Act Two: A Novel in Perfect Pitch---A Blog Tour That Takes You from the Met to the Barn

C'mon, you have to look twice when you see a book cover featuring a pig's behind, right?

The surprises don't end with the cover of Kimberly Stuart's newest release, Act Two: A Novel In Perfect Pitch.

This I can relate to: sagging body parts, a huge location change, and realizing the universe does not revolve around me. Sadie Maddox is much more interesting than I am though---she is a 40 year old classical musical icon, and that's the problem. Icons don't get the best calls or top selling CD sales, so Sadie has to make some changes. Those changes involve moving to Iowa to teach at a small liberal arts college. Her observations and critiques are laugh out funny.

Turns out Kimberly Stuart is just as funny as her diva character, Sadie.

Where did you get the idea for the book?
I can’t possibly reveal that to the blogosphere, and I say that only partly because I’ve always wanted to use the word blogosphere. The other reason is that this one percolated for awhile. There was no lightning bolt moment. But I will say that I’m always interested in putting quirky characters in situations that make them woefully uncomfortable and allow the reader to laugh with gusto both at and with the character. A New York opera diva on a farm seemed like a situation that might work for that purpose.

What kind of research did you have to do for the book?
It was intense. Lots of dangerous, Indiana Jones-type adventures, plenty of nights under the stars and without food or running water. Actually, I traveled to New York and was shuttled around by dear friends who love their city and were infectious in their excitement. I loved my time there and still wish I could drop off my laundry for someone else to do, begging out of the chore because my building just didn’t have a washer and dryer.

Have you lived on a pig farm?
I grew up in Iowa, though not exactly on a pig farm. Des Moines has roughly 400,000 residents, which would prove a challenge for group farming. But my roots are rural. All of my grandparents grew up on farms, as did many of our friends and neighbors. For Act Two, I relied heavily on dear friends who own a pig farm in northwestern Iowa. Anything I got right on this end is due to their diligence. Anything I goofed is my fault entirely. My husband will tell you I don’t always listen well.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a child, I wanted to be a “seener” (singer). Mostly, I wanted to be Amy Grant. That’s right, people: I was into STRAIGHT UP AMY GRANT. The hard stuff, the early years, like “My Father’s Eyes,” and “El Shaddai.” I rocked out (with choreography) in our basement, next to a record player roughly the size of an Escalade and was wholeheartedly convinced of my musical and entertaining genius. If only I could have met her at the right time, perhaps post-Gary, pre-Vince, we could have toured together! She totally could have used a back-up dancer/singer! In fact, if you’re reading this, Amy, I’m still available!

Where are you headed next?
God willing, I’ll be giving birth to our third child in August, so I’m afraid I won’t be heading anywhere too quickly. Lactation seems to preclude so many of life’s adventures…In addition to caring for our growing brood and being really snippy with my husband for a few months due to sleep deprivation, I have two more books to write with David C. Cook. Act Two is the first of three, and I must ask you humbly to buy it within the next four minutes as it is time-sensitive material. And it’s a pretty good summer read, if I must be so bold. After Act Two will come two more. This will make a grand total of five books so far from the pen of Kimberly Stuart. Don’t place any bets that I’ll try to have as many children as I do books. When it comes to babies, those in print are much kinder on a uterus.

If you want to follow Sadie from the Met to the barn, here is a sample:
http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/resources/samples/105650.pdf

In search of a good summer read? Purchase here

I have one copy of this book to give away. In addition, the winner will also receive approximately $20.00 retail value of items to surprise you with. Hint: If you enjoy reading, you'll want to enter! Leave a comment on ANY posts here AND http://www.christianwritersforum.com/ between June 30 and July 11 to qualify. I'll draw a name July 12. You can enter more than once by leaving more than one comment on different posts, BUT you do have to leave at least one comment at both blogs!

I'll also blog a bit more about this book on Sunday over at the Christian Writers Forum blog.

There are other bloggers out there on this tour, do me a favor and check them out and leave a comment?
A Christain Romance Writer’s Journey
Behind the Mountain
Blog Tour Spot
Book Nook Club
Book Room Reviews
Canadian Prairie Writer
Chatter Matters
Fictionary
Footprints in the Sand
Gatorskunz and Mudcats
His Reading List
I Don’t Wanna Blog
In the Dailies
Kells Creative Musings
Life with Missy
Lighthouse Academy
Musings on This, That, and the Other
Net’s Notes
Real Women Scrap
Refresh My Soul
See Ya On the Net
Sips ‘N Cups Cafe
So Many Books. . . So Little Time
Sumballo
The Friendly Book Nook
The Law, Books and Life
The Surrendered Scribe
The Writing Road
Toni V. Lee
Write by Faith
Writing on the Edge