Because my Boleyn Deceit ARCs are watching me reproachfully Every. Single. Day. while I revise Reckoning. I've never had ARCs to give away before, so it's possible they scare me. Or that I wanted to hoard them ('my precious') or that I've taken the time to devise a wonderful, thought-provoking contest.
It's possible, but not true. The truth, as always, comes down to I Just Haven't Done Anything Yet. If you'd like to complain about that, you'll have to get in line behind my husband and children and house at this point.
Here's what I've come up with in my snatched moments away from revisions and back-to-school insanity: I had a wonderful time in London this summer. I have the pictures to prove it. Many of those pictures are of places that matter in my books. So for the next (mumble, mumble bunch of days) I will post various pictures of various places and convey in as few words as possible my love for said places.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A BOLEYN DECEIT ARC, COMMENT ON THIS POST TELLING ME YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN ENGLAND (EITHER VISITED OR HOPED-TO-VISIT SOMEDAY).
I will run this contest through midnight Eastern Time on Thursday, September 5. I will then randomly select TWO winners from the comments to receive not only a signed ARC of The Boleyn Deceit, but a signed copy of The Boleyn King and signed posters of the covers for each of those books.
Hooray for England! Hooray for history! Hooray for free books!
And mostly Hooray! for those of you who've taken a chance on my books and made me happier than you'll ever know :)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The Tower of London! I love reading about the Tudors and going to the Tower, getting a tour, and connecting everything was just amazing.
ReplyDeleteFantastic pictures! I have long been quite fascinated by the Tower of London and it's at the top of my favorites list. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea for a contest. I'm so glad you had an amazing trip, too.
ReplyDeleteI was actually born in England, but I was a baby when we left and I'm afraid I have no memories of it. I very much want to back and see where I was born (Lakenheath AFB). I'm afraid that's not very romantic. But while I'm there I'd also like to visit the famous tower and see...as morbid as it is...where the heads rolled. LOL tchevrestt(at)yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI have never been to England but I would love to visit the Cornwall area. One of my favorite books takes place there and in London. I can't wait to read The Boleyn Deceit.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to England but if I went I would want to see Cornwall. I have a favorite book that takes place there and in London. I am so excited to read The Boleyn Deceit. Thanks Laura.
ReplyDeleteI passed up a London study abroad for one in St. Petersburg. I'm still waiting for a chance to visit the Tate!
ReplyDeleteI passed up a London study abroad for one in St. Petersburg. I'm still waiting to visit the Tate!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go on a Jane Austen themed trip. See her home, as well as places she mentions in her books!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go on a Jane Austen themed trip. See her home, as well as places she mentions in her books!
ReplyDeleteI have never been to England, but my husband and I are definitely going to go once the kids are gone! :) I want to do a Tudor tour so bad, I want to see basically anything Tudor related!! :) I will say the Tower of London is on the top of our list.
ReplyDeletekim_cree@yahoo.com
Ive never been in England yet but I would really love to hopefully someday. I pretty much have a long list of places to visit but Westminster Abbey top my bucket list. Theres something mesmerizing about it and I really love the fact that it is rich with thousand years of history.
ReplyDeleteIve never been in England yet but I would really love to hopefully someday. I pretty much have a long list of places to visit but Westminster Abbey top my bucket list. Theres something mesmerizing about it and I really love the fact that it is rich with thousand years of history.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to England, but once the kids are gone my husband and I plan on going! :) I really want to take a Tudor tour. The Tower of London is on the top of my list of things to see!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!!
My all time favorite place is Bakewell, in Derbyshire. Darcy and I spent 4 days there at a farm within spitting distance (no, we didn't spit at it) of Haddon Hall, where they filmed Jane Eyre, sigh... Absolutely our favorite spot! We did not have any Bakewell tarts, but we ate like royalty at the farm B & B where we stayed. Our host drove us around to see the local sights and we went to a country fair in Bakewell, complete with a Jack Russel Terrier race!
ReplyDeleteI am growing increasingly jealous and/or anxious to go back soon! Cornwall, Jane Austen, the Brontes, not to mention Scotland and Wales . . . let's face it, I really just need to live there. Must. Write. More. Books.
ReplyDeleteI would love to go to St Peter ad Vincula to see where Anne Boleyn is buried. Its such a shame she died too young and I love how she gets to live again for a little while in the pages of books like yours.
