Places in Novels

I read an article this morning about books written about or in Calgary, my hometown growing up. They were talking about how excited they get when they read a book and suddenly stumble across a scene set in Calgary or when a character is from Calgary and went on to list a number of books that they've found that have this wonderful city in them.

I completely agree with their sentiment. I love to read about exotic places, and books by Sophie Kinsella, for example, always make me want to travel to England one day and whatnot. But there is something really special when I find a book that is about Calgary or Kissimmee, Florida, or any of the other places I've lived in throughout my life. Well, if they paint it in a flattering light, that is.

I've read a few books where Calgary is the setting and they make Albertans out to be a bunch of backward rednecks. Which, for the record, is not the case. A city of more than a million people, with oil and gas complanies making the citizens wealthy, Calgary is far from podunk.

Home

My third novel, tentatively titled The One Who Got Away, which is due out probably later this year (it's in editing mode with my publisher right now) is set entirely in Calgary with a brief stop in Victoria on Vancouver Island. I love this book. It really does feel extra special to me. However, my other two books, Iced Romance and Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It, still have Calgary connections. One has the main character who was born and raised in Calgary and the other has a character who visited Calgary. I feel the same way with Kissimmee, Florida, another place I lived in for a little while and grew to love immensely. That's why Iced Romance is my Florida novel, set in the city I have such fond memories of.

Do you prefer reading books set in places you have only seen on google or in your imagination, or are you like me and the authors of that article, and feel partial to a book set in your home? Also, what are your favourite books set in your local area, if you have one? I'd love to have you weigh in on this!

xox

Diva Salon and Spa

I went to Diva Salon and Spa for the first time ever last week. Until last week, I had a hairdresser whom I adored and have never seen the need to go to a salon. Always sounded charming and like something out of the movies, but do I need that? Exactly. Anyway,  about a month ago I happened to see a contest on facebook to enter to win a free spring makeover. I never win anything. Ever. But I entered, because that is the type of perpetually hopeful person I am.

To my shock... I won! What? That never happens.

I was so excited to get this 'hair makeover', if only for the fact that I could save my usual $175 when I go to my hairdresser and get myself some new clothes or something with that money. Excellent!

I made my appointment and went in. My stylist was one of their instructors, which was a good omen. If she's teaching it, she's gotta know it, right? (Absolutely!) I wasn't expecting anything outstanding... I figured it would be a typical hair appointment like the hundreds I have had over the course of my life. But it ended up being so. much. more.

 I arrived a few minutes early and they asked me to sit and wait, offering beverages and taking my jacket. A short while later, my stylist appeared. She led me to the chair and asked what I wanted done.

It was quite simple... I am growing out my hair so not too much off the length, and I wanted to go lighter for summer. She commented on a few things... the colour I should go that would high-light my skin tone, something I could do for the cut to make it more "fun" while still growing it out. And she said that my hair seemed a little dry so she would do a hair therapy treatment of some kind.

The salon was relaxing, nicely lit, fun music. I didn't feel too much like chatting, and my stylist picked up on that and politely allowed me to read magazines and veg without unnecessary babble.  After my foils were in, my stylist then pulled up a chair and gave me a hand massage, one of their complimentary services. Ahh, that was nice. Then, after the haircut was complete, she gave me another complimentary service, free makeup touchups and recommendations.

It was such a great experience, and I wanted to thank this salon for such a wonderful gift. Truly a celebrity treatment. If you are in the Calgary area and are looking for a new place to get your hair done, check them out! Highly recommend!

BEFORE: boring, bland and dark

AFTER: light, easy to style and a gorgeous colour

Whitney Boyd is the author of two women's fiction novels, Iced Romance and Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It. Her third romantic comedy is a work in progress. When she's not writing, Whitney enjoys catching up on celebrity gossip, running and spending time with her one year old.

Book Review - Replacing Gentry

I just finished Replacing Gentry by Julie N. Ford, and I really enjoyed this book. It is being released on April 9, 2013 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Honestly, this is a 5 star book and a true joy to read.

 

When Julie asked me to review her book pre-release, I accepted without really knowing anything about the book. Julie herself is an author of several books, including chick lit, and I thought that this book would probably be in that genre. As I read, however, the book drew me in and I couldn't put it down.

 

So what's it about? Marlie Evans, a Cali girl, meets Daniel Cannon, a southern widower with two twin boys and it is love at first sight. Marlie, a social worker, usually prides herself in using her brain and not leaping into things, but when it comes to love, it's hard to stay strong. Daniel proposes the day after they meet and she agrees. Without knowing much about her new husband, a state senator, she soon finds herself unwanted in the South... by her inlaws and by Daniel's associates. Mysteries surround her husband's late wife, Gentry, a woman who appeared to be beloved and yet whom nobody will talk about. Marlie begins digging deeper and is shocked at the answers she digs up.

