Shelle Sumners

“GRACE GROWS is my big discovery from 2012″

shelle — Thu, 02 May 2013 22:53:18 +0000

“GRACE GROWS by Shelle Sumners is my big discovery from 2012.”
–Reviewer Leigh Davis, Heroes and Heartbreakers

http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2013/04/too-good-to-be-true-finding-authors-like-kristan-higgins

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UK Debut and My Writing Space

shelle — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 23:35:37 +0000

Today Grace Grows debuted in the UK. What a dream come true! In my final UK blog stop, I’m having a giveaway of the Grace Grows Original Soundtrack CD. Just find the dragonflies in the photo of my workspace (I cleaned it up for you).

My Writing Room by Shelle Sumners

Thank you to Novelicious for a wonderful end to my virtual UK tour!

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How Grace Grows Got Its Title

shelle — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:38:59 +0000

I’m on week 2 of a very fun blog tour. In today’s guest column on One More Page I talk about how I came up with the title Grace Grows. And on Friday, March 1, Grace Grows debuts in the UK! Here’s where I’ve been and where I’m going, in the UK blogosphere:

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Lee Morgan on YouTube

shelle — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:06:30 +0000

Lee had a gig at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia last week, a songwriters’ circle in which he played a few of the Grace Grows songs. A lovely friend captured the magic and sent us the videos, and they’re up now on our GraceGrowsNovel channel on YouTube:

“Her”

“This Sign”

“Calling”

Click here to learn more about Lee Morgan and the Grace Grows Original Soundtrack

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Join Me for Chat on Goodreads, Jan. 28-30!

shelle — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:14:27 +0000

I am doing a special, fun event on Goodreads for the next three days, January 28-30. I was invited by the Romance Readers Reading Challenges group to participate in an Ask an Author, Win a Book discussion. I imagine we’ll talk about reading, writing, and books we’ve loved, and at the end of the discussion on the 30th, three winners will be chosen to receive a copy of Grace Grows and the Grace Grows Original Soundtrack.

This is an open group, so please join the group and chat with us! We’re just getting started.
Here’s the link to the discussion thread:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1187778-ac-shelle-sumners-of-grace-grows-jan-28-30

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Grace Grows in Australia & New Zealand

shelle — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:57:34 +0000

In just a few days, on February 1, Grace Grows will debut in Australia and New Zealand (publisher Allen & Unwin). I could not be more excited! Look at the adorable cover:

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Grace Grows is a Musical (Novel)

shelle — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:57:44 +0000

My daughter said to me the other day that movie musicals are making a come back; she cited Les Miserables and Pitch Perfect. I think she may be right, and it’s not surprising to see this evolution–look at how much people love Glee.

Grace Grows is a musical novel.

First, of course, it has a companion soundtrack of original songs that are in the story, written and performed by phenomenally talented singer-songwriter and Broadway actor Lee Morgan.

It also has at the back of the book “Grace and Ty’s Playlist,” a compilation of 18 other songs and artists that are mentioned throughout the story. This includes Grace’s classic rock and soul favorites that she lists for Ty and all the songs that Ty does cover versions of in clubs and concerts–or even just sings a snippet of quietly to Grace (Joni Mitchell’s “River”).

My sly, subliminal secret is that every song I chose could be a “theme song” at some point in the narrative. Some of them illuminate what Grace and Ty are feeling for each other, but perhaps cannot yet say. Each of these songs fits perfectly within the story.

So I did something super-cool and helpful: I created Grace and Ty’s Playlist on YouTube. You should go there now, and listen to all of these amazing, life-enhancing works of musical art. Or just start with a song you already know and love. These are the songs:

Grace and Ty’s Playlist

“River” Joni Mitchell
“Bell Bottom Blues” Derek & the Dominos
“That’s the Way of the World” Earth, Wind & Fire
“Change” Blind Melon
“Take Me to the River” Al Green
“Maybe I’m Amazed” Paul McCartney & Wings
“Feel It” Kate Bush
“Janie’s Got a Gun” Aerosmith
“More Than This” Roxy Music
“Romeo & Juliet” Dire Straits
“Right Down the Line” Gerry Rafferty
“Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” Elton John
“Have a Cigar” Pink Floyd
“A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy” The Kinks
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” Willie Nelson
“Fly Me to the Moon” Frank Sinatra
“Moon River” Andy Williams
“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” Otis Redding

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We Want to Join Your Club

shelle — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:35:44 +0000

Lee and I visited our first book club today, and it was wonderful! People not only asked fun questions about Grace Grows, but they shared thoughts about it that made me see the story in new ways. We also had a musical interlude during which Lee played several of Ty’s songs, AND we ate chocolate chip cake.

Do you have a book club? If you read Grace Grows, we would love to join you, by Skype, phone conference, or perhaps in person, if you’re in our part of the country. Check out my Book Clubs page, and get in touch with me!

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Grace Grows Giveaway & Interview

shelle — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 17:22:55 +0000

Hi friends, here’s an interview I did on Chick Lit Central, in which I talk about the holidays, my Grace Grows movie dream cast, the stroke I had (2 years ago today, by the way), and resolutions for 2013.

Oh, and they’re giving away 5 copies of Grace Grows!

Interview and Grace Grows Giveaway

Wishing you all warm and well.

Love,
Shelle

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InkBitten Interview

shelle — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:52:14 +0000

Here’s an interview I did for the YA blog InkBitten. Great, thoughtful questions. And who knew I’d ever have the opportunity to tell people about my decades-long love affair with Bonne Bell Dr. Pepper Lipsmacker?

Shelle’s InkBitten Interview

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