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite place in England was a random while we were driving and noticed that was where Beatrix Potter was from. It was near Lake Windermere. Bowness-on-Windermere. The Lake District. Just a quiet little village. We walked along the cobblestone streets, shopped, had tea and crumpets. I love being off the beaten path. Typical tourist destinations. I loved the English countryside. But when we go back and yes one day we will, I would love to see Hampton Court. Why did we not go there. Maybe so I would have to go back.
ReplyDeleteWhen we visited England we bought a map at Sainbury's, got a rental car and just drove. We visited Leeds Castle (loved it). Bath and Salisbury. Where my great grandfather was born (Herefordshire). But I think one of my most favorite was while we driving, I noticed on the map that there was a Beatrix Potter museum near by. A friend, who was watching our house, loved Beatrix Potter and I wanted to get her something special. So we pulled off the M and went for a drive. It was the best thing. The Lake District first off, beautiful! Second, the quaint village! We shopped, ate crumpets and walked. When we go back and yes we will one day, I want to visit Hampton Court. Why we didn't go there I have no idea. But a must! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThe British Museum. I had just taken an art history course when I went and loved seeing so many artifacts from all over the world. Also, we stayed right next to Hever Castle so I really enjoyed getting a feel for the area where Anne Boleyn grew up.
ReplyDeleteThe places in England where: Austen, Kipling, Bronte, Conan Doyle, Shakespeare wrote, the Tudors plotted and were plotted upon, Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey, Hever Castle, Hampton Court, the crown jewels are displayed, the National Gallery paintings are hung, Handel composed, the Magna Carta was signed, the battlefields where Queen Boudica led her clan...can I just live there for a year with unlimited funds?
ReplyDeleteI would love to go to these places: where Shakespeare, Conon Doyle, Austen & Bronte wrote, Stonehenge, the National Gallery (of course, if you know me well), where Handel composed, Hever Castle, Hampton Court, Westminster Abbey, where the Magna Carta was signed, the battlefield where Queen Boudicca led her people to fight against Rome and almost won...can I please live there for a year with unlimited funds?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite place in England is Burrow Market in South Bank, London. Rows and rows and rows of the most delicious foods from all over the world. The freshest most beautiful foods ever..... I have had so many yummy tastes and happy memories there with friends and family. Try the PESTO - unbelievable! I can't wait til November - MUST READ PAGES while eating toffee pudding!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite place in England is BURROW MARKET. It is rows and rows and rows of the most delicious food - surrounded by tiny little bakeries, restaurants, food stalls - with the most delicious smells and unique flavors. I have many fun memories there with friends and buying a Christmas Pudding!. History is great but great food is always a true present.
ReplyDeleteHow about more pictures of that handsome young man!! In even more pictures from your trip! Love London, England, you, and your writing! Mom, gramma.... :)
ReplyDeleteSadly, I have only sat in the Heathrow airport waiting for a connection to Rome. Aside from all the normal tourist stops, I would love to go on a family history tour. Old homes, cemeteries, etc.. Lancashire, Devonshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridge . . . and of course Hever Castle - Mary Boleyn is my ancestor.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I have only sat in the Heathrow airport waiting for a connection to Rome. Aside from all the normal tourist stops, I would love to go on a family history tour. Old homes, cemeteries, etc.. Lancashire, Devonshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridge . . . and of course Hever Castle - Mary Boleyn is my ancestor.
ReplyDeleteSadly, my only visit to England was spent sitting in the Heathrow airport waiting for a connection to Rome. Aside from the traditional tourist stops in London, I woukd love to go on a family history tour, visiting ancestral homes and cemeteries in Lancashire, Devonshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridge, and of course Hever Castle - Mary Boleyn is my ancestor. And I had another ancestor locked up in the tower of London for being a heretic, so that would be cool to see as well.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many answers I could give, I LOVE England. It's in my bones, I felt at home the moment I stepped on British soil. But I will give you my favorite place that I hope to travel to someday: Maidstone, Kent so I can continue to trace my family tree and see where my ancestors came from! (Bonus answers because I can't help myself: I want to visit Chatsworth House and Haworth. And Stonehenge. And I love Westminster Abbey. And Leamington Spa, the town near my study abroad uni in Warwick!)
ReplyDeleteI would love seeing things to do with Brontes and Jane Austen. there some place you can go stay where you get to dress up in period costume and have a ball and such? Maybe it was a dream I had, or a book I read, or both?
