Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

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Southern through and through

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ATFMGiveaway

ENTER TO WIN by midnight Central, Tuesday, July 28

I love the South. I’m Southern by birth and appreciate the food, the people, the history, the literature, and all most (LOL) of the idiosyncrasies that come with being Southern.

So when I was approached about writing yet another Southern love story—this time a novella—I said, “Where and when?”

And writing with author friends Shelley Shepard Gray, Dorothy Love, and Elizabeth Musser only made the experience sweeter. Fabulous women all, and I so enjoyed working with them on these stories in Among the Fair Magnolias.

ATFMAuthorRowSM

To celebrate the release this month, we made a video sharing how we each came to write our story, and in it we each reveal at least two #LittleKnownAuthorFacts that you may (or may not) know about each of us.

HINT: Get ready, those of you who think you know Ms. Dorothy Love. I’m just sayin’…

And now, a giveaway! But this giveaway is a little different.

I’m giving away two books, but one is a print edition and the other is an MP3. Feel free to state which version you’re interested in winning. [If you don’t state a choice, you’ll be entered to win either.]

How do you enter to win?

1) Simply leave a comment on this blog post by midnight central, Tuesday, July 28, sharing one of the #LittleKnownAuthorFacts you didn’t know about one of the authors, and why you chose that fact (do you have something in common with them perhaps?).

2) To earn two extra chances to win, SHARE the video above on either your Facebook page, blog, in a tweet, or on Pinterest, and include the URL (where you shared it) in your comment as well, then your name will be added to the hat twice more (for a total of three times).

Tell me, are you Southern by birth? Or maybe by transplant? What do you love most about the South? Or if you don’t love anything about it, well then… Bless your heart and have a nice day!

🙂

Tamera

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Tamera Alexander

Novelist at Novelist
Novelist, wife, mother… USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander has loved the lure and power of story for as long as she can remember. Now she enjoys creating stories set within the real history of the post-Civil War South and the rugged, panoramic vistas of America's West.
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Comments

  1. I love to bake just like Tamera! Pies are soooo good! I’m working on merengues right now. I just devised a chocolate chip one that was amazing.

    Thanks for the chance to win!!!!!

  2. I personally did not know that Tamera was a born southern born gal. I love it! I am a transplant to central Florida area from the 80’s. I love the laid back style. The true southerner’s are just that & so polite. They just love nature, the food of the south, the music, the hospitality, and generally speaking they are just plain good ole’ Americans.
    If I am chosen to win this book, I would rather have a hard copy.
    As a new writer myself I want to say “Thank you to all the ladies of writing!”
    Linda

  3. Hi Tammy, I loved the video! What a creative way to share the stories and the authors behind them. Dorothy’s little known fact was fun! I had no idea she sang in a rock band. The cover is beautiful, and the stories sound so interesting. It was interesting to hear how they tied into other books the authors have written. I’d love to win a print copy, and I’m happy to share the video and link to this post. Blessings to you all! Carrie

  4. I didn’t know that Dorothy Love was in a rock band! How cool is that?! I am a Texan. I love the Southern hospitality and sense of community.

    Thank you for this fun giveaway! I really enjoyed the video.

    I shared the video on fb and Pinterest

  5. Since “Remembered” is one of my favorite books . . . ever . . . . . it’s awesome to imagine that the entire story was born from a trip to a cemetery. Very interesting. And I have also vacationed on Pawley’s Island, having lived in North Carolina nearly all of my life, so it was fun to hear more about Dorothy Love’s story. I love being in the South; the hospitality factor is definitely “alive and well”! If I win a copy of the book, I prefer print!

    • Hugging you from here, Rebecca. Remembered is a favorite story of mine. Love that Veronique and Jack. Plus it was my mom’s favorite book of mine too. Appreciate you.

  6. I loved this video! I can’t believe that Dorothy Love sang with a rock band! Oh wow. That is so cool.
    I was born in South Carolina, still live here and don’t think I would ever leave for anything!
    I also love that you like tromping through cemeteries. I do, too! There is a cemetery, Rose Hill, in York,SC, 10 miles south of me, that has some very old graves, among them many Confederate ones. I know that’s not politically correct to say right now, but I love to look at old graves. I guess what I love most about the south is the friendliness of everyone. I can be standing in a line at a store and strike up a conversation with people and just act like we’ve known each other all our lives!

    I would like a print copy if I win.

    • Wish we could tromp through cemeteries together, Susan! And yes to the friendliness of the South. One of the things I love about it too. Well, that and Buttermilk Pie & Krispy Kremes. ; )

  8. Outside of Orlando, FL, the closest I’ve been to the South is St. Louis (neither of which actually count, I’m guessing), so I have no personal experience there–just what I read. But what I read is good, though like anywhere, not perfect. I did not know Elizabeth Musser lives in southern France; but again, I have only been to the north!

