Armchair BEA: Novel Destinations Give-away!

As many have already discussed on "real" BEA posts as well as these "virtual" posts --- meeting the authors and having them sign their newest books is always a highlight of the Expo Experience.  Now, I am a rather shy person, so it was a big deal for me just to stand in line - try think of something to say to the author that didn't sound like a bumbling idiot - and then not trip over myself as I walked away.  But last year I attempted something even more daring:  I asked a couple of the authors if they wouldn't mind signing two books -- one for me and one for a giveaway on my blog.  And do you know what I discovered?!  They are only more than happy to do so!  In fact, many of them talked about how much they enjoy book blogs, how integral book bloggers are to the success of authors, and they requested that I send them a link to my review.  I was in awe and learned that the truth of the old adage, "The worst that can happen is that they can say no."

Well, once I returned from BEA 2009 life happened and as a result, I still have a couple of those books that I received last year sitting on my shelves.  So, I plan to give away one here in honor of BEA 2010 -- and then I plan to give away the other this fall during Carl's RIP challenge (which I will assume that he will host again!)

The autographed book that I am giving away today is Novel Destinations:  Literary Landmarks from Jane Austen's Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon.  I have read this book - twice - from the local library and I was thrilled to finally receive my own copy.

I love to travel - and I love to read - so this book is like paradise to me.  In fact last year I hosted my first reading challenge, the Summer Vacation Reading Challenge, where I encouraged participants to take a literary vacation to any destination of choice.  While there are several "novel destinations" detailed in this book that I would love to visit someday (Jane Austen's cottage in Chatsworth, the Brontes house is Haworth, Thoreau's Walden Pond and Alcott's Orchard House, both in Concord, MA -- just to name a few), I am content with reading about them in detail and daydreaming about the tours that I would take, the bed-and-breakfast where I would sleep, and the meals that I would eat.  There are even suggestions for other sites of interest in the area.  To read a more detailed description of my experience with these two lovely authors, please visit my summary post here.

If you love reading - and armchair traveling as much as I do - then I encourage you to enter this modest give away.  In the comments section, please tell me which "novel destination" you would most like to visit and why.  Be sure to leave a valid email address so that I contact the winner.

This contest will be open for one week (just in case any "real" BEA attendees would like to enter) and I will select the winner using random.org on Friday, June 4, 2010.  Good luck to all - and I look forward to hearing your literary vacation dreams!