Tag Archives: Up The Hill to Home News

Eight Debut Authors Tweet their Experience

When Foreword Reviews magazine featured eight debut authors in its Summer 2015 issue, it introduced the work of eight writers from widely different backgrounds and geographical regions writing across the spectrum of literary genres. It also introduced the eight writers to each other. Connecting through various social media platforms, the Foreword Reviews 8–as we’ve now dubbed ourselves–decided to try using a Twitter chat session to discuss some of our experiences as debut authors. In a fast, free-flowing, and fun half-hour on August 20th, using the hashtag #debutnovel and including @ForewordReviews, we discussed how long it took us to write, what the editing experience was like, what was most enjoyable or memorable, what we would do differently if we had a do-over, how we’re connecting with readers, and a range of related topics. Foreword Reviews was wonderfully supportive of the effort, even blogging about it in advance, and these eight debut authors are grateful for everything the folks there have done to spread the word.

“Powerful, gorgeously imparted” says Foreword Reviews

The Summer 2015 print issue of Foreword Reviews has hit the newsstands, and features reviewer Michelle Schingler’s article, “Welcome to the Big Time: highly touted authors make the most of their debuts”. As promised, literary historical novel Up the Hill to Home is highlighted as one of eight “dazzling first novels”. In her review of the book, Schingler notes, “Yacovissi’s command of language makes for fluid and tactile reading,” and ends by saying, “Up the Hill to Home is an emotionally powerful, gorgeously imparted family saga.”

Foreword Reviews is available at selected Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million stores. It was distributed at the recent BookExpo America conference, and will also be distributed at the upcoming American Library Association conference and the Beijing International Book Fair.

Virtual Book Tour: No Need to Pack

I’ve been on a virtual book tour since my debut historical novel Up the Hill to Home came out on 28 April. I’ve met lots of people online and on the air, and had a great time without needing to hit the road. Many thanks to the folks who interviewed me, invited me to guest post on their blog, reviewed the book, featured the book, and made the book available to their readers. Thanks especially to all the readers who were interested enough to sign up to win hardcover, paperback, and ebook editions of Up the Hill to Home, and congratulations to those who won!

Here’s a round-up of all the places I’ve visited on the tour:

4/20: Late Last Night Books review

4/28 to 5/11: Goodreads Book Giveaway (577 people signed up!)

5/3: Big Blend Radio with Lisa and Nancy, on-air interview–hands down, the most fun ever!

5/4: Night Owl Reviews online chat

5/5: Romance Reviews Today review (received a Perfect 10, which makes it eligible for their Best Book of the Year!)

5/6: Curled Up with a Good Book review, interview, and giveaway

5/7: Book Release Daily listing

5/11-5/26: The Celebrity Cafe book giveaway (13,877 people signed up for three books–wow!)

5/12: Fresh Fiction guest blog post and giveaway

5/13: The True Book Addict listing and giveaway

5/14-5/28: Library Thing giveaway

5/15: Romance University guest blog post

5/18: Novels Alive feature

5/18: Foreword Reviews magazine summer print edition ships; see more on the debut fiction highlight

5/20: Historical Fiction Connection listing and giveaway

5/20: Late Last Night Books interview

5/21: Unusual Historicals excerpt, interview, and giveaway

5/27: Indie Book Week guest blog posting

5/29: Romance Reviews Today interview

All the credit for planning, scheduling, and execution of the tour goes to the incomparable Stephanie Barko!

Listen in! Interviews and Reviews

Things have been busy around here! Take a look at what’s been going on:

Review by Gary Garth McCann of Late Last Night Books, 20 April

Interview on Big Blend Radio’s Champagne Sunday with Lisa and Nancy, 3 May  **LISTEN**

Review and Interview at Curled Up with a Good Book, 6 May

Highlight on Book Release Daily, 7 May

“Perfect 10” Review at Romance Reviews Today, 8 May

Stayed tuned for lots more coming up throughout May and June!

