Thursday, July 8, 2010

Interview with Sarah Pekkanen and book giveaway!


I recently got to meet Sarah Pekkanen in person. She is as delightful as her book, "The Opposite of Me." We met up at a Starbucks and then moved over to Einstein Bagels, thinking it would be quieter there to film the interview. We were mistaken, as we had to compete with people working at the counter and the song "Waiting for a Star to Fall," but I put together a transcript for our video-taped interview.

Sarah brought along a copy of "The Opposite of Me" (reviewed here), which she signed right in front of me so that I could give it away to one lucky winner! In addition, Crystal Patriarche from BookSparks PR sent an advanced reader copy and another lucky winner will receive that.

Before I present the interview, I wanted to point out a few things:
* Her last name is pronounced "Peck-a-nin." I thought it was "Pih-can-in" until I asked.
* I learned something interesting about the cover art. It was originally going to be two girls with their hair braided together. Then another author did something similar for their book, so the designers had to scrap it and start over again. I love what they came up with! I also learned that no models were actually used for the photograph.
*I am not meant to be on film. (I don't like how I look or sound in that format and I tend to blink a lot. My wedding video wasn't spared either!) However, I encourage you to watch the taped interview because Sarah is a great speaker and I think you'll enjoy seeing her personality come through on each answer. She even made my husband laugh at one point.

I want to thank Sarah for taking the time to meet with me and for the book for the giveaway.

I want to thank Crystal for the ARC she contributed to the giveaway.

I also want to thank my husband for filming the interview.

Without any further ado, I present our interview (from June 25, 2010):



It sounds fine if you turn the volume up high. If that doesn't work for you, here's the transcript.

How to win these books:
Please comment below with your e-mail address.

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Winner will be picked at random on Monday, July 12th.

38 comments:

Darlene said...

Hi there, I've got this posted at Win a Book for you :)

ChristyJan said...

Fun interview!
Please enter me

hawkes(at)citlink.net

ChristyJan said...

One of my favorie Michael Jackson songs is THRILLER

hawkes(at)citlink.net

ChristyJan said...

I'm a follower

hawkes(at)citlink.net

Stephanie said...

Gosh, favorite MJ song...Today I'll go with Man in the Mirror, but it changes. There are so many good ones!

stephaniedekeyser AT gmail.com

rbooth43 said...

My favorite Michael Jackson song is Billie Jean. Great giveaway!

rbooth43(at)yahoo.com

rbooth43 said...

I am a blog Follower.

rbooth43(at)yahoo.com

JHS said...

What a cool interview!

JHS
Colloquium

jhsmail at comcast dot net

JHS said...

Yup, I'm a follower.

JHS
Colloquium

jhsmail at comcast dot net

JHS said...

Favorite Michael Jackson song? Oh, jeez . . . that was a long time & several lifetimes ago. Probably The Man in the Mirror.

JHS
Colloquium

jhsmail at comcast dot net

Kat said...

I'm a follower through Google. :)

ladykathryn(at)rogers.com

Kat said...

I posted this on Facebook as well.

ladykathryn(at)rogers.com

Kat said...

It's so hard to choose my favourite MJ song because there are so many I like. But, I think the one I'm most likely to play over and over is Earth Song. Love the message as well.

ladykathryn(at)rogers(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I have been wanting this book for so long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

"Beat it" is my favorite.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of this blog.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

karenk said...

'man in the mirror' by michael jackson

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I've heard so many good things about this book, please enter me!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I would have to go with Thriller for an MJ song.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Andrea said...

Please enter me!

belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com

Andrea said...

My favorite Michael Jackson song is definitely Thriller!

belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com

Andrea said...

I am a follower!

mariska said...

I want this ! I want this book !

uniquas at ymail dot com

mariska said...

1. Please tell us: What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?

-- We are the World..i just love this song more and more :)

uniquas at ymail dot com

mariska said...

- A Follower via GFC

uniquas at ymail dot com

mariska said...

I tweeted : http://twitter.com/becunique/status/18086975423

uniquas at ymail dot com

Chick Lit Author said...

Would love to win - do you send to AUS?

jtmauthor(at)gmail.com

Chick Lit Author said...

My fav MJ song is: Smooth Criminal

jtmauthor(at)gmail.com

holdenj said...

What a fun interview and experience! Thanks for the chance to win.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

My favorite MJ song is Billie Jean.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

LBK said...

labboo.gc@gmail.com

LBK said...

My favorite Michael Jackson song is Human Nature

labboo.gc@gmail.com

LBK said...

I'm a follower

labboo.gc@gmail.com

avalonne83 said...

Great giveaway!

Please count me in. Thanks.

avalonne83 [at]yahoo [dot] it

Dawn M. said...

I've narrowed it down to 2 favorites. Human Nature & Say Say Say. :0)

Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Anita
Extexgirl2@aol.com

I hope it's not too late!!!

My favorite MJ song is Rock with You, maybe because I was in college and it was one of his first singles without J5, but I still love that song.

I'm a follower.....
BTW, you do such fun reviews/interviews, so happy to have found you!

Unknown said...

Oh I wanted to add, I have 17 year old twin girls(well they will be in exactly one month!!)

Sunny said...

I would like to be entered. My favorite MJ song is Beat It.


sunny_418 [at] hotmail [dot] com