Romance Bandits » Alison Stone and Summer Fun

Alison Stone and Summer Fun Posted by Beth Andrews Jul 31 2012, 4:00 am Please help me welcome Alison Stone to the lair. I first met Alison when I attended my first Romance Writers of America chapter meeting in Buffalo, NY and I’m thrilled to have her with us today! Squeezing Every Last Bit of Fun Out of Summer I love summer. I live in Western New York where summer can arrive as late as June and slip away come late September. But for the months in between, we have the most glorious weather. In order to squeeze as much fun out of the warm months as we can, we: 1. *Take an adventure. My two youngest and I hopped onboard an Amtrak train to New York City. We visited the American Museum of Natural History (think Night at the Museum, I know my kids did), American Girl Doll Store, Coney Island, and the New York Aquarium. To complete our visit, we walked for miles around Brooklyn enjoying the development along the water as well as a carousel ride in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). As a suburbanite, I was fascinated with the number of restaurants, businesses and entertainment all within walking distance. I never grew tired of the view of the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge. We put a lot of miles on our sneakers and created a lasting summer memory. 2. Become tourists in our own backyard. After we got home from New York City, I promised my kids we’d continue our summer adventure closer to home. Last week I took them to an amusement park I had frequented as a child. As I watched them ride the Pirate for the third time, I felt like I had traveled back in time. I vividly remembered riding that exact amusement on a school field trip years ago. However, now I’m happy to stand on terra firma and watch. Other adventures on our list include local parks, historical sites, and natural wonders. Did I mention I live within a short drive to Niagara Falls? 3. Hang out in our own backyard (literally).* One of my all-time favorite activities is to hang out in my own backyard. Years ago we put in a swimming pool. Some people might call us crazy—we only have about three, maybe four, good swimming months. (But remember the part about squeezing every last bit of fun out of the summer?) There’s nothing better than grabbing a book and sitting poolside and watching my kids swim. Inevitably, when the green winter cover goes on in early fall, my youngest will look out longingly at the pool and say, “I can’t wait for summer.” Ah, but for now, there’s still more summer ahead of us. What do you do to enjoy the warm summer months? Speaking of lounging by the pool with a book, one lucky person who leaves a comment will be selected at random to win the ebook format of my debut novel, Random Acts. I’m thrilled to announce my second release, *Too Close To Home, due out August 7^th. Here is the blurb: They say you can never go home. If you do, better watch your back.* Ten years ago, after her father’s gruesome death was ruled a suicide, Kathryn McNabb left her hometown, vowing never to return. And never to let anything—business or personal—break her heart. Now an overachieving manufacturing engineer, she thrives on order, control and solitude. But an unexpected inheritance makes her the co-owner of the company her father founded, forcing her to face the ghosts of her past. Including Ben Nowak, childhood friend, secret crush, and son of the man who ruined her father. Ben hadn’t planned on returning home either, but with his own father’s death it falls to him to continue the family legacy. When he learns Kathryn plans to sell the plant out from under him, his quest takes on new urgency—Midport Industries is the main source of jobs in town. Butting heads strike sparks of attraction that entangle business and pleasure into a hopeless knot. And someone is watching. Someone with a darker reason to prevent the deal from going through. Someone desperate enough to kill… Warning: Beware of the shadows, disgruntled employees, and childhood crushes all grown up. BIO: Alison Stone graduated with a degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech. After working in Corporate America for a number of years, she retired to raise her young family. Soon the writing bug bit. After years of conferences, critique groups and writing, Alison achieved her dream of becoming a published author. She claims it was easier to earn her engineering degree. Too Close to Home is her second novel. To learn more about Alison Stone please visit www.AlisonStone.com. She’s also chatty on Twitter @Alison_Stone. Tweet Posted in Alison Stone, Summer Fun, Too Close to Home 46 Comments Comments 46 thoughts on “Alison Stone and Summer Fun” 1 Melody May says: July 31, 2012 at 5:16 am I really should be soaking up the summer sun, but I’m not. I’m still getting use to living in Montana. However, I love reading my books at home. I like that my children can can go to a friends house to have fun. Maybe next summer will be better and I will appreciate the summer more. 1.1 Helen says: July 31, 2012 at 5:36 am Have fun with the GR Melody Helen 1.2 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 6:41 am Melody, I hear Montana is beautiful. I hope you settle into your new home. I love when my kids go off to their friends’ homes, but for some crazy reason, they usually end up at my house. Thanks for stopping by. ~Alison 1.3 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 9:40 am Melody, my kids love going to their friends’ houses and having friends over here to hang out, especially if we have a campfire g Hard to believe we’re heading into the last month of summer already! 