Tag Archive for 'Stephenie LaGrossa'

Meet Your Favorite TV Personalities During Reality Show Rundown Month

Published on May 26, 2011 in General News and Reality Show Rundown. Closed Tags: Bachelor Pad, Beauty and the Geek, Betty Fraser, Big Brother 10, Billy Garcia, David Olsen, game shows, Hashim Trends Locario, I Love New York, Leslie Haywood, Michelle Costa, reality show-themed novels, reality shows, reality TV, Shark Tank, Shawn Bakken, Shawne Morgan, Sink or swim, Stacy Juba, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor: Cook Islands, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, The Amazing Race 16, Top Chef.

If you enjoy reality shows, or have ever wondered what it’s like to get famous from one, then you’re in for a special treat. I am hosting Reality Show Rundown Month on my blog in June and will be featuring my interviews with former contestants from the shows Survivor, Top Chef, Beauty and the Geek, Shark Tank, Bachelor Pad, I Love New York and Big Brother. What was the best part about being on the show? The hardest part? Did being in the spotlight help the contestants to advance their career goals? Would they recommend the reality show experience? How do you handle being on TV after tragedy strikes in your real life? They’ll tell you all of that and more, and quite candidly. The schedule is as follows:

1. Call for SOS! 8 Ways to Help Sink or Swim Sail Toward the Bestseller List – May 28
2. Billy Garcia, Survivor: Cook Islands – June 1
3. Michelle Costa, Big Brother 10 – June 2
4. Betty Fraser, Top Chef – June 3
5. Shawn Bakken, Beauty and the Geek – June 7
6. Walking the Plank Excerpt from Sink or Swim – June 8
7. David Olsen, winner of Beauty and the Geek - June 9
8. Guest author Steve Kamps’ article Examining the Relationship Between Reality TV and Us – June 11
9. Leslie Haywood, Shark Tank - June 13
10. Reality Show Rundown Month Media Release - June 14
11. Hashim Trends Locario, I Love New York – June 15
12. Losing the Reality Show – Excerpt 2 from Sink or Swim – June 18
13. Natalie Getz, winner of Bachelor Pad - June 20
14. 8 Tips on Trying Out for a Reality Television Show - June 22

I’m hosting this month because my new mystery suspense novel Sink or Swim has a reality show theme. You don’t need to be a reality show fan to enjoy the book, which is a cross between a cozy mystery and a romantic suspense novel, but if you do like reality shows, then you’ll get a kick out of the premise. How do you change the channel when reality TV turns to murder? After starring on a hit game show set aboard a Tall Ship, personal trainer Cassidy Novak discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Soon, she will need to call SOS for real. The book has been endorsed by Stephenie LaGrossa, fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains; Michelle Costa of Big Brother 10; and Shawne Morgan of The Amazing Race 16 and is available in trade paperback and multiple $2.99 ebook formats. Visit the Store for a list of online retailers.

My heroine Cassidy Novak is fictitious, but the above reality show personalities are flesh and blood. Don’t miss their informative and entertaining interviews about what it’s like to be a reality show star. As a former reporter for magazines and newspapers, I had a great time doing these interviews. If this series was appearing in a newspaper, it would be called a “package” because of all the different parts. As each post is published, I’ll come back here to make a clickable link in case readers would like to bookmark this page for easy reference.

If you have a moment, please check out the Sink or Swim book trailer below, set to the song Every Breath You Take, to kick off the festivities.

CSN Stores Gives Away $50 Gift Card to Celebrate New Reality Show Mystery Novel

Published on February 5, 2011 in General News and Sink or Swim Reality Show. 313 Comments Tags: book giveaways, CSN Stores, giveaways, laptop messenger bag, mystery novels, reality shows, reality TV, reality TV books, Sink or swim, Stacy Juba, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor, Survivor Guatemala, Survivor Palau, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

The winner of the CSN Stores Giveaway was Kathy L. Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who entered!

To celebrate the launch of my brand new reality show-themed mystery novel Sink or Swim, CSN Stores is generously offering a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner to spend on anything from a laptop messenger bag to barstools, dishes, suitcases and diaper bags. With over 200 online stores to choose from, the winner will definitely find something to spend the one-time-use CSN $50 gift certificate on! Please note that the giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian readers only.

If you’d like to submit your name for the drawing, then please post a comment and include your email address. Also add up points from any extra entries.

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Click on the book cover to find Sink or Swim discounted in trade paperback on Amazon, or $2.99 on Kindle. Visit the Store Tab above for more retailers.

