Saturday, February 28, 2009

Boys and Ballgowns and Murder, Oh My!



I admit, I have been really excited about this blog tour stop! ( And not just because there is an incredible giveaway at the end.) Please welcome The Season by Sarah MacLean!

A bit about The Season:

Seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra Stafford doesn't fit into the world of Regency London — she's strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and she absolutely loathes dress fittings. Unfortunately, her mother has been waiting for years for Alex to be old enough to take part in the social whirlwind of a London Season so she can be married off to someone safe, respectable, wealthy, and almost certainly boring. But Alex is much more interested in adventure than romance.

Between sumptuous balls, lavish dinner parties and country weekends, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get entangled in her biggest scrape yet. When the Earl of Blackmoor is killed in a puzzling accident, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. It's a mystery brimming with espionage, murder, and suspicion. As she and Gavin grow closer, will Alex's heart be stolen in the process?

Romance and danger fill the air, as this year's Season begins!

And since Sarah is not only my good friend a but a super-interesting person, I like the section about her the most:

Sarah has wanted to be a romance novelist for as long as she can remember. She is a world-class procrastinator, thinks cupcakes have magic powers, and is addicted to Project Runway. She hearts the Barenaked Ladies, and lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Baxter. She doesn't go anywhere without lip balm and she really really likes hats & sunglasses--perhaps it's a latent desire to be a celebutante?

Sarah currently works for an unnamed (big) publisher and gives us at the Debs tons of insider info when we have questions. (Not like If-I-Tell-You-I'll-Have-To-Kill-You-type info, but info about the inside of the business. Stuff we just don't know as authors. On top of that, she is a totally fabulous New Yorker and is having the swankiest launch party ever with a seriously impressive guest list! And if that weren't enough, she is also an amazing author who has branched out into the adult world, selling three books to Avon this winter!

So without further ado, here is the Feasty Five for this amazing author!

A.P. What kind of soda would your MC drink?

SM: Ginger Ale.

A.P. Did they even have that back then? *shrug* What is your MC's favorite kind of flower? How about yours?

SM: Alex likes daisies. They're natural. And not at all fancy. I'm more classic. The way to my heart is with a red rose.

AP: I'll bear that in mind the next time I am competing with Eric for your attentions.;) Does your MC believe in magic? Do you?

SM: Alex doesn't believe in magic...until she discovers that love is something very close to magic. And then she might just reconsider. I believe in love. And magic.

AP: Awwwww. I love that! Superman or Batman?

SM: Batman. Dark, brooding and immensely talented. Superman was born. The Dark Knight was made.

AP: Wow. Batman is so winning so far! Give us one line from your book. You don't even have to give it context.:)

SM: She didn't care about her ruined gown, or her filthy slippers, or the tears threatening to pour down her face.

AP: *laugh* It just sounds so regency! (Which, strangely enough, is the point.;)

Thank you Sarah for answering my five. Sarah would love for you to visit her at www.maclenaspace.com! But luckily for you readers, we're not done yet! This is a particularly special giveaway, because Sarah has offered to sign this copy of The Season for the giveaway!

So has this entry tempted you a bit? Do you want your own signed copy of the The Season? Of course you do!! So we are going to have our own season!! If you were having a season, what would your dress look like? Describe it in as little or as much detail as you like, but be warned, this is not a random contest. I will be picking the dress I like best.:D (Just to keep things interesting.;)) Entries will be accepted until midnight (MST) on Wednesday March 4th . . . just because it's my son's birthday.:)

So what would you dress look like? Tell me and be entered to win a signed copy of the incredible The Season!

Let the ball begin!!

Ciao!

12 comments:

Kenny said...

Um, satin, red velvet trim, split to my hip... OH! I'm not eligible to win huh. Well darn. d^_~b

Of course Batman is winning. He always wins. He's a master strategist and meticulous detective with limitless funding and a psychotic obsession. How can you beat a person like that?

Senfaye said...

My dress would be a long and flowing. It would be mainly turquoise with navy blue and periwinkle trim. My gloves would also be turquoise. Thanks for the wonderful contest!

-Senfaye :)
annieluvsmuffin@Gmail.com

Lynnae said...

My dress would definitely be white, soft and empire waisted, with embroidered flowers around the neckline, (which is just low enough to still be tasteful) in jewel tones of scarlett, purple, burgandy and gold. It would have sweet little gathered short sleeves, so I could wear long gloves.
Oh, and a scarlett shawl and matching little scarltt slippers with embroidery.

Anonymous said...

Cool :)

My first Season gown would be kinda like this:

Yellow gown. White lace on the sleeves, neckline, and waist. NO ankles showing (don't want to make bad impression at the first ball.) At the bottom of the dress it will be embroidered with little pink flowers. Homemade.

I would like to have my hair in a bun. Amulet necklace, with a small white dancing shoes.

I think that would be my favorite/perfect dress EVER :)

+BookBegger
lyzziebit(at)yahoo(dot)com

Christy said...

My perfect coming out dress would be a light sapphire blue made out silk with silver thread trim. It would have a modest neckline with short ruffle sleeves. It would fit perfectly to my upper body but at the waist it become billows of fabric. In my dress, I would be able to make a proper curtsy but I would still be able to waltz the night away with someone tall, dark and handsome.

For accessories, long white gloves that reach my elbows, a beautiful sapphire pendant and earrings to match. My hair would be in a curly updo.

