Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Guest Blogger, Kim Wright

Today I have the pleasure of introducing author Kim Wright as the special guest blogger here at Thoughts in Progress as part of her blog tour.

“Love in Mid Air” is Kim’s first novel. Here’s a brief synopsis of it: “The story of a woman who meets a man on an airplane and, suddenly, is willing to risk everything: her safe but stale marriage, her seemingly perfect life in an affluent Southern suburb, and her position in the church. As Elyse embarks on a risky affair, her longtime friend Kelly and the other women in their book club begin to question their own decisions about love, sex, marriage, and freedom. In the end it will take an extraordinary leap of faith for Elyse to find--and follow--her own path to happiness.”

Thanks to Kim and Miriam of Hachette Book Group I have three copies of “Love in Mid Air” to giveaway to readers commenting on Kim’s post between today and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6. Be sure to include your e-mail address in your comments if it’s not included in your profile. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

In addition, Kim will be dropping back by today to answer any questions you might have and respond to your comments.

I asked Kim is she strikes up conversations with strangers or do they start the conversation and has she ever fell in love on a plane.

I'm usually the one who strikes up conversations. I guess it's a legacy of being from the South. For years my poor kids trailed along behind me saying "Mom, do you know that lady? Why are you talking to her?" 

But I come from a long time of people who love to strike up conversations with strangers. Then I went to college and got a journalism degree and things got even worse. Now it wasn't just my personal tendency to ask a bunch of questions - it was my job requirement as well!

I did indeed once have a flirtation with a handsome man on an airplane. Nothing came of it - unless you count this book! 

I started thinking "What if..." and it took me to the idea of a restless, unhappy woman whose flirtation ends up changing her life. I think everyone can relate to the fantasy that you're going about your daily life and you're suddenly lifted into a new dimension of possibility.
 
It's not so much the man, Gerry, who changes Elyse....it's more that meeting him reminds her of all the parts of herself she has closed down and boxed off and once the reopening starts, it leads to thoughts and feelings she can't totally control. 

Kim, there does seem to be something about us Southerners and talking, even to complete strangers. Thanks so much for stopping by and "talking" with us.

For a little background on Kim, she is from Charlotte, NC. Her career path has been from food, wine and travel journalist to first-time novelist. Among her favorite authors are Tom Perrotta, Joseph Conrad, Jane Austen, and Alice Munro.

Executive editor Karen Kosztolnyik called Love in Mid Air “a funny, wise look at modern-day marriage and of a woman choosing something more for her life. Her characters are so realistically depicted that it makes for addictive reading.”

Here is the opening of Love in Mid Air, “I wasn't meant to sit beside him. It was a fluke. It's the last Sunday in August and I'm in Phoenix for a pottery show. I won a prize for my glazing and sold seventeen pieces, so I'm feeling good. On the morning I'm due to fly out, I go for an early hike in a canyon behind my hotel.”

Here’s a link to other blogs hosting Kim’s tour including reviews and guest post.

Do you strike up conversations with people you don’t know? Have you ever fell in love on a plane or at least flirted (we won’t tell)?



17 comments:

  1. Thanks Mason for hosting Kim.

    Kim, I have always been a fan of "What If" scenarios in books. Your story sounds really wonderful. Will pick it up whenever I can.

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  2. Yes, thanks so much, Mason, for your comments and for hosting me on your blog. (And thanks to Rayna, for saying she'll read the book. Hope you like it!)
    A friend of mine who is a flight attendant is trying to help me publicize the book and we joke that he is going to work a little sales pitch into his pre-flight announcements, something like "If in the unlikely event you're seated beside an attractive stranger, reach immediately for Kim Wright's Love in Mid Air..." or something like that.

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  3. Great concept! It would have to be SOME guy to be able to tempt someone to change her whole life! Sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for coming by.

    Elizabeth
    Mystery Writing is Murder

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  4. I love the title and will look for your book! I think it's perfect for a piece in one of the airlines magazines, don't you?

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  5. I'm not much of a conversationalist with strangers but I have gotten better at it with age. My mother always drove me nuts talking to anyone and everyone growing up. And, I do think part of that is a Southern thing. No, not a love interest or flirtation on a plane. I'm not a comfortable flier and usually spend my time trying to calm myself and tune everyone else out. :-)

    I'm planning on pick this book up soon as I've read so many good things about it in the last couple of days. Good luck, Kim and thanks, Mason, for hosting her.

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  6. Thanks for this interesting introduction into your new release. It sounds compelling and intriguing. I am a quiet and reticent individual so rarely do I start speaking to a stranger. It is probably from living all my life in a colder clime. Wishing you much success and happiness. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)c0m

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  7. Kim, thanks again for stopping by. This is a great plot. I love to fly but I'm usually busy reading instead of noticing who I'm seated next to. Have to pay more attention from now on. :)

    Thanks everyone for stopping by. My computer or blogdom is playing tricks with me today. I've tried commented on various blogs and get a time out. Oh, well I'm off to try again. Thanks again for commenting.

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  8. This sounds like a wonderful book. And I love the idea of Kim's flight attendant friend plugging the book in-flight!

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  9. Hey, everybody, thanks for your comments. The idea about meeting a stranger on a plane seems to have intrigued a lot of people but one friend of mind has said several times that she finds it a bit disturbing that my character Elyse - who is a solid, sane woman, albeit a bit impulsive - would actually end up having an affair with someone she met in such an unlikely way. One thing that hasn't come out very much in my posts and interviews is that I think it's the attention Gerry pays Elyse that seduces her. In other women, for women affairs are partly about sex but also about attention...being seen as more than a wife and mother, having a man who seems to hang on your every word, and who cares (even if just temporarily) about the details of your day. So that's what Love in Mid Air is really about. Not just divorce and affairs and sex, but that yearning so many of us mid aged women have to be fully seen by another human being.

    Kim Wright

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  10. A fellow NC author!
    Yeah, I strike up conversations with strangers all the time. Definitely a Southern 'thang.'

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  11. I'm from West of Mars. Nothing around here is Southern, although I can be on the wrong side of the Mason Dixon line in a few hours. Despite this apparent failing, I, too, talk to anyone. Even if I have nothing to say, apparently...

    No need to enter me, Mason. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you!

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  12. i enjoyed this posting very much. i have been known to stike up conversations w/ strangers...you never know who you may meet.

    thanks for the chance to read this book...it sounds really good!

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  13. I don't strike up too many conversations with strangers - although it does happen. I think my mom is the queen of stranger conversations - although she's never had anything like this happen!! :)

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  14. I like that it wasn't the man who changed her life, but her seeing the possibilities of what her life could be.

    Helen
    Straight From Hel

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  15. I'm way to quiet and shy to strike up conv. with strangers, I wish I was one of those people who could do that though! Nor have I ever had a conversation with anyone on a plane, I just listen to my mp3 lol.

    unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

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  16. I'm not good at striking up conversations with strangers either unless something has happened that I can comment on. I have, however, woken up on a plane to find out that I was sleeping with my head on the shoulder of the guy sitting next to me. What made me feel better was that his head was then resting on mine while he slept too! No love connection though!

    The book sounds like such fun!

    melacan at hotmail dot com

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  17. Sounds like fun! Woohoo!

    I am sort of shy, but I have had flirtations on planes, buses and trains.

    I met my current husband at a waterfall viewing area--but he spoke first.

    It's always fun to fantasize and I like the idea of thinking about what we've lost and finding ways to reclaim that.

    The book sounds good.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.