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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

You Might Win a Touch of WHIMSEY!


My thanks to Joanna Campbell Slan for inviting me here to tell you about my new book.


Kaye Wilkinson Barley



My new book.

Wow.

Never in a million years did I think I would say those words.

But after having gotten my toes wet writing a blog and then having two memoir pieces accepted for publication in two regional anthologies, my writing urges went crazy.

The result is a book I love.  It’s full of things I love, and while I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s my heart. There's a quote attributed to Toni Morrison that many of you have probably seen--"If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

I guess that’s what I did.

I've written the novel I wanted to write. It has magic and best girlfriends. There's pretty clothes and great food. There's laughter and love and music. Art and a perfect little gallery on a lovely little idyllic island in the Lowcountry. There's a ghost or two and a pixie named Earlene who happens to be partial to Christian Louboutins. It's impossible to put a tag on - kinda like the most interesting people I know who refuse to be placed in a single category. Eccentric and flawed. and fun.

And now, I hope to get the word out there in hopes that others with discover the joy of Whimsey.  ‘Cause, guess what – I’ve started Whimsey Book Two.   I guess I’m hooked after all.

**



How to Win Your Copy of WHIMSEY...


 I'd like to give one commenter a copy of WHIMSEY: A NOVEL. All you have to do is leave a comment and we'll draw a name. The winner can choose a print version or a Kindle version. We'll come back Friday morning to announce the winner, so be sure and check back then.

Thanks, everyone!  Very much.  I hope you'll all give WHIMSEY  a try and hope you love it.

My thanks to Joanna for having me!

**


WHIMSEY is Kaye Wilkinson Barley's first novel. She lives with her husband, Don, in the North Carolina mountains along with Harley Doodle Barley, the Wonder Corgi.

You can follow news about WHIMSEY here - http://kayewilkinsonbarley.blogspot.com/


Kaye is Blog Mistress of Meanderings and Muses, which you can follow here -http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/


She also steps in as "Oh, Kaye!" once a month at Jungle Red Writers - http://www.jungleredwriters.com/


** 
Here's what people are saying about WHIMSEY - - 

"Delightful!"
- Margaret Maron, New York Times Best-Selling Author. Winner of the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity Awards, and 2013 Mystery Writers of America Grand Master

"Kaye Barley is a treasure and a delight. Her wit, wisdom, imagination--and yes, whimsy!--shine from every page."
- Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-Winning Author

**

WHIMSEY is a novel of southern fiction with a splash of magic and a touch of fantasy, topped with a sprinkling of humor.


The magic was already there when cigar-smoking matriarch Elizabeth Calhoun established an artist’s colony on an island off the coast of Georgia and named it Whimsey.

Elizabeth’s ghost still drops in from time to time to make sure things are going as she planned.

There’s also a wicked pixie named Earlene who fancies tight-fitting designer clothes and Louboutin stilettos.

Elizabeth’s grandniece, Emma Hamilton Foley, a once-promising jewelry designer who moved away from the island, now fears her talent has deserted her.

Along with her four best childhood friends, she has been invited to be a resident artist at Whimsey’s new upscale gallery, Les étoiles. To join them, she’ll need to regain her talent, face the demons from her past and her feelings about Eli Tatnall, whom she loved as a girl.

Will moving back to Whimsey bring the magic back?

WHIMSEY is a story of hope and affirmation, about families and best girlfriends, connections and feelings. It’s about the things in life that make us happy and the things that scare us to death. And the people who walk through life with us.








19 comments:

Amy said...

For years now I have had a file folder titled "Whimsey" among the serious stuff one keeps in a filing cabinet. That's where I store the magical things that come my way. Now I have a chance to read an entire book around the subject. Hoo-hoo!

I hope I win a copy for my Kindle, but I'll surely buy it if I don't. If Margaret Maron and Joanna say good things, that's enough for me.

Bobbie said...

Whimsey sounds magical, I want to go ! Best wishes, Kaye.

Bobbie

Unknown said...

How exciting to fulfill a dream and then be able to share it with others!! Congratulations!

Charlotte said...

Would love to win a copy of this book, sounds like it would be a good read. Thank you for this great give away.

Marilyn said...

I am always looking for something a little different and characters I can connect with.
Good for you for following your dream.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

You know, I just wish I'd added a photo of Kaye's dog because as you can see, Kaye has "whimsey" written all over her life!

Anonymous said...

It just gets better and better, Kaye! So deeelited to see you are already on Book Number Two! Terrific! Thelma in Manhattan, where we are all feeling the loss of our dear Robin Hathaway...

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Hi, everyone - thanks so much for dropping by. The one thing I promised myself when I retired was to spread my wings and do more than just exist, and I have to say, life is just fun. But I do have to sometimes make myself get up and do things. It's easy for me to just sit and read all day, you know?

traveler said...

Whimsey is just what I need to lift my spirits, bring sunshine into my life and transport me to another wonderful locale. thanks for this chance and congratulations and best wishes.

petite said...

Whimsey is delightful. Hope, families and emotions is what life is all about. Sounds unique and very special.

Doreen Weaton said...

Can't wait to read this one, Kaye. Low Country -- one of my very favorite places.

Karen in Ohio said...

Kaye, I'm so happy for you! Will your book ever be available in Nook form?

I would call your genre fantastic or magical realism. What do you think?

Kathy said...

From one "K. Barley" to another, congratulations on getting your book published. I can hardly wait to read it. Good luck on Book 2!

Kathy Barley

Libby Dodd said...

Ah, "Whimsey" A favorite word. I'd love to check out the book version.

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Hi, Everyone - Thanks for stopping by!

I tried to post earlier, but it seems to have been captured by captcha (grrrrr!).

I hope all of you will give Whimsey a try. And I hope you love it. And I also hope it gives some of you who are thinking about following your own dream, a little bit of a push to do just that!

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Whoa! I got caught up over lunch (drawbridges seem to know when I'm in a hurry), so the comments are still running behind...but I'd say Kaye has a WINNER on her hands.

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

This is fun! I see some friends here and some "soon to be friends!" AND another K. Barley - I love it! (my husband's family is from Massachusetts - might you be also, Kathy??)

Karen in Ohio - Hey! I think it's magical realism, but I've had others say not. But yes - I think it is. Those of you who are Facebook friends may have seen me swoon there last night after reading a review at Goodreads where someone said WHIMSEY reminded her of Sarah Addison Allen's books. Y'all!!!! She is my idol!!!!! Are you familiar with her? Do check her out.

As far as the Nook version - yes, it will be, but not for a few weeks yet. And if anyone stops by Amazon to purchase a print version if it says "out of print" that's because I had to correct something on the cover. It should be back up and running in 24 hours.

Joanna - How I envy you getting stuck in drawbridge traffic. I grew up on the water and as much as I love these mountains, I miss being on the water every day of my life.

Thanks again, everyone!!

pennyt said...

Whimsey is such a neat word - like others above I have a file of whimsey articles I've hung onto over the years. I'd love to read your whimsical book!! Best of luck to you and congratulations.

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

This was fun and I enjoyed reading everyone's comments. All the support is heartwarming - Thank You. I hope each of you will give Whimsey a try and I hope you love it!

We have drawn a winning name and it's Charlotte (with the adorable Westie as her photo).

Charlotte - do you prefer a Kindle version or a print version. Just let me know and I'll send it your way. My email address is barleykw @ appstate . edu (remove the spaces).