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 : 

www.GabiStevens.com

www.GabiStevens.blogspot.com

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!!!