Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Q&A with Mingmei Yip and Book Giveaway: SONG OF THE SILK ROAD

GIVEAWAY CLOSED.
I previously posted my review of Mingmei Yip's latest novel, SONG OF THE SILK ROAD. Click here to read my review.
Today I am pleased to share with my readers this Q&A with Ms. Yip (which was provided to me by her publicist) as well as offering you a chance to win a copy of this fascinating novel.

Which part of SONG OF THE SILK ROAD was the most enjoyable to write?  
There are a few. First, the love-making scene in the desert, imagining golden singing sand dunes, the unrelieved heat, the passion…all aphrodiasical.    

Another sequence I particularly enjoyed is the protagonist Lily Lin’s platonic love with one of her admirers – an Ughur healer who loves and protects her without asking anything back from her. Later, upon learning his tragic story she discovers she can open her yin eye to see beings from the realm of the dead.  

Who is your favorite heroine?
Sacrlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, one of the all time great survivors.

Are you working on anything else at the moment?       
Yes, my fourth novel set in the 20ies Shanghai about a woman spy working for a gangster. I am also writing and illustrating my second children’s book. 

Can you tell us something about yourself that not a lot of your readers don’t  know?       
Besides my hectic writing schedule, that I still manage to take time to perform the Chinese zither (guqin) professionally – last year I was invited by Carnegie Hall to play at its Chinese Music Festival -- and teach calligraphy workshops.
 
What is your favorite part of the writing process?       
After I labor through getting down the first draft, as I polish up my writing, I begin to enjoy my characters and their trials and struggles as they work towards a happy ending.  In my writing, I meet people like the Chinese herbalist and blind fortune teller in Song of the Silk Road, whom I might never meet in real life.

(This Q&A was provided to me by the author's publicist.)

RULES FOR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY:

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Leave a comment on this post telling me you would like to win AND whether you have read any of Mingmei Yip's previous novels (if so, which one(s)). Include an email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you do win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com or geebee.reads [at] gmail [dot] com

You must leave an email address in order to qualify. If I can't contact you, you can't win!

• You can earn an extra entry by being or becoming a Follower or Subscriber of this blog and telling me about it in a separate comment.

• Blog about this contest and provide me with the link to the post in a separate comment, and I'll give you yet another entry.

• Tweeting about this contest and providing me the link in a separate comment will get you one more entry. I've added a Retweet button at the bottom of every post.

• Stumble this blog, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it, whatever, and leave a separate comment for another entry.

• Winners must provide a U.S. or Canadian street address. The publisher is unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes.

• PLEASE NOTE: One win per household. If you win this title in another contest hosted at another blog, the publisher will only send one copy per household address.

Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

• Winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email announcing that they have won; if I don't hear from the winner, I will draw another name.

• Winner will be determined using the sequence generator at Random.org.

Thank you to Mingmei Yip and her publicists from making this giveaway possible.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

32 comments:

PoCoKat said...

I have not read any of Mingmei Yip's previous books but would love to start with this one.

pocokat AT gmail DOT com

traveler said...

I am fascinated with this compelling novel. Thanks for this giveaway. I have not read any other books by this author. saubleb (at)gmail(dot)com

PoCoKat said...

I follow on GFC

pocokat AT gmail DOT com

petite said...

I enjoyed this interview which introduced me to this book. I never read a book by this author but this one would be unique and special. thanks. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Book Dilettante said...

1. Would love to win this book!

2. I am a follower

3. I've read and reviewed Petals from the Sky by the author.

harvee44 at yahoo.com

bermudaonion said...

I haven't read any of Yip's work, but I think this one sounds fascinating.

I subscribe in Google Reader.

kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I have never read a book by this author yet, however, I would love to start with this one.


cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I follow by google reader.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Diana D said...

Yes I would love to win and I have not read any of the author's books. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway

dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

Zibilee said...

What a wonderful interview! I would love to read this book, and have not read any other books by this author. Thanks for hosting this great giveaway!

zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

I would like to win this wonderful book, and I haven't read any of Mingmei Yip's novels yet.Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

Follow on GFC
Also Subscribe via Email

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anonymous said...

Never read any of this author's books, would love to win.

Thanks! for the giveaway.

tributebooksmama at gmail dot com

Benita said...

I've not read any of her work, but I'd love to win and read this novel.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

Email subscriber/GFC Follower.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

karenk said...

i would enjoy reading this novel...i have not had the opportunity to read any of this author's books (yet).

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I have never read any of her books but would like to very much. Please enter me in contest. The book sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

Lori L said...

I have not read any of Mingmei Yip's previous books but I'll be looking for them now. I'd love to win a copy!
shetreadssoftly(at)gmail(dot)com

Lori L said...

I'm a follower too!
shetreadssoftly(at)gmail(dot)com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I have not read any of her books previously I would love to read this one!


dancealert at aol dot com

Hoot aka Jessy said...

I love the cover of this book and it sounds great. I would be proud to have it on my bookshelf.

hootowl1978 at gmail dot com

Hoot aka Jessy said...

I am a follower via GFC

hootowl1978 at gmail dot com

Hoot aka Jessy said...

I tweeted about the giveaway

hootowl1978 at gmail dot com

Margie said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I haven't read any of this author's books, but this one sounds good!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

blog follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Darlyn said...

I would love to win this book! I have not read any of her book yet.

darlyn225 at gmail dot com

Darlyn said...

I'm a blog follower

darlyn225 at gmail dot com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

I have not read any of her books but would love to make Song Of The Silk Road my first :)

frellathon(at)gmail(dot)com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

I follow you GFC

frellathon(at)gmail(dot)com

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

I have not read any books by this author, but this one looks awesome!

Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

GFC Follower (ArtsyBookishGal)

Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/ArtsyBookishGal/status/59059269055676416

Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com