My new book, Don't Worry Baby, just came out in paperback. To celebrate, I'm having a drawing for a free copy of the book. Anyone who puts a comment on this blog post is eligible. The deadline for comments is midnight January 31.
Don't Worry Baby is a fun novel. It's about newlyweds Max and Ginny who are fresh out of college. Against the advice of people who love them, they head south, away from Wisconsin, in a rickety van. Armed with love and not much more, they search for a place where more than icicles grow in March - so they can live off the land. They've got a thousand bucks but no major credit card, and only sixty days before Max is considered AWOL from the National Guard. On their journey, they tangle with a bodacious bombardier, a gelled judge, a grumpy Greek grandfather, a stubborn stick-shift, cantankerous cops, dumbfounding dialects, high-minded hitch-hikers, insistent insects...and each other.
Don't Worry Baby is a love letter to the 76 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964...and a light-hearted history lesson to those who came afterward and can't believe such events could ever happen. They could.
The book is a work of fiction based on real-life events that happened to my husband, Mike, and me in 1972. The characters are fictional or composites of real people.
My friend, the author D.L Marriott, says "Feeling like a Kerouac odyssey, Don't Worry Baby is a heartwarming story about love and the search to make one's way in the world. Max and Ginny's tale will make you cringe occasionally, smile often, and reminisce about a simpler time."
On Feb. 1, I will write the names of commentors on slips of paper and put them into my husband's fuzzy ear-flap hat. He will reach in and draw the name of the winner.
I hope there is more than one name in the hat!
Typically, I receive few comments on my posts, even though according to my statistics report, this blog has readers in Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Ukraine, Australia, France, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Poland, India, the Philippines, Romania, Bolivia, Vietnam, and the USA.
Please don't resist the urge to comment...I would like to hear from you!
Free book...? I am sooo commenting :) Please pick me! Good luck Gail.
ReplyDeleteWell, you're number one, Katie. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteGail, thanks for letting us know via FB that you had written this book! I want to read it no matter what. It's the kind of thing I fantasized about doing myself back in the day, but knew I never would.
ReplyDeleteI've loved your writing ever since Nurturing days and am happy to be able to read you online. I am eager to read your book! 1972 was the year we were married, so there's lots to identify with, although I was already 25! Baby-boomers everywhere would love to read this, I'm certain.
Marga, now I don't feel like a failure...because I got TWO comments! That's enough for a drawing...Tee hee. I am very touched by your kind words. I loved writing for your beautiful magazine. Can you believe how long ago that was? The 80s still seem like yesterday to me! I didn't realize that you also were married in 1972. A very good year! Good luck in the drawing. We'll be very honest, of course!
DeleteOf course! I want the book in any way I can get it. :) I will be buying it after the draw (if I'm not the winner)!
DeleteYes, '72 was a year of wonderful things. Seems like only yesterday, as do the 80s...
Well, here is your THIRD comment! If my friend, Marga is recommending this - well, how could I go wrong?! I love a good, fun read. AND, by the way - I ALSO was married in 1972. Good luck and much success to you, Gail.
ReplyDeleteThanks, friend of Marga. Any friend of Marga's is a friend of mine. And how 'bout that 1972 wedding year hey? Thanks for the good wishes!
DeleteAw, I would have been third but will be happy at fourth... Couldn't remember my password. ;). Anyway... I am happy to say that the book is fantastic so far and soon I will actually be able to finish it. I have the ebook version and will one day own a hard copy of my very own. Excellent work Gail.
ReplyDeleteMary, I'm so glad you're enjoying the book. Do you mean Dog Woman or the new book? Either way, thanks so much for the good review!
ReplyDeleteI have the Kindle version of Don't Worry Baby... I didn't think to buy myself a copy of Dog Woman. The kids all loved their copies tho! Soon I will have an empty house so I'll finally hav time to read. One day I'll have copies of my very own!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, now I know. So very glad you're enjoying it! And something tells me that someone in your family will lend you Dog Woman! (Enjoy the empty house.)
DeleteI would love to read your book Gail! Maybe my name will be picked.
ReplyDeleteUlrike
Thanks, Ulrike!
DeleteHI Gail,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new book. I want to buy your new book. Let me know what I should send you for the book and shipping. If I win the book I will give it to my sister in California. She enjoyed Dog Woman very much.
Georgia
I'll check on shipping and get back to you, Georgia! Thanks for being a "Gail's book booster!"
DeleteI can't wait to read it! Pick Me! Pick me! Pick me!
ReplyDeleteMarilyn Pappas
Thank you Marilyn! Your name goes in the hat! Mikey will pick. Send him vibes! haha
DeleteThis was pretty much everybody's dream in those early "hippie" days. My husband and I were already married, had jobs we thought we couldn't quit. We were too chicken to take that risk. So this story was great fun!
ReplyDeleteTrish Andrae
Did you read it already? Sounds like you did - if so, I'm sure glad you liked it! Mike & I were never hippies, tho'. Not really. I never even owned a pair of blue jeans until after college! ha! (You are officially IN the book drawing. Thanks for the comment!)
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