Christy

Rylie said...

My dress isn't original, but I love the way it looks. It's the dress that Keira Knightley wore at the Netherfield ball in Pride & Prejudice -- off-white satin with multiple layers of sheer fabric over it, ribbon around the waist with embroidery, full-length, slightly full skirt. Hair would be an updo, curly with some braids, and pearls interspersed throughout, with pearl earrings to match.

-Rylie
bcanyon at hotmail dot com

Chelsea said...

My dress would be royal blue, perfectly setting off my creamy ivory skin (they don't call it pasty back in those days). And it would be made of rayon-- imported from the future, of course.
And since empire waists make everyone look just a little pregnant and big-hipped, I'd take mine in just a bit so it's more A-line and makes me look fabulously tall and skinny.
Oh, and there'd be pockets!
To hold my handkerchief, chapstick (also imported from the future), and a dainty knife, of course. You never know when you'll have to pry out some loose bricks, cut yourself free, or slice a piece of chicken. A girl should always be prepared.

Amy said...

ohmygoodness, I've been wanting to read this book since I heard about it,(and it's signed!ah!:-0). Awesome contest!
My dress would be long, and made of sky blue silk. (my favorite color)It would have an under dress(like in the king and i)to make it more puffy. It would have pearls sewn into the tips of the bubble sleeves. There would be diamonds sewn into the corset/bodice with dark blue ribbon holding it all up. It would tie in the back in a big bow. That's how my dress would look. (of course I'd have to have a huge dowry to pay for it;)
-amy
theodoragroger@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Is it illegal to steal from someone else? I'll even give her credit. Her name is Joy Freeman, and she wrote a book called "A Suitable Match." It is a regency romance and one of my favorite of all time. So much so, that I might just have to quote at length for your enjoyment.

"Sherworth was in the hall below as Vescinda began her descent down the grand staircase. He glanced up, and the smile froze on his face. Vescinda's gown was of a white, filmy, gauze, sofine that it seemed to melt into her exquisite form, displaying every inch of her long, beautiful legs. The waist was fitted fashionably high, but, iwth each graceful step seh took, the material clung for a tantalizing instant to her natural waist, revealing the full curve of a shapely hip. The bodice was cut just low enough to hint at the gentle rise of a firm bosom swelling beneath the soft gathers of gauze. And, as she came closer," flickering candles from chandeliers blazing their promise of a gala evening teased his eye with glimpses of creamy pink beneath the diaphanous fabric. His breath caught in his throat."


Now, although that's the description of the dress, and it's absolutely gorgeous, I can't stop there. Part of why I love this so much is the way the dress affects him.

"When she reched him, he expostulated in a harsh undervoice, 'Good God, you can't wear that! It's the most improper thing I'v ever seen!'"

"Fortunately for Vescinda's enjoyment of the evening, his appreciation of her appearance had been blatant enough for her to meet these words with nothing but amusement. 'I think perhaps you must have been a very selfish little boy.' she twinkled. 'Yes, and an untruthful one, too. For, if this is the most improper thing you have ever seen, then the tales told of you have been sadly exaggerated.'"

"Ignorign this sally, he went on accusingly, 'That Slip orunderpart--or whatever you call it--is almostthe same color as your skin. One would swear you were naked beneath those few wisps of gauze!'"

"Fiddle! You wouldn't swear it, for you can see perfectly well that I am not."

"Well, damn it, it's too dashing by half for you to wear amid a parcel of yokels! You'll have the eyes out of their heads the night long!"

"'Well--yes, I fear you may be right about that,' she relented with a tiny frown. 'I own I did think it a bit much for a country ball, myself, but it cannot be improper, foritis the gown Grandmama sent to me for my birthday--with the explicit wish that I wear it tonight!'"

"'With the explicit with to drive me to distraction,' he retorted."


Sorry this was a little long, but part of the beauty of the dress for me is the whole scene around which the dress is the focal point. And so romantic. How would you like to be in this absolutely stunning dress and see the reaction of the man of your dreams???

And sorry about the typos. I tried to fix some of them but blogger isn't letting me insert, instead it's typing over what I already did, so sorry.

Jewel Allen said...

My dress of course would be pink, a dusky rose that would match innocent lips. And when I move across the ballroom floor, everyone's amazed and hushed whispers would echo the silky rustling of my gown.

I will have little rose-colored velvet slippers on my feet, and a hibiscus in my hair, perfect for a tropical debutante ;-)

***
Once upon a time, I read regency romances all the time. This sounds like a great book!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Stellar interview! I SO love this author blog series thingy.
So, my perfect dress...well that would the exact dress from the Drew Barrymore movie Everafter. Fairy wings included, of course. *sigh*
Plz, plz, plz pick me.
lilshyfaery@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Hi--
This is the first time I've visited your blog, and it's so fun! I'm in ANWA with your mom and (recently) your sister.

Anyway, my dream dress . . .I think it would be green. Since it's my first ball, I'm lots younger than right now, so I'll go with a pastel green, short sleeves, in a silky fabric. With some pretty flowers embroidered around the neckline and a sash around the high waist. So springy! And since we're dreaming here, my hair is long enough to put up. I may as well make it a shimmering auburn color while I'm at it, with cunning little curls next to my ears and around my forehead. Trust me. It's BEAUTIFUL. You really want to pick it.

Wendy Jones