6 days until summer!

Donald Carey is the author of Bumpy Landings, a romantic coming-of-age novel set in his hometown of La’ie, Hawaii. Donald now lives in a small town outside Ft. Worth, Texas with his lovely wife and two daughters. His day job is writing computer programs, which is almost the same as writing fiction, but with a lot more semicolons.

Bumpy Landings is Donald’s first published novel.

Learn more about Donald on his website/blog: donaldjcarey.com.

Follow Donald on Facebook: Donald J Carey, Author and Twitter: @writerdc.

LDSWBR: If you had an entire day to read (on the beach, at the lake, by the pool, etc.), what book(s) or genre would you reach for first?

DONALD: If I had an entire day, I would probably grab Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings. I’ve been avoiding that book, because I just don’t have much time to read and I’m afraid I’d get sucked in. But a whole day–I’d chance it.

LDSWBR: What book(s) do you look forward to reading the most this summer?

DONALD: I have so many books to get caught up on, and I’m looking forward to reading all of them. I’m excited to be in town for Elana Johnson’s Possession launch, so I’m looking forward to getting that book and reading it.

LDSWBR: How would you describe the perfect summer day?

DONALD: I am dying to get my family to Hawaii. My wife hasn’t been back since we left nearly 20 years ago, and the kids have never been. The last time I was there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the only thing missing was my girls. So the perfect summer day would be the whole family eating a breakfast of banana pancakes at the Hukilau Cafe, followed by some light body surfing, lunch at the park with friends, andan evening of dining and entertainment in Waikiki. And of course, nobody would get tired or cranky or sunburned, and we would collapse into bed happily exhausted at the end of the day.

LDSWBR: Thank you, Donald!

Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey (Cedar Fort; January 2011) is available for purchase from Amazon.

Have you been to Hawaii? If so, what did you enjoy the most?

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***Countdown to Summer 2011 Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on June 25, 2011 for a $50 Amazon gift card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors featured in the Countdown. This will be a raffle-type drawing, so more entries means more chances to win. There are several ways to enter the Countdown to Summer 2011 contest. See details below.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors:

• The Upside of Down by Rebecca Talley

• Gifted by Karey White

• Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey

• Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes

• The Perfect Fit by  Michele Ashman Bell

• River Whispers by Kathi Oram Perterson

• Hazzardous Universe by Julie Wright & Kevin Wasden

• Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins

• Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphreys

• The List by Melanie Jacobson

• The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

• The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden

• Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack

• **Bonus Prize** An autographed copy of BLOODBORNE by Gregg Luke (released August 2011)

Do ANY of the following to enter:

• Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Summer 2011 author posts. Comments can be added on any of the author posts anytime during the contest period (June 1, 2011 through June 24, 2011). Only one comment per person per Countdown to Summer author post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.

• Send LDSWBR an email to ldswbr AT gmail DOT com telling us which of the following you have completed. If you already do these things, email us and let us know. Each item gets you 1 entry.

1. Follow LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook
2. Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter
3. Subscribe to LDSWBR by email (see top right sidebar on website)
4. Follow LDSWBR with Google Friend Connect (right sidebar beneath “Follow LDSWBR”)

• On each Countdown to Summer author post, leave a comment telling us which of the following you completed or already do. Each item gets you 1 entry.

1. Follow the author’s blog (if they have one)
2. Follow the author on Twitter (if they tweet)
3. Follow the author on Facebook (if they have a Facebook page)

• Tweet this message each day. One entry per day. Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw @ldswbr

• Blog about this contest on your blog then send us the link to your specific blog post. You can find the Countdown graphic badge/button to include in your blog post here. (5 entries)

• Post the following on your Facebook page (3 entries) then send us an email (ldswbr AT gmail DOT com) telling us that you did: LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw

Here are the rules:

• Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MDT on June 24, 2011.
• Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MDT on July 2, 2011 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
• Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.
• LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.

Let’s keep counting down to summer with some great reads!