Thursday, February 28, 2013

Cheers, Britannia! TARNISH and GILT Giveaway!

Today is a very, very special day for me, my friends, because today GILT makes its debut in the UK (and Commonwealth!!).  As you know, I am born and raised a California girl, but fell in love with England and embraced it as my adopted home many years ago.  I lived there for five years, go back as often as I can for research and cultural immersion and spend most of my days with characters from English history as my companions.

So it's a dream come true for my book to be on the shelves of British bookstores.  And thanks to Simon&Schuster UK, it has a gorgeous cover, as well.  I just love that Kitty gets a chance to shine.
I'm celebrating today with all of you, and wanted to share my joy by giving away copies of the UK publication.  One I will send internationally, the other to someone in the US or Canada along with fabulous British treats (Jammie Dodgers, McVities Digestives and Rowntree Fruit Gums--though I couldn't find any Hula Hoops or Walkers Crisps and refrained from including Mushy Peas or Marmite--you either love it or you hate it).

Also, because TARNISH will be published almost simultaneously in the UK and the US, I will be giving away an ARC internationally.

So please, help me celebrate!  Tell me why you love British history.  Help me tell the world how excited I am.  And let me thank you--for reading, for being history geeks and/or Anglophiles, for loving books.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

23 comments:

  1. I've always loved all my English Literature classes. Especially Shakespeare, because he knew how to write a tragedy that would feel like my world was falling apart around me. I also love English Literature because it's what a lot of the fiction I enjoy today is influenced by, particularly themes of upper and lower classes (Kings/Peasants or CEOs/Factory workers, family dramas in the spotlight (Royalty, Celebrities/Movie Stars), and the bitter and biting attitudes that had EVERYONE looking over their shoulder. British Literature was the best way for me to learn British History, as sometimes historical texts bored me to tears, the literature devoted to those past periods invited me into a world I might not have wanted to know existed.

    Phew! I feel like I'm back in college. I didn't realize I missed it! Thanks for this giveaway :)

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    1. My interest in history was sparked by Shakespeare, Sallie! Isn't literature a wonderful way to explore the world?

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  2. Congratulations on GILT's debut in the UK, Katy! I love that cover!

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  3. I love British history! One of the main reasons I'm so drawn to it is because of how different a world is was compared to today. When I read about the Tower and everything the monarchs did it almost seems like a different made-up world but the fact it truly happened blows my mind and is so facinating! I think there is so much to be learned from reading about British history and every time I read a book about it I become more and more interested about life in old England.

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  4. Cause it's AWESOME? I especially love the Victorian era and always take as many Victorian english classes I can (sooo much fun)!! Everything is so different and strange... Thanks for the giveaway! I can't wait to read Tarnish :D

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  5. I've always been drawn to English history and especially the Tudor time period. The history is so rife with drama and disaster but it still manages to be so enthralling.

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  6. I do love British History because I know a lot about it. It was the history I learned about when I was little, with Castles and Kings and Knights and Maidens in arranged marriages, and it just seems so familiar and awesome.

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  7. It goes back so far so there's SO much. I'm just fascinated by the monarchy.

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  8. Aside from an author, I also wanted to be a historian with a focus on European history. I just love all the intrigue and politics and the way the culture and mores change and, yes, even the clothing!

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  9. I'm fascinated by British history because I have British roots. I'm also interested in different cultures and customs, so it's always intriguing to not only compare one country to another, but the different eras and see how things have changed.

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  10. I have always been fascinated with all thing British. Specifically the Tudor Dynasty. I first read about in one of my romance novels. The descriptions of the parties, the clothing, the politics, the intrigue, everything about it seemed so glamorous and dangerous too. I for one would NOT of wanted to be one of the Henry the 8th wife's! lolz

    I am also in love with the Elizabethan era. There was more stability in the government and there was an influx of art. So many beautiful painting and music was created during this time period. Not to mention the clothing! It's an insult to call these works of art "clothes". Obviously one had to be rich enough to commission one of these fabulous gowns.
    This was also a time that England saw many conspiracies too. They wanted to replace the Queen with Mary of Scots. Not replace her, but kill her off. Despite the advancement in other areas, the Queen still had to watch her back!
    England is forever changing and evolving and this time periods prove that point.

    Of course the Victorian era is fascinating too. In that era Alice in Wonderland was published, we met the Bronte sisters, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, etc. England saw many advancements during this time period. There were so many changes in the world it made their heads spin! Not to mention the population boom in England. The Architecture produced styles still used to this day. Charles Darwin and John Tyndall who proved the greenhouse effect was real.

    On Ancestry.com I traced great-great Grandma Coleman BACK to England in the 1800's. That was amazing to me. I found her records of when she arrived in America (NY) and moved to Pennsylvania.

    I'm excited to read Tarnish. I'll keep my fingers crossed I win, if no I will buy Tarnish :)

    Thank you for the giveaway Katherine <3

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  11. I love hearing how many of you have English roots, how you love the clothes and drama and specific characters!

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  12. I love British history, because it's something that constantly surrounds you, even in modern day.

    When you walk down any street in a city like London, you *know* that you're walking in the same places that John Adams went to buy books on his trip to London, or in the same place where British scientists first got the idea of sequencing the DNA genome.

    British history is very much alive, and I love the fact that the Brits keep in that way + you can constantly learn from their example.

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  13. I'm not sure how concise I can be, but I'll give it a try. I've loved British history since taking a couple introductory courses on it college. Probably some of it is due to the lecturer making it interesting, but once reaching Henry VIII, the story of his reign is better than any soap opera on tv! Has many of the same elements, but it actually happened.

    Another part of it is, there is so much of it. Romans, Saxons, French...there's so many layers, and I find it interesting to see the influences they've had. And since the US has a heavily English foundation (as well as my family roots), I find it useful to understand our history.

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  14. I have loved British history ever since I toook AP European History in high school. The British areas were the most interesting to me and I went on to choose those kinds of classes in college.

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  15. Lovee British history because it has had so much influence globally and it's fascinating to study those influences. I'm planning to study French at university and seeing the links between the two histories is most intriguing!

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  16. I love reading about British history because its interesting to see all the kings , and how they deal with power and their love lives. I find it interesting that it did help shape the United States.

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  17. It is so interesting because it is very dramatic and scandalous!!

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  18. There is so much drama involved and it set an example for many monarchies of olden times.

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  19. Oh my gosh, I can't believe I didn't see this giveaway sooner! I think you know from Twitter how obsessed I am with Tudor England...especially Anne Boleyn! So excited to read this!!! LOVE LOVE LOVED Gilt! :)

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    1. Whoops forgot the answer the question. I love British history because history is better than any fictional story out there...and ironically has more drama not most made-up tales. And there were so many strong female heroines in British history that are only told when wonderful people like Katherine bring their stories to life :)

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