Have you seen this eye-catching cover in bookstores? It’s The Crowning Glory of Cally Lily Ponder, the latest work from Rebecca Wells, author of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood books.
The publisher has offered copies of the book to THREE readers of She is Too Fond of Books – thank you, HarperCollins!
Here’s a sneak peek at the novel:
The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder is the sweet, sexy, funny journey of Calla Lily’s life set in Wells’s expanding fictional Louisiana landscape. In the small river town of La Luna, Calla bursts into being, a force of nature as luminous as the flower she is named for. Under the loving light of the Moon Lady, the feminine force that will guide and protect her throughout her life, Calla enjoys a blissful childhood—until it is cut short. Her mother, M’Dear, a woman of rapture and love, teaches Calla compassion, and passes on to her the art of healing through the humble womanly art of “fixing hair.” At her mother’s side, Calla further learns that this same touch of hands on the human body can quiet her own soul. It is also on the banks of the La Luna River that Calla encounters sweet, succulent first love, with a boy named Tuck.
But when Tuck leaves Calla with a broken heart, she transforms hurt into inspiration and heads for the wild and colorful city of New Orleans to study at L’Académie de Beauté de Crescent. In that extravagant big river city, she finds her destiny—and comes to understand fully the power of her “healing hands” to change lives and soothe pain, including her own. When Tuck reappears years later, he presents her with an offer that is colored by the memories of lost love. But who knows how Calla Lily, a “daughter of the Moon Lady,” will respond?
A tale of family and friendship, tragedy and triumph, loss and love, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder features the warmth, humor, soul, and wonder that have made Wells one of today’s most cherished writers, and gives us an unforgettable new heroine to treasure.
This book description got me thinking about how we chat with our hair stylists – they know so much about us and our families, especially if we’ve been with them for years! My husband tells me that the barbershop guys are also chatty, but it’s generally about sports or politics. I wonder what Calla Lily and her clients talk about as she works her “healing hands” on them.
Are you curious? Want to get in on the giveaway? Simple leave a comment below telling me 1. what comes to mind when you look at the cover of The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder, or 2. a memory of New Orleans. Links in a blog post or tweets about the giveaway will earn an extra entry (just add a link to your post/tweet as a separate comment below). Entries will be open until midnight EST on Friday August 21. Please check back for the winning names on August 22. The giveaway is sponsored by the publisher and open to US/Canadian mailing addresses only.
Beignets at Cafe DuMonde! The smell of Bourbon Street the morning after a hard night (not a good memory, but a memory nonetheless!). The intoxicating smell of jasmine in the Garden District! New Orleans is a city of the senses. When an author can capture this in a novel, I am instantly transported there. Please enter me! rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com
When I was in junior high school my family went to New Orleans on a vacation. We took a planned tour, and I was so amazed at the cemetaries, all above ground vaults and monuments. I enjoyed the Ya Ya Sisterhood, and would love to win this book.
Great giveaway! One time, on a massive road trip, we stopped in the Garden District for dinner before heading on our way. It was a wonderful meal!
I’ve never been to New Orleans, but the cover makes me want to jump on a trampoline. Well, all of Rebecca Wells’s books do that!
The first thing I think of is summer! I’ve never been to New Orleans, so I have no fond memories to share, but the cover makes me think of the scene in Ya-Ya by the lake. I can’t wait to read this one!
never been to NO, so no memories there.
The cover reminds me of something totally unrelated to the subject of the book. Or maybe even the cover. It is my niece, now in her 20′s, and I talking the other night about how she can not stand the feeling of grass on her bare feet and as a child would yell and jump if she found herself in a barefoot/grass situation.
That girl on the cover might be jumping into water…but I see grass.
hey, it makes sense in my head.
What comes to mind when I look at the cover of The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder? FREEDOM! Fun, laughter. Life is what you make it!
Your link is here:
http://ourwinningcircle.net/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=72%3Abook-giveaway-*the-crowning-glory-of-calla-lily-ponder*-by-rebecca-wells&Itemid=54
it reminds me of summers at the river jumping off the dock when we were still young and free and had no cares. Too young for boyfriends or rivalries, too old for parents to watch us every minute, just the right age for complete freedom. That one perfect moment.
I follow you on google reader and tweeted at http://twitter.com/ccqdesigns/status/3286138172
Great giveaway! Carl & I went to New Orleans with friends way back when. There were little Chinese restaurants all over the place called Takee Outee and one of our friends had to get something every time we passed one.
I have never been to NO, but the cover is delightful and reminds me of summers way back in the 1950′s that were real with freedom, fun, and simple pleasures that were free and available all day long. Being outside with friends, going to the park, walking, biking and enjoying this special time together.
I haven’t been to New Orleans, but the cover reminds me of jumping into a pool. Ah, summer…perfection!
I can’t wait to read this. Great giveaway!
I’d love to enter! When I first saw this cover I thought of a young and carefree girl with no worries in the world yet jumping into the lake for a swim.
Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!
The cover makes me think of that joyful childhood feeling of long summers and free time…… sigh.
I am also going to post this giveaway in my sidebar of my blog. I’ll enter a seperate comment with the link.
circlebooks(at)shaw(dot)ca
Lisa
When I look at the cover, I think about childhood… like in a really rural place where people can swim in local ponds and stuff.
Blogged: http://www.morbid-romantic.net/2009/08/13/book-giveaways-08-10-08-16/.
