I know I say it all the time on my blog but I love meeting bloggy friends. There are so many talented and gifted people out there in the blogging world and while I don’t go to the conferences and belong to any huge group of bloggers I do love the folks that I have discovered through this wonderful mode of communication.
When one of “us” has news we like to share it on our blogs so that our readers can be a part of it and today is just that kind of day. I have been waiting to write this post for months and it finally is time. On my journey through blogging I have found many friends but today I would like to share two of those wonderful people with you.
I first started following TBM when I found her blog 50 Year Project where she writes about her challenge to visit 192 countries, read 1,001 books, and watch the top 100 movies. I was intrigued and have lived vicariously through her posts of her travels, her reading, and her movie discoveries. I was pulled in and she in return graciously began to comment on my blog. We formed a friendship across the pond and I was thrilled when she disclosed that she had completed a book and was looking for readers. I could not answer fast enough! Pick me! Pick me!!!
T B Markinson’s book “A Woman Lost” was my reading material on my flight to Salt Lake City this summer and as I landed I emailed her and told her that I didn’t want to land—-I wanted to finish it!!!! I had not read anything about the novel at all prior to loading it on my Kindle and I was glad that I hadn’t because I was able to just read it and enjoy it. While I probably would not normally choose a lesbian romance to read I was so drawn into the characters in the book and wanted to know how it was all going to end. I won’t ruin any of it for my readers —you will have to go get your own copy!!! Right now it is only $2.99 in the Amazon Kindle store . Click here to go directly to the page where you can download a sample, buy a copy of your own and read my complete review of this fabulous debut novel. She also has a blog devoted to her book entitled Making My Mark and I think she has! I am looking forward to novel number two which is in the works.
Many of you know of Hilary from Feeling Beachie fame. I have done her Follow Friday Four Fill In Fun for a couple of years and we have gotten to be good friends. She and her husband Marc suffered along with many when Hurricane Sandy hit their Long Island home. She shared her stories of her beloved cat, Alex, and we all grieved with her when Alex crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and rejoiced when baby kitty Lucy came to live with them. I feel that I have gotten to know Hilary and that is why I love being a part of her big news.
Today Hilary’s debut work, her memoir, hits the digital world at Amazon. Hilary’s book, “Dangled Carat” is about her relationship with Marc, who was a commitment phobic guy.
I must admit that while I was beyond excited to read Hilary’s book I was also a little nervous about reading it. After all—it was HER story. What if I didn’t like it? What if I felt uncomfortable after I read it because I “knew too much about her” or something like that? Rest assured—after reading Dangled Carat I love Hilary all the more and after I got over my initial disappointment in Marc in the beginning of the book I came to understand and love him too.
Hilary has had quite a life and as a professional woman she is hugely successful and competent. In her book she relates how that was not always how she viewed herself. A diagnosis of scoliosis at age 11 found her wearing a back brace for 3 long years . She became withdrawn and quite often the object of teasing as is sometimes the case with someone who does not “fit in” with the ordinary crowd. As Hilary tells her story I could really understand the pain that she went through and her sense of insecurity. Her words were vivid and detailed and I felt like I was that 11 year old girl striving to fit in.
Perhaps the most difficult part of this book to read were the parts relating to her father and his early death. A girl needs her Daddy and Hilary was devastated by the loss of the man who loved her. It was perhaps this loss coupled with her fear of disappointment and rejection that fueled the insecurity within her.
Marc enters the scene and while at times I wanted to reach into my Kindle and choke him for his inability to commit to the woman who was obviously the best thing in his life I came to understand who he was and why Hilary was head over heels in love with him. While she felt she was undeserving of a relationship with Marc ultimately those insecurities were lessened because of Marc. My absolute favorite image from this book is Marc reassuring her when he says “You are smart, you are talented and you are beautiful.” True words.
I read this book quickly and loved seeing into the lives of these people. Hilary has captured her life and those who are a part of her life very skillfully and I am so thrilled to be able to tell you that this is one book that will stay on my Kindle and not be deleted.
You can check out her blog that is devoted to her book by going to Dangled Carat .She is doing a great giveaway of her book, a CD and a gift certificate to Victoria’s Secret!!!! The book is also available on Amazon and you can go download a sample or better yet—buy a copy by clicking on this link to take you directly to the Amazon page.
Please join me by supporting these two wonderful writers who I can also call friends. Spread the word. These are two great writers.
T B Markinson
- Hilary Grossman
45 Comments
Leave a commentThanks so much for the kind words and support. You have always been so supportive of my blog and now of my novel. I’m lucky to have such a wonderful friend.
And I’m so excited for Hilary. It’s only been a couple of months since I met her via you, but she and I have become good friends. Thanks for the introduction. I wish her the best of luck.
You are so welcome! I was so happy to do this for you and Hilary—you both are fabulous women and friends! Good luck to you both on this exciting time in your lives.
Not sure I’ve been called fabulous before. That’s pretty neat! Thanks!
