The Bookish Babe: Review and Giveaway ~ Poughkeepsie by Debra Anasta...

The Bookish Babe: Review and Giveaway ~ Poughkeepsie by Debra Anasta...: He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like...

Hey Guys! 

Blake's Cardboard Piano made it's first trip overseas. The gorgeous Squally took some requests and the piano for a wonderful tour of Perth, Australia.  Check it out:

Perth

Ferry Trip!

Dock

Swan River

Australian Swans

With a pretty metal tree!

Fake Roo!

Real Roo! ( request granted thx baby)

Perth Zoo Temple

Bamboo

Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo

Pretty Fountain 

Perth Zoo

And here's a message from Squally:

Blake has a bed waiting for him if he ever needs one again. I'm glad he found a home in her arms and not just a roof over his head. He can play music for me anytime. I'll write the lyrics if he composes :) Perth was happy to to host his soundless concert here. As far as I'm concerned he's officially an Aussie. 

 Best of Luck,

 Squally Girl <3 font="font" nbsp="nbsp">


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wasn't that awesome? If you'd like to join the Poughkeepsie Cardboard Piano tour please email me with the words Cardboard Piano in the title and I will give you the details. Thanks again Squally! XO

Confessions of a Bookaholic: Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

Confessions of a Bookaholic: Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Publisher: Omnific Publishing (November 22nd, 2011) Adult: 17+ Paperback: 384 pages Source: Author/Pub...

Blake's Cardboard Piano Stop Four

Dear Blake,

I’d like to thank you for entrusting your piano to myself and the many other Poughkeespie “groupies” out there. It has been an honor and taking it out in Oklahoma City was more fun than my mom and I could have expected. Yours and Livia’s love story is one for the ages. I have thanked Debra many times for sharing your story with us and allowing us to be such a big part of it by putting your cardboard piano “on tour.” I hope you enjoy the stops I have chosen.

When my mom and I started our adventure on an absolutely beautiful Oklahoma Sunday afternoon, I knew the first stop had to be The Santa Fe Depot, the train station in downtown Oklahoma City. It originally opened in 1934 and its main service was from Topeka, KS to Texas. It was later bought by Amtrak and traveled from Chicago to Houston. It was closed in 1979 and was reopened, renovated and ready to start transporting its passengers from OKC to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1999. The Heartland Flyer (the train itself) is a fun and unique way to travel to TX. And now when I have the opportunity to go down to the station you can bet I’ll be looking for someone handing out sandwiches to all the passengers, just so that the one person she wants to give one to will accept.

On April 19^th, 1995 at 9:02am, the state of Oklahoma was changed forever when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was the sight of the Oklahoma City bombing. The lives of 149 adults and 19 children were lost in this tragic event. Their loved ones and the survivors of the vicious attack, needless-to-say, are still greatly affected by this tragedy. It was if the world stood still the days following the bombing. It was such an unfathomable act, people repeatedly asked “How could this happen on U.S. soil?” Rescue workers and aide came from all over the world and Oklahomans will be eternally grateful for the support they brought the state during this time. It was without question when your piano went on tour that I would bring it to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. I really could have just taken pictures at the memorial and could talk about it for this entire post. The memorial is a beautiful tribute to those lives lost, the survivors and the endless aide we received. The large entrance gate you see behind the piano is one of The Gates of Time. There is one at each end of the memorial and the inscription at the top of this one is “We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.” The memorial not only serves as a place for to people to honor those directly involved with the attack, its serves as a reminder that in times of true crisis the world can unite and it is possible that we all work together for the greater good.

St. Joseph Old Cathedral is located directly across the street from the Bombing Memorial. The day of the attack the old cathedral sustained tremendous damage. However, throughout the explosion, the tabernacle candle remained lit and the old life-sized crucifix remained unscratched by all of the flying debris. The cathedral was closed for almost two years, and reopened completely renovated in 1997. The monument behind the piano is yet another tribute to the ones involved in the attack. They also erected a statue of Jesus entitled “And Jesus wept.” This cathedral reminded me of Cole so much. I could see him here ministering to his old people. This cathedral is known to even have a midnight mass on occasion Cole could visit.