 

 

Calendar of Events

  • 28 April: PUBLICATION!
  • 29 April: Launch party at Hotel Monaco DC. It was an epic night!
  • 3 May: Podcast with Big Blend Radio, 3:10-3:30 p.m. Listen live or look for the download on my website. Includes a book giveaway for those who participate in the broadcast.
  • 4 May: Night Owl Reviews online chat, 8:00-9:00 p.m; RSVP for a reminder 30 minutes ahead. This is a real-time event, so I invite folks to go to the site to participate. Includes a book giveaway. I have an author page on the site.
  • 5 May: Romance Reviews Today runs the full “Perfect 10” review.
  • 6 May: Curled Up with a Good Book runs its full review, interview, and giveaway.
  • 12 May: Guest blog post on Fresh Fiction. Includes a book giveaway. I’m on the author page.
  • 15 May: Guest blog post on Romance University Weekly Lecture. Includes a book giveaway.
  • 18 May: Foreword Reviews magazine summer issue ships; available at B&N and Books-A-Million.
  • 20 May: Interview posted on Late Last Night Books; see the book review available now.
  • 27 June: Historical Novel Society 2015 Conference book signing event, 5-7 p.m., Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center.

Book Launch Party Draws a Crowd

Thanks to everyone who came to the launch party for literary historical novel Up the Hill to Home, held at the Hotel Monaco in D.C.’s Penn Quarter on 29 March, just a day after the book’s official release. Beautiful weather out in the courtyard set a perfect stage for celebrating the big milestone. The Hotel Monaco, with its stunning architecture by two of federal Washington’s most esteemed architects, Robert Mills and Thomas U. Walter, was originally the General Post Office, which plays a pivotal role in the book. The courtyard was where the horses and wagons used for mail delivery were originally stabled. Now it just makes a great spot for a party.

Congratulations to Sam Gordon, the lucky winner of the drawing for a signed hardcover edition of Up the Hill to Home. Sam–who did not need to be present to win–was eligible for the drawing because he had signed up for Jenny’s email list. Stay tuned for the start of another quarterly drawing; everyone on the mailing list is eligible to win, so sign up today!

Foreword Reviews spotlights UP THE HILL TO HOME

Foreword Reviews magazine, the premiere indie book review house in the U.S., has selected Up the Hill to Home as one of eight debut novels to highlight in its summer issue, which will be available at Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million stores starting May 18th. In addition, there will be a bonus distribution of this issue at BookExpo America in May, the American Library Association annual conference in June, and the Beijing International Book Fair in August.

In part, the review says, “Jennifer Bort Yacovissi’s command of language and history make for fluid and tactile reading . . . Up the Hill to Home is an emotionally powerful, gorgeously imparted family saga.”

Kirkus Reviews UP THE HILL TO HOME

It’s no foolin’ that April 1st was a banner day in the life of Up the Hill to Home, because Kirkus Reviews–that granddaddy of all review sites–published a wonderful online review of the book (just beware the spoiler!). Some of the highlights include:

“The author creates believable characters whose lives contain plenty of passion and tragedy . . .”

“. . . history itself is the novel’s best feature. The author has done her homework, infusing her work with convincing details of 19th- and early-20th-century city life . . . ”

“. . . this student-run publishing house has turned out a good book.”

More Reviews are In + Calendar of Events

On the heels of Kirkus Reviews calling Up the Hill to Home “a good book”, other sites are weighing in with their assessments.

Curled Up with a Good Book says, “Yacovissi has planned her book carefully, and the result is nothing short of remarkable.”

Romance Reviews Today awarded Up the Hill to Home its Perfect 10 Award, which makes it eligible for best book of the year. Their assessment: “Beautifully and lovingly written, this sweet story is well researched . . . pure enjoyment.”

ForeWord Reviews magazine is showcasing Up the Hill to Home as one of eight titles featured in the Debut Fiction Spotlight in their summer issue. They call this book “an emotionally powerful, gorgeously imparted family saga.”

Calendar of Events

  • 28 April: PUBLICATION!
  • 29 April: Launch party at Hotel Monaco DC. It was an epic night!
  • 3 May: Podcast with Big Blend Radio, 3:10-3:30 p.m. Includes a book giveaway.
  • 4 May: Night Owl Reviews online chat, 8:00-9:00 p.m; RSVP for a reminder. Includes a book giveaway. I have an author page on the site.
  • 5 May: Romance Reviews Today runs the full “Perfect 10” review.
  • 6 May: Curled Up with a Good Book runs its full review, interview, and giveaway.
  • 12 May: Guest blog post on Fresh Fiction. Includes a book giveaway. I’m on the author page.
  • 15 May: Guest blog post on Romance University Weekly Lecture. Includes a book giveaway.
  • 18 May: Foreword Reviews magazine summer issue ships; available at B&N and Books-A-Million.
  • 20 May: Interview posted on Late Last Night Books; see the book review available now.
  • 27 June: Historical Novel Society 2015 Conference book signing event, 5-7 p.m., Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center.