  9. I am Southern born and Southern bred. My Dad is from Alabama and my Mom is from Georgia. I was born in Florida. So you might say that I am truly a Southern gal.
    It’s hard to believe that Dorothy Love was once in a rock band but as they say, “life is stranger than fiction”.
    Thanks for entering me in your giveaway to win a paperback copy of, “Among the Fair Magnolias”.

  10. Tamera it is real hard work being a Mother, Wife and Author! Full Time no less. Hoping to win your latest novel about the deep south, We had a lovely Magnolia tree in our front yard near the porch, its fragrance was devine! (I can’t spell worth beans!) Wish me luck darling and of course its paper books I prefer over doodads I can’t read ! LOL

  11. Absolutely LOVE the video! And that is my favorite peach cobbler recipe! I make it almost every summer when the Texas peaches are at their peak! I laughed at Elizabeth’s little known fact about her choice of dinner with a movie. I love popcorn and have had it for dinner many times, but I’ve never thought to add apples!

    Don’t include me in the drawing. My book is right here with me. I love it and am reading it right now. Reading the stories not in the order they are in the book. I’ll let you guess which one I’m saving to savor last. <3

  12. I enjoyed the little known facts about all of you ~ what fun! Too pick a few ~ Elizabeth living in France was a surprise, and being a scrapbooker ~ I enjoy walking around looking at creativity of others ~ our ladies at church are invited to our second crafting night the end of August. I will go, give it a try, enjoying the socializing, :D. I would love to win this novella collection I have seen featured around blogs and… love the cover! Congrats, ladies. Paperback for me to carry with me out on our South-Central Missouri wrap-around porch. I love the salute wave we get driving by in cars! So wonderful to be among instant friends wherever you stop. When I was in elementary school my family moved to Arkansas and then Oklahoma through my mid-twenties. I am so glad my husband and I arrived on our very own hilltop six years ago when we retired in the middle of our children in three states. I’m with Elizabeth with the popcorn, apple, and old movie night! Here is my sharing: https://twitter.com/LaneHillHouse/status/623523030086455296 Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House

  13. Ms. Alexander loves exploring old cemeteries! I don’t get to do that near as often as I’d like. I was born in Georgia, and one thing I like about the south is the general friendliness. From what I hear, up north would be pretty weird to me, where a stranger’s smile is viewed askance. I love smiles! (I would like to be entered for the print copy.)

  14. I am a southerner by birth. I’ve lived in Shelby County Tennessee my whole life! (boring huh?) Awesome Video!! As a fan of all of you, I love getting the “scoop”. So, Dorothy being in a rock band was pretty cool! Tamera, walking around in grave yards was another cool fact. Elizabeth, I love scrap booking as well and Shelley, my son is a southpaw. Ya’ll are very special. I would like a print of the book if I win and I did share on twitter. https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//youtu.be/uYbxyH1k1MM&text=Inspiration%20behind%20Among%20the%20Fair%20Magnolias%2C%20a%20Southern%20novella%20collection&via=YouTube&related=YouTube,YouTubeTrends,YTCreators

    • OOops, forgot to tell you what I love about the south. In the words of Elvis…”everythang.”

  15. Great video! I enjoyed the fun facts of the authors and the desserts, oh my has my mouth watering! I was surprised to learn that Elizabeth lives in France, that Dorothy collects old maps (I’m curious on the date of the oldest one), also that Shelley writes more than one book at a time (talk about multi-tasking) and I’ve always enjoyed how Tamera actually writes around The Belle Meade Plantation. I live in Oklahoma. Great giveaway and hoping I win. I would prefer the paper edition.
    Thank You!
    Karen Hadley

  16. I love Elizabeth’s dinner idea of popcorn and apple’s. I was married to a rancher in North Dakota. For Sunday supper we always had popcorn, summer sausage (made from our own beef) and ice cream. I find that I still like popcorn on Sunday evening. When I was 17 I spent one summer traveling the state of North Carolina. This was a Caravan program through the Lutheran League. We went to churches throughout the state trying to revitalize the young people. I loved the southern atmosphere and came to love grits and okra. I look forward to reading these novellas.

  18. I didn’t know that Tamera was from the south! I am from Missisippi so we have that in common!

  19. I also love all the southern cooking we do in the south and all our southern hospitality

  20. I absolutely love that Dorothy was in a rock band!!! How cool is that??! I’m only in a rock band with the Xbox.
    And I love that Shelley admitted to being a horrible housekeeper. SAME!