I’m grateful to CSN Stores for helping me to throw an on-line launch party for my new mystery novel Sink or Swim. How do you change the channel when reality TV turns to murder? After starring on a hit game show set aboard a Tall Ship, personal trainer Cassidy Novak discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Soon, she will need to call SOS for real. “Survivor Steph,” Stephenie LaGrossa, owner of GIGI Restaurant & Lounge, Philadelphia PA, television personality and fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains, recently shared her thoughts about the novel and what it’s like being a reality show celebrity. You can read Stephenie’s words here and catch up on her busy life since Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

In addition, from Feb. 8-13, nine of my author friends will help me celebrate the Sink or Swim release by giving away over 30 books (print books and e-books) to blog followers. You’ll also be able to visit more than 200 other book blogs giving away prizes as part of the I Am A Reader, Not a Writer Love Hop. If you enjoy reading, be sure to stop by my book giveaway. As a tie-in to Sink or Swim, I’ve also launched an on-line version of the show in which authors can enter their characters as contestants. You can meet our first few contestants and get the full scoop here.

Thank you to the following sites for promoting my giveaway: CashNet Sweepstakes, www.contestbeat.com, www.online-sweepstakes.com, Canada Sweepstakes.com, Blog Giveaway Directory, Prizeatron and www.contestguide.com. And thank you to CSN Stores for making this giveaway possible! The winner will be chosen via Random.org.

Survivor Star Steph LaGrossa Says “Sink or Swim” is Reality

Published on February 3, 2011 in General News and Sink or Swim Reality Show. 3 Comments Tags: celebrity weddings, Kyle Kendrick, mystery novels, People Magazine, Philadelphia Phillies, reality shows, reality television, reality TV, Sink or swim, Stacy Juba, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor, Survivor Guatemala, Survivor Palau, Survivor Steph, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

I’m throwing an online launch party celebration for my brand new reality-show themed mystery novel Sink or Swim from Feb. 6-14 and I’m excited to kick off the festivities with guest of honor Stephenie LaGrossa, television personality/fan favorite from Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, and Heroes vs. Villains. Since her appearances on the hit CBS reality show, Stephenie has been keeping herself busy with television appearances, personal appearances, modeling and a few business development projects, including the co-purchase of GIGI Restaurant & Lounge in Olde City, Philadelphia. She is also the celebrity spokesperson for RateYourSmile.com.

Her busy life now includes enjoying her 2010 marriage to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Kyle Kendrick. Last spring, Stephenie was kind enough to read an advance copy of Sink or Swim and give me an endorsement for the book, which appears on the back cover of the trade paperback and inside the e-book editions. The story follows Cassidy Novak, a personal trainer who stars on a hit reality show set aboard a Tall Ship. After returning to her normal life, Cassidy discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Soon, she will need to call SOS for real. Here’s what Stephenie had to say about the book:

“Being on a hit reality show not once, but three times, made Sink or Swim really hit home for me. I could identify with Cassidy on many levels. First, I understand the disappointment of coming so close to the first place prize only to realize you finished runner-up. That time came for me during Survivor: Guatemala, Season 11, 2006, unfortunately.

Click on the cover to find a selection of on-line retailers for Sink or Swim.

“Next, I understand going from being a normal person with a normal life to getting home from the filming and going to Target and being stopped in almost every other aisle. Which is extremely flattering, don’t get me wrong. I was a fan of the show, too, so I get it, but at the same time it can be difficult when you want to live just that, a normal life. Then after my first stint in the show Survivor: Palau, Season 10, 2005, I too had a stalker, which was extremely terrifying and intrusive. Lastly, this novel was so entertaining and suspenseful and had me so on the edge of my seat that I read it in one plane ride from Philly to Vegas. It was an easy read and extremely well written. I would love to see it come out as a movie one day.”

Be sure to visit Stephenie’s web site and check out her restaurant GIGI Restaurant & Lounge. Don’t miss the People Magazine article about her wedding to Kyle Kendrick.

Also, I hope you’ll come by my blog for the Sink or Swim book launch festivities. From Feb. 6-14, the generous CSN Stores will be giving away a $50 gift card to a commenter on my blog, which can be used on any of their 200+ websites. In addition, from Feb. 8-13, nine of my author friends will help me celebrate the Sink or Swim release by giving away over 30 books (print books and e-books) to blog followers. You’ll also be able to visit more than 200 other book blogs giving away prizes as part of the I Am A Reader, Not a Writer Love Hop. As a tie-in to Sink or Swim, I’ve also launched an on-line version of the show in which authors can enter their characters as contestants. You can meet our first few contestants and get the full scoop here.

Stay tuned for lots of “reality show” fun and prizes!

Don’t Count Out the Underdog: Reality Show Mystery Novel Sailing Into the Spotlight on New Year’s Day

Published on September 2, 2010 in General News. 4 Comments Tags: Big Brother, Big Brother 10, book reviews, booklist, GiGI Restaurant & Lounge, Library Journal, Michelle Costa, mystery novels, New Year's Day, publishers weekly, reality shows, reality TV, Shawne Morgan, Sink or swim, small press authors, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor, Survivor: Heroes&Villains, The Amazing Race, The Amazing Race 16, underdogs, USA Today.

And the countdown begins. It’s less than four months to the release of my second mystery suspense novel Sink or Swim. The official date is January 1, 2011. Thankfully, I’ve almost finished one monumental task related to the marketing campaign – preparing the early review mailing for the major pre-publication reviewers, which generally have a 3-4 month lead time.

