Celebration!!! It's a Party for Krista Phillips and Sandwich!

You know the hardest word for me to spell?

Sandwich. I struggle with this word more than random, more than rhythm, more than receipt and I'm going to be typing it probably about ten different times during this post, so forgive me if I utilize copy and paste. ;-)

WHY would I be writing the word SANDWICH so often in this post?? BECAUSE, my super special friend and Alley Cat Krista Phillips is here to CELEBRATE the release of her DEBUT NOVEL!!!!!!!


(and no, I cannot use too many ALL CAPS in this post, watch out. ;-)

So a super big, AWESOME welcome to Krista!!!

Did ya'll know that SANDWICH (woo-hoo, I spelled that one right on the first try!) is a real place? Who else things that everyone there is always hungry? Who wants to go to sandwich...?? ;-)

KRISTA, tell me about a fun fact about writing this book!

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I guess the funniest thing about DURING the writing were my mistakes. Yeah, I know. Mistakes? Funny? You see, I was born in Sandwich, IL and lived there until I was 5. We visited a lot after that, but still, I was pretty young. So many of my memories of Sandwich came from the slightly skewed memories of a 5 year old.  It was fun painting Sandwich from the lenses of my memories, and I did use many resources in my family and the Internet to check some facts. But... my 5 year old self still got some wrong. Like... The Yum Yum Shop is actually spelled Shoppe. AND... it closed down! Which is the biggest shame EVER because it was amazing! Oh, and my BIGGEST most awful mistake: I dedicated my book to my Grandma and Grandpa Johnson, which is all fine and good except I SPELLED MY GRANDMA'S NAME WRONG! Yes. Grandma's name is Lovina, but it sounds more like Lavina, and honestly? As a kid I always just heard her name spoken but if I ever wrote it, it was Grandma. Any birthday cards I got said "Grandma and Grandpa"  so had zero idea that it was an O instead of an A. I was more than a little mortified.

(Just so you know, this post is making me hungry. Just thought you ought to know that.) 

LOL! I could see me doing something like that. Why is it that only AFTER something is sent and gone and in print we see ALL THE MISTAKES WE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT?? (can I get an AMEN??)

What's a fun fact about SANDWICH?

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There are a LOT of fun facts about Sandwich!! But one former Sandwich resident who read my book did email me a great fact that I didn't know! In Sandwich, they have this diner railroad car in the middle of town. Evidently, the dining car was supposedly from the campaign of Teddy Roosevelt.  In honor of Roosevelt's attempt at a new political party, it now has been rejuvenated as Bull Moose Bar and Grill.

They also have the Sandwich Fair, which is a HUGE attraction for the small town, is the longest continuously running county fair, and draws people from a pretty great distance. I've gotten quite a few notes from people saying, "Oh, I know Sandwich! We go to the fair there!"

How fun! You should write a sequel set around the fair time. Everybody loves a good local fair. ;-)

So, Krista...if you were making your PERFECT sandwich, what would it look like?

Take two pieces of light, fluffy white bread.

Take some jelly (preferably concord grape... strawberry is okay too but NOT RASPBERRY!!!!) and spread a nice thin layer all over one piece of bread.

Take some Jiffy CREAMY peanut butter (this does NOT work with crunch kind...) and spread a nice thin layer over the other piece of bread. Make sure no bread shows on that side on either pieces of bread.

Put the jelly side and peanut butter sides of the bread together.

Pair this with some Cheetos and a tall glass of milk, and maybe some chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

And now you have pretty close to the perfect lunch.

(FYI - if you sandwich crunches at any point of time while eating it.... YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG!)

Yummy! My favorite sandwich though? You'll have to forgive me, it's not PB&J...it's a grilled chicken salad sandwich with crisp lettuce and melted cheese....hmmm...have I already mentioned I'm hungry??

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net

I've been SO EXCITED to throw this party for Krista!

Krista and I have been on the Alley together for over two years and I've had a BLAST getting to know this woman. To celebrate the release of her DEBUT NOVEL has been one special event and I've been eager for this day for a loooooong time! Since the day she emailed all of us and told her Ramona Richards had bought her book. :D

It's been one AWESOME experience!

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net

In celebration of Krista's release, I'm throwin' a party (if you haven't figured that out already) and we're giving away a copy of her book! She's giving away a print copy and I'm offering up one ebook for the Kindle or Nook users out there.

BUT, don't comment yet!!

Krista and I have a super important question for you: (answer truthfully!)

What makes your PB&J perfect? Brand name? White or wheat? Crunchy or smooth? Jelly or jam? Create your perfect sandwhich  sandwich (broke my good sandwich spelling streak) in the comments and we just might give ya a book! :D

CONGRATULATIONS KRISTA!!!

Happy Party Day!