When my mom and I were driving around OKC looking for great places to stop, we wanted places that would pay tribute to Blake, Cole, Beckett and Mouse. We drove through some seedy parts of town looking for the perfect place Beckett and Mouse would set up their “enterprise” and still couldn’t decide exactly what the next stop should be. Then it hit me…tattoo shop! So I chose the first licensed tattoo shop in Oklahoma. Yes living in the buckle of the Bible Belt, tattooing did not become legal in OK until 2006. However, knowing Beckett, he would have seen to it that whomever needed a tattoo prior to 2006 would have been taken care of. Also the shop signifies the importance of the brother’s tattoo in the book, and Mouse adding his knitting needles. *sniffs and wipes a tear* As soon as I can, I plan on getting the Poughkeepsie tattoo, following in my dearest friend Jillian’s footsteps and the other fans who now have one.

Finally, I’d like to once again thank Debra for giving all of us such a fantastic book. For bringing the lives of Blake, Livia, Cole, Kyle, Beckett, Eve and Mouse off the pages of a book and into our hearts. Jillian Stein pimped Poughkeepsie to me and I have continued keeping my pimp hand strong, pimping it out to everyone I know. This final picture is of me and the ladies at my office that have read this wonderful book. We all loved it and all signed the piano before it was mailed off to North Carolina for its next exciting tour stop. Debra, you rock! THANK YOU from (pictured left to right) Me, Mom (Linda,) Nancy, Susan and Cozetta.  

*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@

Isn't that amazing? I cried when I read this special Blake's Piano Stop. This tour is really letting me explore the world with friends. Thank you Tiffany, you and your mom are so gorgeous! Please tell the work ladies, Nancy, Susan, and Cozetta I said Hi! and that I would love to have lunch with you all one day. We would have so much fun.

If you would like to join in the tour please email me at debra.anastasia@gmail.com and I'll put you on the list.

XO Debra

Blake's Cardboard Piano Stop Three

Rhonda is a blogger here http://samsawesomness.blogspot.com/ who has become a dear friend. Her blog is so lighthearted and a ton of fun. Really interactive. When she agreed to host Blake's piano, I knew it would be special. She took his humble piano to some amazing places. Most importantly, she let her baby girl hold it. Please enjoy her visit:

I was very excited to hear that Debra was sending Blake's piano out in to the world to visit us, and visit some of the places we live. 
 

I received the piano on a Saturday afternoon, and my intention was to do my thing on my day off.  Well, I got up on Sunday morning and decided that it would be a great day since it was Sunday and the traffic would be light.  I asked my daughter who is 8 yrs old if she would like to join me.  I showed her the piano, and the book trailer for Poughkeepsie, and explained the piano's role in the story, also what we were going to do.  She said, " That's so cool!"

So we set out on a route to a few landmark places here in Memphis.  Let me say, I am so glad she went with me, because this wouldn't have been possible without her.  It turned out to be a cold and windy morning and when we went down by the Mississippi River I need her to hold this piano.  I told her to hold on tight, because I don't want to have to tell Mrs. Debra that this thing blew off into the Mississippi River.  Well she held on tight and all went well. Turns out I needed her to hold it quite a bit, she was such a great helper,and we had a blast doing it.

We went to: 
Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley.  Had to go there! 

The National Civil Rights Museum. This is where Dr. Martin Luther king was assassinated, and Later was added on to and made into a museum.

The Mississippi River

Sun studio where some music legends have recorded, and is a national landmark. 

Stop Number Two!

Hey Guys!


Blake's Cardboard Piano had another amazing stop! Jillian *just* got her Poughkeepsie tattoo on her ACTUAL body! I think this really seals the deal, I'm going to have to get one too.