2 Helen says: July 31, 2012 at 5:39 am Hi Alison I live in Australia and it has been really cold this winter LOL and for me I love curling up with a good book to read and yours sound really good. As for summer fun I love going to the beach with my grandchildren taking them on picnics enjoying long lunches at nice restaurants with my friends in The City. Congrats on the books Alison and thanks Beth for inviting Alison along toda Have Fun Helen 2.1 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 6:44 am Hi Helen, My aunt and cousin just came for a visit from Australia. Go figure, they always visit during our summer. (My mother is from Scotland & some of the family moved to the US, the others moved to Australia.) I love the beach, too. I just wish I didn’t have Irish skin. I must sit under an umbrella with 50 SPF sunscreen. Oh, and with a good book, of course. Thanks for stopping by. ~Alison 2.2 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 9:42 am Hey, Helen! I’m all for curling up with a good book no matter what the season or weather Hope you get some warm temps soon. 3 Barb says: July 31, 2012 at 6:08 am Congrats on your book, Alison I also live in Australia …. a few doors from Helen so go into the city for lunches with our reader friends also….. we go to Darling Harbour where all the tourist to Sydney go It is winter at the moment so best to curl up with a good book 3.1 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 6:47 am Barb, Thanks for stopping by. I guess when I wrote this post, I didn’t take into consideration that those “down under” were in winter. As much as I love summer, I do enjoy curling up with a good book in chilly winter. I live outside of Buffalo, NY, an area synonymous with snow. (However, it’s truly not as bad as one is lead to believe.) Stay warm. Alison 3.2 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 9:48 am Hi, Barb! Try and stay warm 4 Fedora says: July 31, 2012 at 6:09 am Great to meet you, Alison! Glad you’re enjoying the summer! We’ve had a fairly relaxed time this year–the kids are taking swim lessons so we can do more lounging by the pool without worrying as much about them drowning And I do love to sit around with a good book ;p Random Acts sounds marvelous–thanks for the peek! 4.1 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 6:49 am Thanks for stopping by, Fedora. I can relate to sitting around the pool with a book. It was a happy day when all 4 kids learned how to swim. Now I can read with one eye on my book and the other on the pool. ~Alison 4.2 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 9:49 am Fedora, I always enrolled my kids in swimming lessons. Unfortunately, it seemed that whichever two weeks I picked for lessons would end up being the coldest of the summer (our lessons were at an outdoor pool). At least they learned to swim in between shivering 4.3 Nancy Northcott says: July 31, 2012 at 7:27 pm Fedora, I used to go hang by the pool when the boy had lessons. That was also a nice chance to read. 5 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 6:49 am Thanks for hosting me, Beth! I was so excited to wake up to comments already! What a great blog. 5.1 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 9:50 am So glad to have you with us, Alison! Congrats again on your new release g 6 Anna Sugden says: July 31, 2012 at 6:53 am Welcome, Alison! Great to have you in the Lair! Your books sound awesome – will definitely add them to the TBR mountain! I love your idea of exploring your own backyard. We’re so guilty of travelling and exploring everywhere but in our backyard. When we lived in the US, we went to all sorts of places. Back home, there are many tourists who’ve seen more than we have. Though, it’s great when visitors come as we get to explore our own lovely country and the Cambridge area! 6.1 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 7:06 am Hi Anna! You are so right! Last week I took my 2 youngest on a 60 mile drive to Amish country. Who knew it even existed so close to home? However, it’s funny. A friend came home to visit and she posted everything she did on FB. I had to laugh. I commented under one of her posts that she did more in my hometown in one week, than I did all year. It’s a good reminder. Thanks for your kind words regarding my books. ~Alison 6.2 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 1:10 pm Anna, I thought we were pretty good about exploring our backyard until recently when I realized there was so much more to do/see g 7 Cheyenne Campbell says: July 31, 2012 at 6:58 am Congrats on your second book, Alison! I’m from Western New York as well, and I miss it terribly, most of all in the summer (okay, I don’t miss it at all in the winter, but I do miss my family). I live in the UK now, after having moved to Nashville and then Sacramento. Of all the places I’ve lived, no summer beats WNY, and summer to me will always mean Allegany State Park – the most beautiful place in the USA (to me A visa application to the UK Border Agency this summer means I haven’t been able to get back to my beloved WNY while it’s being processed, so enjoy it for me! 7.1 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 7:11 am Cheyenne, It just goes to show you how small the world is. Here we’ve been chatting on twitter & never knew we shared “a hometown.” I’m not a big fan of winter. Well, I don’t mind it as long as I don’t have to go out in it. Unfortunately, if I want to eat or take my family places, I have to go out in it. I do love a good snowstorm. I think if winter lasted from December to January, I’d be perfectly fine with it. When it drags into April, then it has overstayed its welcome. Good luck with your visa and I hope you get to come for a visit next summer. ~Alison 7.2 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 1:11 pm Hey, Cheyenne! I’m about 90 miles southeast of Buffalo and very close to Allegany State Park! What a small world g 8 Mozette says: July 31, 2012 at 7:56 am Those books sound like great reads… any time of the year. However, I love getting away in my own city and becoming a tourist; and I know how to do it on-the-cheap. I know the best places to eat, the places to go that are free and the