? Hmmm? How about Pretty Woman, The Princess Bride, Bridget Jones's Diary, Muriels Wedding, Ever After, 40 year old Virgin, Far and Away, and Miss Congeniality. Just to name a few! I love your list just as well too! Thanks for sharing a great interview with us today!

    evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

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  15. I have to agree with many above - Love Actually, Pretty Woman, Sweet Home Alabama, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Bridget Jones' Diary. They really are my feel good movies too.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  16. I love the Cinderella stories, especially EverAfter and the Rogers and Hamerstein musical versions (the newest with Brandi, the one before that with Leslie Ann Warren). Also, loved Ladyhawke when it came out, and True Lies w/ Jamie Lee Curtis.
    As for books, Lindsay Sands' Single White Vampire - about a Vampire who writes romance novels and attends RT - is a great happy ever after.
    Laurel N

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  17. Okay not to sound wishy washy but I was tearing up while I read this. I think the program is amazing and what you're doing is beyond wonderful. As for what books left me cheering Jane Austen's Persuassion is my favorite. Anne was so sweet and patient. I'm right there with you though when you say you don't like to read sad or depressing stuff. If I'm going to read a book it has to make me laugh. Lynsay Sands' Love Bites is great and not to be a suck up but I loved The Wish List. Anytime the heroine is fiesty but still funny she'll get my vote.
    hemcg3@aol.com

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  18. And the winner is Holly M. (through random.org) Thank you, all of you for visiting and commenting. Holly, I'm contacting you right after I sign off here. Congratulations.
    --Gabi

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