 

Conspiracies, secret societies and people who will kill to keep their pasts in the past, this book is the perfect women's fiction... mystery blended with real emotions as a woman tries to connect and integrate herself into a new family and new society.

 

I started this book during my toddler's afternoon nap and couldn't put it down! There were twists and turns and it was far from predictable. It reminded me of classic novels such as Jane Eyre or Gone With The Wind in the development and attitudes of many of the characters, and yet was modern and addressed many issues that face us today.

 

Marlie's interactions with her stepsons made me think about how I would deal in that situation. The title itself speaks to this... how do you replace a mother in the lives of her children? How do you replace her in the life of her husband? And how do you keep from feeling like you are second best?

 

This is an excellent novel and I highly recommend you go out and get yourself a copy! 

Book Three Accepted for Publication!

Exciting news this week... my third women's fiction novel, The One Who Got Away, was just accepted for publication! I am thrilled about this book... not only is it a story I truly enjoyed writing, but it is also the best of my three novels. Just like anything, the more you do it, the better you get, and I feel like I have gotten better with every book I have written.

No release date yet, but if it follows the pattern of my first two novels, it should take between eight to twelve months to come out. I will, of course, keep you posted as I learn more.

I am also very excited to continue to work with WiDo Publishing. They are such a professional and dedicated publishing house, and yet they are small enough that I never feel like just another number, just another author, just another book. My editor, Karen, pushes and prods me until the book is better than I could have ever imagined on my own. I know that WiDo will only get bigger as more and more excellent authors continue to find them and I am honoured to be a part of it. Thank you, WiDo, for once again believing in my story.

The One Who Got Away is a first for me... it is the first novel I've written that is set entirely in Canada, my home. Both of my previous novels have been set in places where I have lived and/or visited several times, but this one was alot more personal. It is about a girl, Charley, who had just hit rock bottom. She was a lawyer at a high powered law firm, but was fired (unfairly so, in her opinion) and is now out of money and very down on her luck. She looks at her life and realizes that everything bad started after she and a boyfriend, Drew, had broken up five years earlier. With her best friends, Josh and Heather, Charley sets out to make things right and to find the one who got away.

This was a joy to write. I think most people in life have regrets from their past... whether those regrets are missed opportunities, failed relationships, chances you didn't take or things you wish you hadn't done. I know that I have a few things I regret. Looking back, I realize that most of these shaped me into who I am today, and so I shouldn't regret them as much as I have when I get in my wallowing moods. Charley, in the novel, comes to understand this as she finds true love with just a little confusion, heartbreak and mishap along the way.

Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think. Do you have one who got away in your life? Have regrets shaped you or do you just regret? Which of my first two novels is your favourite? (If you haven't read them yet, you can find them on Amazon. Tanned, Toned and Totoally Faking It, about a young girl swept up into Hollywood overnight and having to hide who she is in order to fall in love, and Iced Romance, where a woman finds her life turned upside-down after discovering her fiance was cheating, so she decides to escape it all and start over.)

Have a lovely day, everyone!

PS - I am also very excited to announce that I will be a guest author speaker at the Alberta Association of Library Technician's conference to be held in June! I will have a one hour guest lecture, followed by a book signing. Very grateful to have been asked. Thank you and I look forward to this event!

Book Review - Predator Girl

I read this book about a month ago. And I meant to write a review sooner, but life kept getting in the way. Predator Girl by SB Roozenboom was a great read. I give it a full 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy books like the Twilight series.

Here's what it's about: Jared Ferlyn is a Finder, a human who works for the government tagging and tracking unusual beasts... faeries, vampires, shapeshifters, witches etc. They do it to protect humanity from unnecessary fear and danger. One day a strange new girl comes to town and Jared knows she is different, but is not sure what she is. He tracks her, she gets the better of him and decides on a whim to bring him with her rather than kill him. She kidnaps him and carries him to the wilderness of Canada, where he learns exactly what she is and why she needs his help.  

 

It's a thrilling book. It had twists and turns, good guys turned into bad guys and bad into good. It was empowering to women yet also had a lovely romance, a jilted lover, and plenty of action and mystery. I usually am not a huge paranormal fan, but this was a joy to read.

 

I completely recommend this as a must-read. Go buy it now. :) You will thank me.

 

As a side note, the author, a fellow writer at WiDo Publishing, my publishing house, is super young! She started writing in high school and is now published at 21 years old! I love this! So support a new talent and check her work out! And for those of you who love a good romantic-comedy chick lit book, feel free to check out my two novels, Iced Romance and Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It. They are 'witty, seamless and have plenty of laugh out loud moments' that will keep you turning pages.

 

xox