best places to head to if you want to get really good photographs for those touristy looks to your album. On the other hand, I also love pottering around and hanging out in my backyard. I may have a small post-stamp backyard, but it’s my little universe to hide away in and transform too. 8.1 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 3:18 pm Mozette, we love hanging out in our yard! We’re a bit spoiled in that we only have one close neighbor but we’re mostly hidden from their view. Love that you play tourist in your city! 9 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 8:10 am Hi Mozette, “Doing it on-the-cheap” is a great thing! That’s the hardest part about keeping the kids busy all summer, it seems to cost money. I love my yard, too. Our neighbors are close, but we strategically planted trees/bushes so I, too, have a private hideaway. Enjoy! Alison 10 Donna MacMeans says: July 31, 2012 at 1:31 pm Hi Alison – Welcome back to the lair! I’m in Ohio which means that while my summer is longer than yours by a month or two – winter inevitably comes. My preferred writing spot is out on my screened-in back porch (where I am now). I’m a CPA so it’s hard to write during prime tax months. Thus – my summer is spent cramming in as much writing time as possible. LOL Love the cover of your new release! 10.1 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 2:14 pm Thanks, Donna. I love writing outside, too. I really want to get one of those canopies for over my porch so I can work outside even when it rains. However, we haven’t seen much rain this summer. ~Alison 10.2 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 3:20 pm Donna, I love working outside but I prefer to sit in the sun which makes seeing my laptop screen difficult g 11 chey says: July 31, 2012 at 3:49 pm I enjoy swimming and gardening in the summer. 11.1 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 7:55 pm Chey, my husband is the gardener around here but I sure do enjoy sharing in the fruits (and vegetables – haha!) of his labor 12 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 3:57 pm Thanks for stopping by, Chey. I’m not much of a gardener, but I do like putting my toes in the pool. 13 Anna Campbell says: July 31, 2012 at 5:52 pm Welcome to the lair, Alison! Loved reading about your summer fun down here in freezing Australia. Actually I’m NOT being sarcastic – just re-read that and it sounds a bit that way. LOL! I went to the Natural History Museum in NYC last time I was there – loved all the Margaret Mead dioramas. It was kinda creepy too which I rather liked. 14 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 6:00 pm Hi Anna, I’ll make sure I pop over and say “hello” to you in December so you don’t feel so bad. I agree the Natural Museum is a little creepy, probably cuz of the dim lighting. Have you seen the movie, Night at the Museum? Alison 14.1 Anna Campbell says: July 31, 2012 at 6:19 pm No, I haven’t but I remember someone lending me a really scary thriller set there where a genetically mutated monster lived in the basement and ate most of the curators. Seriously chilling! 14.1.1 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 7:58 pm Anna, that sounds seriously creepy! I’m way too big of a chicken to ever watch something like that g 15 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 6:26 pm Anna, This is a link to Night at the Museum. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477347/ It’s a comedy with Ben Stiller. That movie was why my kids really liked the museum. Your movie sounds right up my husband’s alley. He loves scary movies. 15.1 Anna Campbell says: July 31, 2012 at 8:29 pm Actually, it was a book. Can’t remember the name of it. Just remember people being munched! 16 Nancy Northcott says: July 31, 2012 at 7:25 pm Allison, welcome, and congrats on your debut! We’ve spent the summer enjoying having the boy home from college. I’ve caught up on jigsaw puzzles and made a dent in the TBR pile. Both relax me. 16.1 Beth Andrews says: July 31, 2012 at 7:57 pm Nancy, I have yet to make a dent in the TBR pile even though that was a goal I’d had for summer. Oh, well. Maybe I can move it to my Fall to do list 16.1.1 Nancy Northcott says: July 31, 2012 at 8:39 pm Beth, I kick that can down the road on a regular basis. I really have made a dent but I’m about to buy some more so…neverending story! 16.2 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 8:31 pm Nancy, Having your son home from college must be great. My oldest will go to college in two years. I don’t know where the time went. Thanks for stopping by. Alison 16.2.1 Nancy Northcott says: July 31, 2012 at 8:40 pm Allison, we have another month with him. It’s nice having him around, yes, and we miss him when he’s gone. Good luck with the college search! 17 bn100 says: July 31, 2012 at 8:04 pm Congratulations on the book! I like to read outside. 17.1 Alison Stone says: July 31, 2012 at 8:32 pm Reading outside is awesome. Add some shade and a cool drink ~ best day ever! 18 Deb says: July 31, 2012 at 9:02 pm Congrats on your books, Alison! I like to beat the heat by reading in my a/c house. We went to North Padre Island earlier in the summer and I loved the beach and the warm waves of the Gulf! Our other adventure has been remodeling our bathroom, but it has been slow, due to the new bathtub not coming in last week when it was supposed to come in. We’ve never done anything like this on our own, but we’re proud of our job, imperfect as it is. 19 Alison Stone says: August 1, 2012 at 7:21 am I love the beach and ocean, too. I’m impressed that you’re remodeling your bathroom. I usually only tackle painting projects. Thanks for stopping by!		New June Exclusive Interview with Bandita Kate!Jun 6 2013 New June Exclusive Excerpt! Check out Guardian by Nancy Northcott!Jun 6 2013 Anna Sugden’s Cover Revealed!May 28 2013 More "What's New?" 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