I dreaded this job all summer as it was sheer drudgery. Writing and printing out letters. Addressing envelopes. Collating materials. Finally, I have most of them mailed out with just a couple left to go. The recipients include Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and USA Today. Some would say that this task was a waste of time, as these publications usually don’t devote much, if any, space to smaller press books. The strategy didn’t work for Twenty-Five Years Ago Today.

Without those key reviews, however, the majority of bookstores and libraries won’t order small press books. So, I’m going for it once again, hoping that the reality TV show angle for this book will help it to stand out.

The storyline follows Cassidy Novak, an ambitious personal trainer who is stalked after appearing on a hot reality TV show called Sink or Swim. I was fortunate to receive some terrific early endorsements for the book. Stephenie LaGrossa, owner of GiGI Restaurant & Lounge, Philadelphia PA, Television personality and fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains, says: “This novel was so entertaining and suspenseful and had me so on the edge of my seat that I read it in one plane ride. It was an easy read and extremely well written… I would love to see it come out as a movie one day!”

Shawne Morgan, contestant CBS’s The Amazing Race 16 and entrepreneur, said, “I thought the author did a great job in giving the behind-the-scenes of the process, and various scenarios that reality TV stars may experience – during and after they’ve appeared on air.”

Michelle Costa, contestant Big Brother 10, said, “After being on a reality show, Big Brother 10 on CBS and Showtime, reading Sink or Swim made me feel like I was Cassidy. People don’t ever know what happens behind the scenes. I thought it was a great read and kept me in suspense.”

Thank you, Stephenie, Shawne and Michelle for taking the time to read the early copy and give an endorsement so that your words may add strength to my own. In the reality TV show world, my Sink or Swim novel would be considered an underdog – a small press book competing for attention in a market driven by publishing conglomerates.

Don’t count out the underdog.

Phase 1 of the plan is just about complete. For Phase 2, I’ll be holding tryouts for the reality game show Sink or Swim. I know what you’re thinking…that the drudgery of the mailing fried my brain cells. How can you hold tryouts for a show that doesn’t exist? I’ve got it covered…sort of…and will announce my “casting call” in October. In the meantime, how do you call for SOS when only the killer can hear you?

Find out New Year’s Day, 2011. When reality TV turns to murder.

Summer Almost Over, Most Writing Goals Accomplished

Published on August 27, 2010 in Amazon Bookstore and General News. 1 Comment Tags: American Legion, Apple iPad store, Avery Aames, Barbara Ross, Barnes&Noble, Big Brother, Caitlyn Hunter, children's picture books, Diesel ebooks, digitla books, ebooks, Gerry Charbonneau, J. R. Lindermuth, Kenneth Weene, Kindle, Kobo, Loni Emmert, Mary Deal, Matthew Dicks, Michelle Costa, Monica Brinkman, Norma Huss, Patricia Gulley, patriotic books, publishing, reality shows, Shawne Morgan, Sink or swim, Smashwords, Sony, Stephenie LaGrossa, Survivor, Suzanne Young, The Amazing Race, The Flag Keeper, Timothy Hallinan, Twenty-five years ago today, VFW, writing.

It has been a productive summer and I’m proud that I accomplished most of my writing and publishing goals.

I made my trade paperback novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today available in ebook format, uploading it to Kindle and arranging for Smashwords to distribute it to multiple ebook retailers including Barnes&Noble, Sony, Apple’s iPad Store, Diesel and Kobo.

My children’s picture book The Flag Keeper went into production and now has a web site and Facebook page. I also collected wonderful back cover blurbs from Steve Van Buskirk, Director of Programs, VFW National Headquarters, and Mike Buss, Deputy Director, Americanism, American Legion National Headquarters.

I’m in the process of working on a large review mailing related to my reality TV show-themed mystery suspense novel Sink or Swim, which will be officially released New Year’s Day, 2011. Also this summer, I collected endorsements about the book from Stephenie LaGrossa, owner of GiGI Restaurant & Lounge, Philadelphia PA, Television personality and fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains; Shawne Morgan, contestant CBS’s The Amazing Race 16 and entrepreneur; and Michelle Costa, contestant Big Brother 10.

I’ve also signed on as one of the moderators at a fabulous new message board forum called Bestseller Bound which connects readers and indie authors. Stop by and join the discussion.

In August, some terrific writers have visited the blog so far. We heard from: Matthew Dicks, Mary Deal, J.R. Lindermuth, Gerry Charbonneau, Suzanne Young and Patricia Gulley.

Coming up, we’ll hear from authors: Loni Emmert, Timothy Hallinan, Norma Huss, Avery Aames, Caitlyn Hunter, Barbara Ross, Kenneth Weene and Monica Brinkman. During the week of Sept. 12, I’ll host my first theme week “Fun With Food Week,” in which every post will tie into characters who enjoy cooking. Late September also marks the release of The Flag Keeper and a special giveaway. Stay tuned!