ReplyDeleteI would love seeing things to do with Brontes and Jane Austen. there some place you can go stay where you get to dress up in period costume and have a ball and such? Maybe it was a dream I had, or a book I read, or both?
ReplyDeleteI would love seeing anything to do with the Brontes or Jane Austen. More of the "countryside" than the city, probably, for me!
ReplyDeleteAnita - Aug. 29, 2013 - 10:00 PM
ReplyDeleteOn our third trip to England, my husband and I had the wonderful experience of visiting the Chelmsford Records Library at Chelmsford, Essex, England. Here you can check out and actually handle records dating back to the 1600's on parchment with their original signatures, wax seals, etc. of marriages, wills, land and property transfers, deaths, inheritances, disputes, etc. Most of our ancestors came from England, so it was a beautiful journey into their pasts. My favorite place to visit after all the rest!!
Like others, I have trouble choosing a single spot, but two favorites are the recreated living spaces at Warwick Castle and the kitchens at Hampton Court. Both places are so true to life that they take you back in time. I was born in England, have been back four times, and can't wait to go again. Loved The Boleyn King, Laura, keep at it! My favorite historical period, and it's great to read such an original take on it.
ReplyDeleteLike others, too many favorites to choose one. A couple of the best are the recreated living space at Warwick Castle and the kitchens at Hampton Court. So real, they take you back in time. I was born in England, have been back four times, can't wait to go again. Great job on The Boleyn King, Laura. Loved your original take!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite place in England is Kensington Gardens. I lived across the street when I did a study abroad years ago, and I spent hours in the park reading _Peter Pan_. It also has my favorite place to get high tea: the Kensington Palace Orangery! And, hey, it will soon be home to two future kings, so that's cool too. :)
ReplyDeleteIf (when??) I get the chance to go again, I want to see the Lake District.
Kensington Gardens! I lived across the street when I did a study abroad in London years ago. It also has my favorite place for high tea: the Orangery at Kensington Palace! And it will soon be the home of two future kings and the ever-fashionable Kate!
ReplyDeleteLichfield, my grandmother's home. She left for America at age 17 as the bride of an American soldier following WWII, with two small children (one of them my mother) in tow.
ReplyDeleteWe took the whole family to England last year. Their favorite places are listed below. My 15 and 17 year old want to respond separately as they want a book!
ReplyDeleteNate (age 6): Windsor Castle - because of the guardian lions
Nikolas (age 10): London Eye - because he could see the entire town
Jakob (age 13): Platform 9 3/4 - he loves to read and Harry Potter books are one of his favorites.
Steven (age 19): Shakespearean Globe Theater - He loves to read and Shakespeare is one of his favorites. He loved your book. He is excited to read the next one.
Me: Tower of London - Loved the tour guide (Beefeaters) and their stories. Amazing city with some awesome history. So glad that we were able to go. Love your book and I am excited to read more of them.
I personally loved the Tower of London because of the History involved with it. It was really cool to see where Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary (plus MANY others...) were imprisioned.
ReplyDeleteTower of London for the History involved!
ReplyDeleteTower of London because of the History involved. It's cool to see the place where both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were imprisioned by one another.
ReplyDeleteMy husband took me to England and Scotland for our twentieth anniversary. I got to go to Stonehenge (among other places), which had been a dream of mine for years.
ReplyDeleteNational Archives always draws me for at least a day.
ReplyDeleteNational Archives always draw me in for at least a day. Inside or out what an amazing place.
ReplyDeleteI was in London for three days one summer in high school. Can't remember all the places we went, but the Tower of London was great.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the Tower of London when I was in London for three days back in high school. It would be fun to go to Stonehenge one day.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit some of the cities from Pride and Prejudice- a great book, but also my favorite movie, ever (the LONG Colin Firth version, not the newer one): Hertfordshire, Derbyshire, and Kent. And some other Jane Austen books mention vacationing in Bath.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit the cities from Pride and Prejudice- a great book, but also my favorite movie, ever (the LONG Colin Firth version, not the newer one.) I'd love to see Hertfordshire, Derbyshire, and Kent. Plus some other Jane Austen books mention vacationing in Bath- that would be fun.
ReplyDeleteThe place I would most love to visit in England would be Queen Elizabeth I's tomb in Westminster Abbey!
ReplyDeleteThe place in England I would most love to visit would be Queen Elizabeth I's tomb in Westminster Abbey.
ReplyDelete