Well you are! And I used a lot of exclamation marks so you know that means you are special—-only special folks gets exclamation marks. 🙂
TB – what? Haven’t been called fabulous before? seriously? how is that possible?
That was my reaction, too!
Well I’m a little bit of a jokester so I get called other things.
TB – we are such lucky ladies to have a friend like Beth Ann – she is so supportive! I will never forget how wonderful she was to me during Hurricane Sandy – and now I owe her another favor – she introduced me to you!
🙂
She’s always very giving. And I’m glad we met.
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Beth Ann, I think I need to read Hilary’s book. Miranda was diagnosed with scoliosis in high school and wore a back brace 24/7 for a year. I, too, have scoliosis, although I was never diagnosed. It is likely the cause of the arthritis problems I had in my hip and now in my back.
Anyway, Hillary’s book sounds fab. What she has overcome…
And, yes, bloggy friends are the best.
I did not know about Miranda’s diagnosis and your undiagnosed scoliosis. Wow. That is something that we have not encountered in our family but I can only imagine how difficult it is to overcome.
Actually, I should clarify. When I was having one of the many surgeries I’ve had in my life, I was told that I have scoliosis. Miranda’s was, thankfully, caught during screening in school. If it had not been, she would be dealing with severe back issues. One of my nieces also has scoliosis and wore a back brace. So apparently something genetic going on there.
Back to ironing 110 napkins and 110 sashes. If you lived nearer, I would say, “Hey, Beth Ann, wanna come over and iron?” I’m getting there, piece by piece. Time for lunch and then back to the ironing board.
I’m driving to MSP tomorrow afternoon—is that too late for the ironing party?????
Genetics is a huge factor… It runs in my family too – also if you have a major growth spurt (I grew about 7 inches in one year) it also contributes…
Minnesota Prairie Roots – I am sorry about your daughter… I know exactly how hard it was for Miranda. I wore my brace 20 out of 24 hours a day for about three years. My case was pretty severe…
I agree with you! Blog friends are the best!
LOVED Hilary’s book – I already felt I knew her and of course what’ not to love about her, right? But in reading the book I definitely felt like I came to know Marc, and a better understanding of men too. Fabulous read.
And…..just when I thought I was all caught up in my reading now, you introduce another author whose book looks like a great read!! ha It’s all good though: reading is one of those glorious things I hope to never be caught up with: there’s always another great story waiting to be told.
I know what you mean—-I felt like I really knew all the people in her life now –especially Marc who I could also have strangled a couple of times! TBM’s book is really well written and like I said—I most likely never would have picked it up had I not “known” her but it was such a great well written book ! I was so happy to read it and it was hard to put down once I started it.
Beth Ann – it is funny a few weeks ago when first my mom came in from Fl and then our cousin’s Marta and Ira – I was emailing TB – I just had to tell them their names and from the book she felt like she knew them too! I agree with you.. Marc needed to be strangled a few times!
Leslie – you will Love TB’s book! I couldn’t put it down either!
RoryBore – what’s not to love about her? seriously, I love her!
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Hello everyone. Beth Ann has been kind enough for me to add a comment letting all of you know that if any one would want a review copy please let me know. I can send you the Kindle version or a pdf. My email is [email protected]. Or you can leave a comment here with your email and letting me know which you would prefer. Thanks for everything Beth Ann! You rock!
Happy to give your book a little plug any way I can. I know you do the same thing for others so maybe someday….maybe someday….I can be added to that list. 🙂
I will shout from the rooftops for your book. And hopefully that will be soon!
Congratulatuions to the two authors. They both sound like good books to read and hope I will be able to in the future.
Thanks Helen! I can vouch for TBM’s book – it is amazing – I hope you get to check them out!
I just finished my post on Hilary’s book and still can’t believe that I wrote a review about HER book. I’m just really happy and exited for her. This also reminds me that I absolutely have to write up a post about TBM’s book. Another tale I thoroughly enjoyed. 🙂
I am so excited for her and for TBM! It is amazing that they are both realizing their dreams!
It really is. Now you have to get to work so we can all support you!!! 🙂
🙂
I second Susi. I want to read your book!
Susi – I can’t believe it either..> I think back to all the times we spoke about the book… yeah, I guess in my heart I knew one day it would really be published but in my brain I didn’t think it would really happen… but it did!!! WOO HOO!
We are ALL thrilled!
Both books sound great and I wish Ms Markinson and Ms Grossman the best of luck. Thanks Beth for supporting your writer friends. They are lucky to have you as a friend.
Thanks Darlene! TB and I are so lucky to have such a wonderful friend like Beth Ann!
🙂
And I am lucky to have all of you as my friends!!!
🙂
Wow, 2 great books at the same time! They’ll go on my reading list.
Benzeknees – thanks so much! I hope you enjoy them!
🙂
[…] that I have featured her on It’s Just Life before and you can read those posts by clicking here and here. I first “met” her when I found her somehow (that is still a bit hazy to me […]