I think Nise and the girls started a great tradition of a letter to Blake, and Jillian continued it as well. So check out her gorgeous letter and matching pictures! Would you like to join? I'd LOVE to have you along, email me at debra.anastasia@gmail.com for more information.

Dear Blake,

I was beyond excited, and totally teary eyed, to receive your piano in the mail today! It came on the same day I went for my Poughkeepsie tattoo… what an amazing Poughkeepsie filled weekend!

I live in Ambler, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. I took your piano to all of the places I pictured in my mind when I was reading your story.

My first stop was St. Mary’s Villa for Children and Families. The Villa was originally an orphanage for boys. It was run by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and moved to the location in Ambler in 1936. Their mission is to empower children and families to lead responsible lives and develop healthy relationships built on faith, hope and love. In the latter half of the century, the children under St. Mary’s care required more specialized services. Many were abused, abandoned or needed extra supervision and attention in school and in their residences. Social work services and appropriate therapies continue to be offered to the children placed in the agency’s care. Today, St. Mary’s Villa for Children and Families is recognized as a preeminent provider of services for abused and neglected children in the greater Philadelphia area. I can’t help but have a new appreciation for the spot I have driven by numerous times and had never given a passing glance.

The second spot was the Ambler train station. Years of renovation to the station have recently been completed and it made a fantastic backdrop for the piano!

Lastly, I took the piano to a little restaurant and café across the street from the train station, called Trax Café. This is a quiet little place that I could picture you playing piano in at night or sipping coffee sitting at one of the café tables outside in the sun during the day.

I want to thank you so very much for giving me an amazing opportunity to spend time with your piano. I have truly enjoyed making some great memories with it around my town!

Xoxoxo

Jillian

Thanks so much Jillian for making stop number two so fantastic!

Stop Number One!

Okay. I'm so freaking excited about the tour of Blake's Cardboard piano! I had every reason to be. Its first stop was a smashing, creative success. My sweet readers 'nise, Alicia, and Patti took it for a spin. These friends of mine also got he actual Poughkeepsie tattoo ON THEIR BODIES! So seeing the piano with three real tats blew my little mind.


They included a note to Blake so I will let them have at it below.  It will go International, so feel free to become a stop, email me at debra.anastasia@gmail.com for more information.


 Take it away Ladies....

 

Dearest Blake,

It was an honor to provide shelter and respite for your beloved piano during the first stop of its tour.

We live just outside Williamsport, PA, so we took the piano to visit some of our favorite places.

First stop was the Carl Stotz Little League Memorial. The memorial commemorates the site of the very first Little League Baseball game on June 6, 1939. Hopefully, the close-up of the plaque is legible for you. It explains the history so much more eloquently than I ever could. Williamsport is the birthplace of Little League.  Little League is all about fostering brotherhood, and we thought it was fitting to include this in your piano tour.

Our second stop was the Michael Pilato mural in Williamsport, Michael is renowned for his incredible murals, and if you go to his website, you can get a better idea of what ours looks like. We took a picture of your piano under the Little League portion of the memorial. The man in the TV set above the Lycoming Little League players is Carl Stotz. As you can tell by the website, our mural is HUGE and would have eclipsed your piano, it was a little overwhelming, but we felt the section we chose best commemorated Williamsport.

Our final stop was at Christ Episcopal Church. Deb liked the picture of the cross we sent her a few months ago, so we returned with your piano. I could almost hear the strains of Ava Maria coming from the organ inside. Incidentally, John Henry Hopkins, Jr, rector of the church in the late 1800’s wrote the Christmas Carol “We Three Kings” during his time in NYC in 1857 for a holiday pageant.

Patti, Alicia and I have included several pics of our ‘Pough Sisters’ tattoo, and a picture of some Pough memorabilia Miss Deb sent us with our books.

We were honored that you would entrust something as special as your piano to our care.  Thanks again. I can’t wait to see where the piano ends up traveling to.

Blessings,

~nise, Patti, Alicia

Thanks ladies! I'm so honored to have you as readers and friends. You rock. <3 Debra