  22. I’m going to pick two authors as we do have something in common!
    Tamera because she loves to tromp in old cemeteries. That is a favorite past time of mine, I love to find the oldest ones! It’s also a bit sad when I find one of a child (say way back in the 1800’s).
    Shelley because she’s left-handed. My husband is too and he always said he’s in his right mind (lol)!! I sometimes wished there were more everyday things made for left-handed people. He struggles with many things, even though he’s learned to adapt.
    I’ve also shared this on Facebook, Tweeted & pinned on Pinterest.
    Facebook: I’m going to pick two authors as we do have something in common!
    Tamera because she loves to tromp in old cemeteries. That is a favorite past time of mine, I love to find the oldest ones! It’s also a bit sad when I find one of a child (say way back in the 1800’s).
    Shelley because she’s left-handed. My husband is too and he always said he’s in his right mind (lol)!! I sometimes wished there were more everyday things made for left-handed people. He struggles with many things, even though he’s learned to adapt.
    I’ve also shared this on Facebook, Tweeted & pinned on Pinterest.
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trixi.oberembt/posts/990409277644308
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/sea_tea04/status/623588022638899200
    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/310326230551809507/

    I was born in Arkansas but raised in Illinios. My mom spent a fair amount in Alabama and I have an aunt & cousins still living in Mobile, Alabama. So I’d say I am southern by birth…even though I now live on the Oregon coast. There’s nothing like Southern hospitality!! They make you feel like you’re the best thing to happen to them 🙂
    Thank you for the giveaway opportunity! This book is on my want-to-read list.

    • oops, I just noticed I repeated myself on here! So sorry….that’s what happens when you copy & paste sometimes….at least it does to me….lol!!

  23. I enjoyed the video very much. I choose Tamera Alexander’s little known facts as I enjoy visiting old family cemeteries with my mom and aunt and hearing the stories about family members I’ve never met plus I love to bake. I am Southern born and love the South…slower pace and it seems the people are so friendly…nothing like Southern country folks. Thanks for the opportunity to win…sounds like an awesome collection. Linda

  24. I enjoy writing (though not professionally) and reading and have never lived anywhere but Texas! I enjoyed every book Tamera Alexander has written! The first book I read was “Rekindled,” loaned to me by her aunt. I’ve been hooked ever since!

  25. I love the cover of Among the Fair Magnolias; it is so lovely and elegant. If I won this book, I’d love to have a print copy.
    Tammy says she loves to bake, especially pies. I love to bake too, though I usually only bake pies for Thanksgiving or perhaps Christmas. I’m not a bit southern. I lived in Texas for a few years and have visited Arkansas; that’s as close to the south as I’ve gotten. I have read quite a few books set in the south and by southern authors so I do have an appreciation for the south. I do catch myself saying “y’all” sometimes; I’m not sure if I picked that up in Texas or from the books I read!
    Thanks for taking the time to produce the video and for sharing it with us. It was a very interesting way to learn more about the book and the authors.

  26. Loved these author videos!
    Being a southerner and life-long Georgia resident, I’m always eager to read stories set anywhere in the south.
    Right now I am LOVING Among The Fair Magnolias (and when I finish, it will go on my Keeper shelf!). 🙂

    Tammy asked what we love most about the south – – and since there are so many things, I’d have to say one favorite
    of mine is grits!! Yum – – love my salted, buttered grits! 😉

    Hugs, Patti Jo

  27. I am 5th generation Floridian and proud of it. I love the southern good food the way my grandmother and mother cooked. I love my church, cookouts, ballgames, and simple lazy days. I’ve read many of your books and if I win I prefer the printEd form. Thank you

  28. I am Southern by birth and proud of it. I love how friendly we are, a stranger is only someone we haven’t met yet. I enjoyed learning that Shelley writes more than one book at a time. I can’t even read more than one at a time. LOL I would love to win a print copy of this book.

  29. It was interesting that Dorothy Love enjoys collecting old maps. It didn’t say how old, but it caught my attention because I have a box of old maps that I started collecting as a youngster over 50 years ago. I haven’t kept all of them but I can remember my family traveling to various places represented on those maps.

  31. I don’t know what time it is over there now (maybe an hour too late?), but I just woke up here in the Netherlands and liked this video, because I secretly love the South too. I like the accents, the stories and countryside.
    The fun fact I can relate to most is one of Shelley’s, about writing more than one story at a time. I do that too! 😉

  32. The most interesting fact I found was Elizabeth and her husband watch movies with a dinner of popcorn and apples. I do the same thing for my boys. I felt like I was the only one.
    I am not from the south although if I hadn’t married my husband so young I would have moved down south for sure.
    I would prefer the digital verse of the book. It’s easier with two little ones at home to always have it on my phone or on my kindle. So I don’t have to hunt through the house for a book.
    Thank you so much for the opportunity to win.