I love reading the Ya Ya books so I’d love to read this one, too!
reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com
Never been to New Orleans but this cover reminds me of my daughter at that age!
I’ve never been to New Orleans, unfortunately. I do recall my parents visiting there though and trying to convince my brother and I that my mom “earned” her beads. We were horrified.
This cover reminds me of childhood – the uncontrollable urge to cannonball into the water every time you see it. It’s so cheery and impulsive – I love it!
[...] Now THAT is a title that smacks of Southern Lit. I don’t get to talk enough about how much I really like Southern Lit. I wonder if I’d like this… [...]
I gotta admit, I look at NoLa differently since Katrina. It’s like some of the luster was washed away by the storm.
No need to enter me. I’m cleaning up my reader and found this. Felt like posting ’cause I like you.
This cover reminds me of how a group of us in high school would travel to Purgatory Chasm in western, Mass., and jump into the quarry/lake in the heat of the summers. I never actually jumped, but I spent a lot of time hanging out and watching others do it.
when I look at the cover it just makes me think of careless summers of my youth…and how much I miss it
ykatrina at hotmail dot com
Ah, New Orleans. a memory.. the number of people caught in the moment of drinking and silliness, trying to plead for beads using whatever means possible. . . and; in the shadows, are the sober men with cameras!!!
Since I’ve never been to New Orleans, I guess I can’t share a memory! I just love the book cover though – reminds me of pure summer joy as only a child can appreciate it!
I am suprised by how much this image brings to mind, mainly though it reminds me of jumping into a lake in the sierra nevada mountains when I was younger, it reminds me of childhood, the good stuff
I have many favorite memories of NO and surroundings. Beignets, chiccory, above ground tombs, and street artists. Mom took me on an impromptu visit there and we walked around following the Duck Lady who had baby ducks following her! Then there was an unforgettable roadtrip there with college friends when we stayed at the YMCA at the end of the trolley line. And a trip with my husband, enjoying all the great food, including a cafe on Royal, as well as standing in line to eat at Mothers.
The cover makes me think of a young girl full of exuberance and life. I loved Wells’ Ya-Yas and am looking forward to reading this book.
I follow with Google Reader.
What comes to mind when I see the cover are those lazy summer days where its too hot to go anywhere or try to get anything done and the kids go swiming in the lake to cool off.
Dawn, Stop by and pick up your well deserved award.
The cover reminds me of being a young girl, going to the neighborhood swimming pool and enjoying the entire afternoon playing, swimming, and hanging out with my friends. The pool was a few blocks from our house and a group of us were allowed to walk together without any parents. Which made the whole thing so much better!
When I see this cover, I see an accident about to happen. Summer time and random jumping often result in tears and scrapes.
Please enter my name in the giveaway.
pboylecharley@hotmail.com
Youthful fun is what comes to mind.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
This looks so cute. I really liked 2 out of 3 of her last books.
I visited New Orleans in high school with my best friend and had an amazing time. It was great to stay with family that had been there for generations. Loved every minute of it.
stacybooks at yahoo
As much as I’d LOVE to share a memory of New Orleans, I’ve never been there. So jealous of all of you with your fun comments! I look at this cover and it just looks like my sister as a little girl. I love the squeezed closed eyes and that look of anticipation on her face. Cute!
smickelson1993 at yahoo dot com
beautiful hair flying in the breeze while jumping in the river. thx for contest..
Never been to ‘Nawlins, but the cover reminds me of summertime fun swimming somewhere. Being care free and young
No need to enter me.
Dawn–this is still a great give away! Don’t let my review spoil it. I think I am in a kind of critical mood this summer! I did send it along with my best friend on her vacation, so I guess it wasn’t too bad.
*smiles*
Kim
[...] Crowning Glory of Cally Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells, at She Is Too Fond of Books (ends August 21, US and [...]
New Orleans? The music! Jazz! Blues! Cajun Zydeco!
It makes me think of swimming under water.
chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com
Blogged about it at Chocolate and Croissants
I’d love to win this one! The cover reminds me of summers at the lake, or camp, or on the boat — swimming and carefree fun. BFish (dot) Reads (at) gmail. I’m tweeting now!
Here’s the tweet link: http://twitter.com/BethFishReads/statuses/3345171629
My memory of New Orleans would have to be when I was five months pregnant with my oldest son and was wandering down the festive streets, sipping a virgin frozen drink, feeling like the only sober person in the world!
I’ve never been to New orleans but would love to go. The cover reminds me of innocence, youth and summer.
The cover of this book reminds me of summers at the lake in Western Maryland, spent with friends of my parents. My sister and I would fish, go out in the boat, and of course swim!! The lake water was “refreshing” enough that it was best to jump off the dock rather than wading in. The girl on the cover of this book has an expression on her face that, to me, shouts out freedom, exhilaration, trepidation before hitting that water, and of course the exuberance of youthful summers! I would love to win this book to spend a few days going back in time to those carefree summers of being outside all day and being excited about each day you grew older and had new experiences.
I’ve never been anywhere exciting; I’m only 16
But when I look at the cover of this book, I think of the childhood I wish I’d had. I’ve never felt comfortable in a bathing suit and living where I do, there aren’t many places to go where one can be relaxed and alone. Plus, I’ve always had this fantasy of actually living in a rainforest for a year of my life. I don’t know where I got that from, but it’s always been in the back of my mind, and the cover reminds me of that.