Big in Japan (Book Giveaway!)

My friend and awesome author Jennifer Griffith has written another book! And lucky me, I got to be one of the advance reviewers for it, AND I get to give away a free copy!!

At home in Texas, Buck Cooper is considered obese and too big to be taken seriously. But a last minute trip to Japan with his parents changes everything. One minute he's the foreigner who stands out like a (tall) sore thumb, the next he's discovering his true potential in the elusive world of sumo.
Big in Japan is big on laughs, landscapes, and love. The main character is enjoyable and relatable and makes you wish you could give him a big teddy bear hug. Whether or not obesity and sumo are in the reader's future, the main character's struggle with his self-image, self-loathing, and personal courage, will strike a familiar chord.
Author Jennifer Griffith grew up in Idaho and learned to speak Japanese while she lived in Japan for a year and a half during college. She earned a degree in writing and has worked for the U.S. Congress. She writes a column for her local newspaper and blogs about writing and candy. At 5’1″ Griffith is far too short to ever consider sumo wrestling. Big in Japan is her fourth novel, and her first with Jolly Fish Press.
To be entered in the giveaway, just leave your name in the comments. (Buck Cooper would appreciate that I'm not making you do anything fancy like leave your sumo name, or imaginary Olympic sport you would totally dominate, in order to be entered. He's a down to earth kind of guy. Just your name will do!)  I'll give it till Sunday, and pick the winner via random.org then!

(Or you can just buy your own copy from Barnes and Noble or Amazon!)

Book Review and GIVEAWAY!

Looking for a good book to read? A fun story with a great plot based on real-life events, with good morals and values? It is time to read Agency by Shantal Hiatt!

Part romance, part modeling adventure, this story will catch you early and never let go. From learning that she has what it takes to become a professional model to the fast-paced, sensuous ending, Michelle experiences everything from the most traditional elements of her religion to the wild and urbane city scene in which she must live in order to work. Add to that a handsome and charismatic returned missionary who falls hard for her and wants to pull her back, and you have a love story in the midst of it all. As she struggles to maintain her independence, she tries to keep her balance between the exciting life that beckons in front of the camera and her conflicting values system. She discovers that exercising her agency--a word she has heard all of her life--is not so easy.

This story is loosely based on Shantal Hiatt's real life experiences as she juggled college, modeling, and all that she believed in. Did I mention I'm lucky enough to call Shantal a friend? It's true! Look- I have picture evidence!

She's the stunning blond in black. I'm the clown in red. Hey, fun coincidence that this picture was taken at a book signing for the book I was involved in, "Don't Forget the Pepper Spray." Also, here's a fun tip- Shantal is also the face on the cover of the book!

And because I'm lucky enough to know Shantal, I get to giveaway a copy of this awesome book! Here's the deal! If you want to be entered in the contest go to the Facebook Agency fan page, "like" it, and leave a comment on the wall there saying "Erin said so!" And then, come back here, leave a comment for me letting me know you left a message there, by saying, "I said it because you said so." A winner will be picked at random on Friday! 

Want to buy your own copy now? It is available in paperback via Amazon and Lulu, or you can get it for your Kindle or Nook immediately as well!

So what are you waiting for? Go leave a comment on the Agency page, and then come back here and leave me a comment too!

Mikarose Giveaway

There's a giveaway going on over at the awesome blog Elegance Redefined. If you are not already reading  Rachel Hagen's blog, you really should be! She's a Utah interior designer with serious flair and style. Even if you aren't in the market to redecorate your house right now, you should read her just for the design and inspiration ideas!

Here's how the giveaway works- go to her blog, read about it, go to the Mikarose site, pick out the dress you would buy if you won the free gift certificate, and then go back to Elegance Redefined and leave a comment telling them which dress you picked! Tada! That easy.

Here's the dress I picked! Even if I don't win, I totally want this dress. I just lost 20 lbs, and I started on my second round of HCG today! I'm going to lose another 20!! And I want this dress to show off my new skinny self when I get there!!