  33. I am not Southern BUT love Southern recipes, the Southern states that I’ve been to, and some wonderful friends from the South. I went to school and worked for a bit in Texas so I’ve experienced a bit of the Southern life as well. Thanks for a chance to win one of your books ladies, and I would love one in print form.

  34. That was too fun! I’ve wanted to read the book ever since I saw the cover, and now I really want to! I’d have to say that I am not like Tamera since I’ve never baked a pie, but I am more like Elizabeth and scrapbooking. I have 8 children and each child has 1-3 scrapbooks, plus I have made a few as gifts.

  36. Tamera, you are the only author in this collection I am really familiar with, so this was a fun video to watch.
    How interesting that Elizabeth lives in France!
    My Mom and my husband were both born in Virginia, but I was born and raised in MI. BUT I have live in SC for more than half of my life now, so not southern by birth, but definitely by choice=)
    I would love a print copy of the book.

  37. Ok, so I have things in common with three of the authors. The one most like me is Tamara! I LOVE OLD CEMETERIES! Any where I go I can find one and bore my family to tears…sigh!

    I am a southern gal because my 2nd great-grandmother’s brother was one of the Polish pioneer settlers of Panna Maria, TX. I love that place, even though my 2nd ggrandmother chose to stay in Poland. It’s a fascinating bit of history as being the first permanent Polish settlement in the USA.

    I posted on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredbylifeandfiction.com%2Fsouthern-through-and-through%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredbylifeandfiction.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F07%2FFB-ATFM-e1437454264187.png&description=Southern+through+and+through

    I tweeted! Here’s the link: https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Southern+through+and+through&url=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredbylifeandfiction.com%2Fsouthern-through-and-through%2F

    And I am posting on my blog: http://sunniereviews.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-southern-girl-giveaway.html
    Thanks for the chance!

    • Hey Sonja! Congrats, you won the MP3 of Among the Fair Magnolias. I’ll post the winners’ names tomorrow! Thanks so much for sharing…and for reading!

  38. I would never of thought that Shelley was a messy housekeeper because her books are so well put together and bring out the heart in me. For some reason I saw Shelley as neat and tidy about her surroundings as her books are as neat and tidy to follow from the first word to the last. I love her even more now because she seems even more real down to earth and a regular person like me. I would love to win a printed copy for sure.

  39. I am a Southerner. Born and raised in Georgia. I love the south — all the beautiful trees and flowering scrubs, all the friendly folks, family histories, and get-togethers. I’d love to have a paperback copy of Among the Fair Magnolias. I had no idea Elizabeth Musser and her husband enjoy popcorns and apples for dinner on movie night. I’ve tweeted and shared on my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/rosechandlerjohnsonauthor?ref=hl.

  42. What a neat video, Tamera! I’ve got a Kindle copy of the book through netgalley, so please enter me in the paperback contest.

    I was intrigued by Shelley’s fun fact of always writing multiple stories at a time. How does she manage to keep them all straight in her mind??? I usually have one that I’m writing while I’m editing another one or two (one of mine and one I’m copy editing for someone else–hello, freelance work!), but I’m not sure I could actually write several at once.

    I’m Texan, born and raised. Not a fan of the heat of the summers, but I’ve survived them every year. My favorite thing about living here is actually the accent I have. Sometimes it’s stronger than others (especially if people mention it; I tend to give it extra thick to give ’em a thrill), but my “y’all’s” are always pretty pronounced. I believe only Southern folks can properly dish out a good “y’all.”

    Blessings, y’all!
    Andrea
    andrearenee2004@yahoo.com

  43. I am a southerner by birth and by choice also. Having lived in many other places I returned to the south and am still here. I admire graciousness as a character quality and believe many who are from the south demonstrate that. That Dorothy sang in a rock band did seem quite unique for an author. Would love to have a print copy of the book. I enjoy my Kindle too, but holding the book has some definite appeal still!

  44. I learned that Elizabeth writes from a toolshed…but a pretty nice toolshed!

  46. Oh my goodness I absolutely loved watching this video of my favorite authors. I think it’s fascinating that Tamera Alexander likes visiting old cemeteries, me too ! Dorothy Love, you sure took me by surprise when you revealed you used to be a singer in a band ! I love old Southern stories and I am very much looking forward to reading this in a print copy form. I love how some of the stories are tie ins from previous books by these authors !
    I shared on facebook https://www.facebook.com/deanne.patterson.31/posts/783131165129837
    I am not a Southern girl but what I love about the South the most are the plantation houses. Ah, I’ve fallen in love with them ! I would really love to read a print copy of this ! Thank you for the wonderful post and giveaway !

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